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Alternative career options for Doctors/IMGs

Salz_yahoo

Star Member
Mar 24, 2019
170
23
Hello all

Any success with MCCQE-1 and the following exams yet? Please guide the next steps and also would like to know what the IMG s are doing now ? Have you all successfully got into the medical stream or chosen a Off-clinical job?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,591
13,523
Hello all

Any success with MCCQE-1 and the following exams yet? Please guide the next steps and also would like to know what the IMG s are doing now ? Have you all successfully got into the medical stream or chosen a Off-clinical job?
The question you really need to ask is securing a residency or a position for family doctors who are willing to practice in underserviced locations. Also what specialty they are in. Passing the 2 exams is possible and many IMGs pass every year. The big issue is after passing your exams most IMGs can’t secure a residency spot to redo their residencies.
 

Salz_yahoo

Star Member
Mar 24, 2019
170
23
The question you really need to ask is securing a residency or a position for family doctors who are willing to practice in underserviced locations. Also what specialty they are in. Passing the 2 exams is possible and many IMGs pass every year. The big issue is after passing your exams most IMGs can’t secure a residency spot to redo their residencies.

Are you a doctor??? If yes, then are you IMG?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,591
13,523
Are you a doctor??? If yes, then are you IMG?
No just know know a lot about the health care system and medical training in Canada. Just want to make sure you are asking the right questions. Passing the licensing exams are difficult but not the actually stumbling block when it comes to IMGs getting relicensed and working in Canada.

What kind of specialist are you? How old are you? Are you trained in the US, Australia, NZ, South Africa, many countries in Europe? This information also has a big impact on whether you have a good chance of being able to practice in Canada.
 

Salz_yahoo

Star Member
Mar 24, 2019
170
23
No just know know a lot about the health care system and medical training in Canada. Just want to make sure you are asking the right questions. Passing the licensing exams are difficult but not the actually stumbling block when it comes to IMGs getting relicensed and working in Canada.

What kind of specialist are you? How old are you? Are you trained in the US, Australia, NZ, South Africa, many countries in Europe? This information also has a big impact on whether you have a good chance of being able to practice in Canada.

Thanks so much for the prompt response! I’m aware of the residency requirement and that it’s difficult to get a spot into it.
But, I’m actually looking for an IMG here!
 

Sadiefarn

Newbie
Nov 8, 2019
3
0
Hi everyone.
Iam an IMG.graduated in 2019(finished my residency )i was prepping for usmles for past 6 months from U.S.but due to visa validity had to return back .and right now working as GP doctor in india.so read about a bridging program in this thread.Can u kindly tell me if iam eligible for this.
What are the other IMG friendly program in canada.Is it really better to persue PG in india or allied course in canada when comparing salary scale,comfort of life,prestige etc ?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,591
13,523
Hi everyone.
Iam an IMG.graduated in 2019(finished my residency )i was prepping for usmles for past 6 months from U.S.but due to visa validity had to return back .and right now working as GP doctor in india.so read about a bridging program in this thread.Can u kindly tell me if iam eligible for this.
What are the other IMG friendly program in canada.Is it really better to persue PG in india or allied course in canada when comparing salary scale,comfort of life,prestige etc ?
Did you do your residency in the US? If not you will have to try and secure one of the leftover residency spots in family medicine or get into one of the underserviced area GP training programs where you agree to practice in that area for a certain amount of years. Getting licensed in Canada is very hard although slightly less hard for GPs versus specialists. Most IMGs are unable to get relicensed and no longer practice medicine. Your chances of being able to practice medicine are much higher in the US. GPs don’t make very high salaries once they deduct office expenses. They make good salaries but the costs of training and the minimum of 10 years of school is long and expensive.
 

Sadiefarn

Newbie
Nov 8, 2019
3
0
No.i completed my residency in home country only.i was thinking of trying USMLE s ,but due to visa restriction for me and my partner for staying there i am thinking of giving up USMLES .As u said chances of getting a residency spot in Canada seems near to imposiible for an IMG. So i want to know about other masters programs i can join in?..or any bridging programs to canadian health system ?.Jobs i can get with Medical degree from home country? (for survival,before getting into masters program next year).
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,591
13,523
No.i completed my residency in home country only.i was thinking of trying USMLE s ,but due to visa restriction for me and my partner for staying there i am thinking of giving up USMLES .As u said chances of getting a residency spot in Canada seems near to imposiible for an IMG. So i want to know about other masters programs i can join in?..or any bridging programs to canadian health system ?.Jobs i can get with Medical degree from home country? (for survival,before getting into masters program next year).
Don’t quite understand what kind of bridging system you are expecting to the Canadian health system. Most jobs in healthcare require a degree and then licensing. You could do another degree. Many IMGs have gone back to school to be radiology or ultrasound techs, nurses, etc. You are free to apply for any masters program. Would choose your program carefully. I think doing an MBA is probably the best option. You can try to get hired for many administration jobs or a service job. The problem with being an IMG is that you are only really trained to be a doctor and don’t have any other job experience but you will be considered overqualified for many jobs. Is there a reason you need to immigrate to Canada? It would make much more sense to move somewhere that you could actually practice medicine or even stay in India if you are making a good income. Do you have realistic expectations when it comes to moving to Canada?
 

Sadiefarn

Newbie
Nov 8, 2019
3
0
Don’t quite understand what kind of bridging system you are expecting to the Canadian health system. Most jobs in healthcare require a degree and then licensing. You could do another degree. Many IMGs have gone back to school to be radiology or ultrasound techs, nurses, etc. You are free to apply for any masters program. Would choose your program carefully. I think doing an MBA is probably the best option. You can try to get hired for many administration jobs or a service job. The problem with being an IMG is that you are only really trained to be a doctor and don’t have any other job experience but you will be considered overqualified for many jobs. Is there a reason you need to immigrate to Canada? It would make much more sense to move somewhere that you could actually practice medicine or even stay in India if you are making a good income. Do you have realistic expectations when it comes to moving to Canada?
Naa.I read about a ITMD program at the beginning of this thread.I was enquiring about it .
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,591
13,523
Naa.I read about a ITMD program at the beginning of this thread.I was enquiring about it .
Would be curious to see who actually got jobs after this program and whether some had extensive medical research and publishing background. Medical research is very competitive in Ontario and grants are hard to come by so it would be very unlikely that these candidates would leave with grants to do their own research or easily join other research groups. Suspect that this lead to many going back to school. Perhaps more of a pep talk and introduction to potential careers when people realize going into clinical practice will be impossible. I understand that they will learn new skills but a 12 week program can’t replace a PhD or good MBA. Would be a good questions to ask the program if you qualify. Would be curious how many get jobs after the bridging program and what is the average salary, how many return to school and how many leave Canada?