What after MBBS? A year gap to study? Will I get my first choice seat? A costly private PG seat? DNB or MD?

These are some of the many questions that a fresh medical graduate encounters. Limited knowledge and lack of guidance makes things even worse. It’s a dream of MBBS students to do PG in their preferred choice branch and excel in it. Getting a PG is the pinnacle of success for any medical graduate!

Medical graduates work hard to pass the PGCET and even have to take a gap for study in order to get the preferred choice branch. Many have the dream to do a PG outside India, but lack of guidance and proper information often leads to some of them even changing their medical field to non-clinical or medical allied.

Just imagine at this crucial point of your career, you have someone who has been through the same path and ready to guide you, work with you and help you in your every step ahead; this would definitely boost your confidence and ease your mental anxiety.

I think, an informed decision is the best decision. Hence I provide you with some options after MBBS. Kindly go through them and choose the one which you feel you the most comfortable with!

COUNTRY EXAM PROS CONS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA USMLE (UNITED STATES MEDICAL LICENSING EXAMINATION)
  1. One of the best educational system in the world.
  2. Better working and living conditions.
  3. Academics and research facilities availability.
  4. Fellowships and Specialists jobs opportunities.
  5. Easy H1B visa processing.
  6. J1 waiver jobs.
  7. Green card processing.
  1. Hard work and proper guidance of utmost importance.
UNITED KINGDOM PLAB (PROFESSIONAL AND LINGUISTIC ASSESSMENT)
  1. One of the best educational system in the world.
  2. Registrar and Consultants jobs available.
  3. Easy work visa and green card processing
  1. High cost of living.
  2. Saturation
  3. Long wait and processing time.
  4. Strict regulation by National Health System and General Medical Council.
INDIA AIPGMEE/NEET, AIIMS, PGI CHANDIGARH, STATE ENTRANCES.
  1. Serving your country.
  2. Family legacy.
  1. Very competitive.
  2. Preferred branch unavailability.
  3. Limited research opportunities.
  4. MBBS / Post Graduate bond service.
  5. Fluctuating exam pattern
  6. No single exam.
  7. Costly private seat.
  8. Assault and Security issues.

CANADA

MCQEE (MEDICAL COUNCIL OF CANADA EVALUATING EXAMINATION)
  1. Good medical system.
  2. Better working and living conditions.
  3. Easy point basis green card processing.
  4. Fellowships and Specialists jobs.
  1. Not preferred by International Medical Graduate.
  2. Green card or Permanent residents preferred.
AUSTRALIA AMC (AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL)
  1. Better working and living conditions.
  2. Job availability
  1. Underserved area serving.
NEW ZEALAND NZREX (NEW ZEALAND REGISTRATION EXAM)
  1. Better working and living conditions.
  1. Green card or Permanent Resident preferred.
  2. Not International Medical Graduate friendly.
GULF (UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, KUWAIT) MOH (MINISTRY OF HEALTH),
DHA (DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AUTHORITY), HAAD (HEALTH AUTHORITY OF ABU DHABI)
  1. Tax free job with a good pay
  2. Better working conditions.
  1. Yearly contract.
  2. PQR requirements.
  3. Long Dataflow processing time.
  4. Payment in Dirhams.
  5. Agents alert.
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (GERMANY, RUSSIA, POLAND, UKRAINE, BELARUS) No Exam
  1. Cheap
  2. Preferred branch availability
  1. Not Medical Council of India recognized.
  2. Language
  3. Not all are International Medical Education Directory listed.
ASIAN COUNTRIES (PHILIPINES, CHINA) No exams.
  1. Cheap
  2. Preferred branch availability
  1. Not Medical Council of India recognized.
AMERICAN CONTINENT (CARRIBEAN) No exams.
  1. Cheap
  2. Preferred branch availability
  1. Not Medical Council of India recognized.

In the list above, I tried to sum all the possible options available. It seems to be overwhelming at first glance, but after going through it carefully, it would not be a difficult to choose one. 

I would personally suggest USMLE as the best option. After my MBBS, I too faced the same dilemma of choosing the right options. My friends started preparing for the entrances, joined classes and test series. But I had different plans. I got the notes for USMLE and videos and started my USMLE journey. Took some time at beginning, as I had no one to guide or work my way out. Slowly and steadily and with help of my seniors, I studied and passed USMLE step 1 and 2 CK. Post that, I took USMLE CS in Philadelphia and passed in first attempt, got ECFMG certified.  The experience I had, made me understand the importance of high score in USMLEs and passing in first attempt and its effect to get a residency or fellowship. I think, formal training from professional institute and their guidance in ERAS application can be definitely be helpful in getting into a residency program.

Passing USMLE gives you many opportunities. Few of them are listed below.

  • Apply for residency in USA.
  • Apply for fellowship in USA.
  • Life time validity of ECFMG certificate.
  • USMLE step 1 and step 2 are valid for NZREX Clinical.
  • DHA Dubai also recognizes it to practice as general practitioner.
  • Accepted as an alternative to MCQEE in some provinces of Canada for residency applications.
  • Accepted by Australia Medical Council for alternative competent pathway.
  • Some other countries which accept USMLE are Qatar and Israel and Dubai health care city (DHCC).

References:
USMLE: www.usmle.org
PLAB: www.gmc-uk.org
HAAD: www.haad.ae
DHA: www.dha.ae
MCI: www.mcindia.org
MCQEE: www.mcc.ca
AMC: www.amc.org.au
NZREX: www.mcnz.org
MOH: www.moh.gov.ae
Israel: www. health.gov.il.
Qatar: www.hamad.qa
DHCC: www. dhcc.ae