How to Study MD in USA?

Let’s study the whole procedure, divided into some pre-described steps to success. 

Step 1: Complete Your Undergraduate Degree

Number one prerequisite is a good Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Medical background like Biology, Chemistry or Physical Science as one of the majors.

Step 2: Pass the MCAT Examination

College seniors and pass-outs who are interested in becoming a doctor, that is earning an MD degree are required to pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). After passing the MCAT with a stipulated score, depending upon the university, one can apply to one of them. Students going from India to give MCAT and then applying to universities are also required to have-

• To clear an English-language proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL
• Submit an SOP and LORs
• Get a good GRE Score.

Step 3: Complete the 4-Year Medical School

The journey doesn’t end when you end your medical college. It starts there. The MD Degree requires 4 years of schooling where the curriculum is divided into semesters and is conducted on a full-time basis.

Step 4: Pass Parts 1 and 2 of USMLE

In order to practice medicine in the USA, one must take and receive an adequate score on the USMLE. It is a three-part examination, as discussed above. 

• Before Entering the Third Year, the medical student must clear the first part of the examination. It covers the basic medical principles which the students learnt in the first two years.
• Before Entering the Fourth Year, the medical student has to clear the second part of the examination. It covers topics of clinical diagnosis and disease development.  

Step 5: Finding Residency Along With the Niche

As we said, the medical degree doesn’t end with college. In the final year, medical students have to submit an application regarding their residency. Then the application is taken into consideration and the students are assigned to the respective residencies. 

What is Residency? 

A residency is a three- to eleven-year training program where the fresh out of medical school students receive specialized training under the shadow of a skilled doctor or experienced physician educators. 

Step 6: Pass Part 3 of USMLE and Finish Residency

After finishing the stipulated time of residency (which is normally 3 years), the candidate has to appear for the part 3 Examination of USMLE. It covers clinical management and assesses the doctor’s ability to practice medicine safely and also effectively.

Step 7: Earn Board Certification

Once the whole Medical School and the residency is completed, the candidate has to appear in front of a board regarding the field selected by him/her from 24 specializations. Some of them can be-

• Anaesthesia
• Anatomy
• Geriatric medicine
• General medicine
• Forensic medicine
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Psychiatry

Step 8: Get a State License

After the training and board certification, one also has to receive a state-signed license to practice medicine. Well, congratulations, you have finished medical school and are now in the market for some good jobs. Let us quickly watch all the job prospects after an MD in the USA.

Alternatives to Pursuing MD in USA After MBBS

Another alternative to going through the long process of USMLE exams and getting a residency is to opt for MPH in USA. Many MBBS graduates prefer to study a Masters in Public Health in the USA rather than an MD. By pursuing an MPH degree, students get a breathing period as a student visa in USA for Indian students is mainly for 5 years when opting for a masters course. By taking admission into MPH in the country, many students use this time period to appear for their clinical exams and in the end, you will have two degrees, one clinical after residency, i.e. MD and other non-clinical such as MPH or you can even opt for a diploma in Public Health before beginning your residency for MD in USA.

For taking this alternative of studying MPH or any other medical postgraduate program before MD in USA, you can expect the cost of around 50,000 USD [37,44,000 INR approx.] (including 3 months of clinical rotation or clerkship) only if you can successfully ace USMLE-2CK/CS at the end of 3 months of clinical rotation.

Some of the major advantages of taking this route to opt for MD in USA are:

• You can avail networking opportunities in the medical arena in the country.
• While studying MPH, you can take a break for one semester at the onset of completing your first year of this program and then during this time, complete your clerkship which is mandatory to get residency for MD in USA.
• It will allow you to get a 5-year student visa to study in USA and this will help you take the right passage until you clear the USMLE-3.
• If you come across any issues during the process of getting residency for MD in USA, then the public health degree can help you explore career prospects and cover your living costs.

Top Medical Universities in USA

It is always a good idea to pursue the course from leading universities as they provide excellent exposure and skill set to aspirants. Given below is the list of top medical schools for MD in USA that can scale your career by awarding you the right career: 

• Harvard University Medical School
• Johns Hopkins University Medical School
• University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Medical School 
• New York University (Grossman) Medical School 
• Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (Alix)
• Columbia University Medical School 
• Washington University in St. Louis Medical School 

Job Prospects After MD in the USA

Doctors specialize and treat patients in a variety of areas, such as Radiology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine, etc. And regarding these, the career prospects of an MD in USA revolves around.

Profession	Median Salary
Family Physician	$192,000 (143,77,000 INR approx.)
Anesthesiologist	$248,000 (185,70,000 INR approx.)
Surgeon	$247,000 (184,95,000 INR approx.)
Paediatrician	$183,000 (137,03,000 INR approx.)