Foreign-born physicians make up roughly 1 in 4 US doctors, with an estimated 325,000 trained abroad and now working in the US as of late 2025. To practice medicine in the US, foreign doctors need a state medical license and a valid visa that authorizes them to work in the country.
Requirements for Foreign Doctors
For most internationally trained physicians, earning a state license means passing US exams, obtaining certification, and completing supervised training before treating patients on their own. A growing number of states have recently opened faster routes for experienced doctors.
Foreign-trained doctors can generally practice in the US with a valid visa and by getting a valid license from the state where they work. There is no national medical license, and each state board sets its own exams, training, and eligibility rules.
Steps to Practice in the US
For most foreign physicians to practice in the US, six steps are involved. The first five build toward a state license, and the last secures the legal right to work. The exact order and timing may shift with the country of training and the target state.
- Earn a medical degree from a recognized medical school
- Get ECFMG certification
- Pass the USMLE
- Complete a US residency
- Get licensed by a state medical board
- Secure US work authorization
Physicians have more immigration routes than most professionals, because federal programs actively recruit doctors into underserved areas. The main options fall into temporary work visas and permanent, employment-based green cards.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
