How to Acquire Medical Licence Abroad after Completing MBBS?

The process of obtaining a medical license after completing MBBS abroad varies from country to country. Candidates who have finished their MBBS abroad have to pass the country-wise licensure examination to practice in that country. Studying MBBS abroad provides aspiring doctors with a wide range of learning experiences as well as the opportunity to get a global perspective on healthcare. Getting a medical license abroad after completing MBBS from a foreign university is a dream come true for aspiring medical professionals. It opens up new opportunities to practice medicine abroad and contribute to healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding the requirements and steps involved is important in getting a medical license abroad. Candidates will be required to take the USMLE to practice medicine in the United States, MCCQE to practice in Canada, and the FSP qualification to practice medicine in Russia. Read this article to understand the process of acquiring a medical license after completing an MBBS degree abroad.

This Story also Contains

1. How to Get an International Medical Licence 2025?
2. How to Get Medical Licence in USA?
3. How to Get Medical Licence in Canada 2025?
4. How to Get Medical Licence in UK?
5. How to get Medical Licence in Germany?
6. How to Get Medical Licence in Russia 2025?
7. How to Get Medical Licence in Australia 2025?
8. Additional Considerations for Acquiring a Medical License

How to Get an International Medical Licence 2025?

The primary objective of medical licencing tests is to analyse and evaluate medical graduates' knowledge and abilities, as well as their compatibility with the country's current health infrastructure. Obtaining an international medical licence, also known as medical licencing for international practice, involves various processes that most countries require for international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking licensure:

• Degree Recognition: Your international medical degree must be recognised to be equivalent to the national medical degree of the country in which you desire to practise. This typically involves submitting documents such as diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions for approval by an established authority.

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• Licensing Exams: Candidates are required to pass a licencing exam to demonstrate their medical skills and expertise. These tests are usually administered in the country's official language.

• Residency Training (elective/Mandatory): Depending on the country's requirements, residency training in a recognised programme may be compulsory or elective to get a complete medical licence.

• Language Proficiency: Proficiency in the national language is required for successful communication with patients and coworkers. This could seem necessary for licencing examinations or registration with the applicable medical board.

• Visa Requirements: As an IMG, graduates must obtain suitable permits to study, work, and perhaps get permanent residency in their selected country.

How to Get Medical Licence in USA?

The United States follows a federal government structure. As a result, governance regulations differ throughout states in the country. Since 1992, the United States Medical Licencing Examination (USMLE) has been used as an evaluation system to screen individuals seeking to get an initial licence for practicing medicine abroad.

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) in the United States, the National Boards (FSMB),, and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) jointly sponsor this licencing test. The final USMLE scores are reported to licencing authorities and used to provide a doctor's basic licence to practice medicine in the USA.

Eligibility Criteria of USMLE

• Educational requirements include a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from an authorised medical institution. If the MD is not from the United States, applicants are required to go through additional steps for verification.

• International medical graduates (IMGs) must get ECFMG accreditation. This process involves verifying educational credentials.

• Passing the USMLE (United States Medical Licencing Examination) stages 1–2, CK (Clinical Knowledge), and 2CS (Clinical Skills). These tests evaluate an individual’s medical knowledge and clinical abilities.

USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination): This three-step examination series is required for all medical school graduates, for candidates both within the United States and abroad. You can take the steps in any order, although most students stick to the recommended order: Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS. Every phase focuses on a different component of medical knowledge and abilities.

Residency Training: After passing the USMLE steps, you must undergo residency training in an authorised programme in the United States. Residency programmes offer real clinical practice under the direction of licenced physicians. The period of residency varies according to the selected specialisation.

State Medical Licensure: Every state in the United States has its own medical licencing board. Candidates need to apply for a licence in the state where they intend to practice.

The application procedure usually involves submitting documentation, paying fees, passing a jurisprudence exam, and attending an interview.

How to Get Medical Licence in Canada 2025?

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) is an organisation that conducts tests to examine physicians and provides a certification known as the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) to those who want to practice medicine in Canada. The test evaluates a physician's performance in two distinct categories:

1. Dimensions of care, which include every component of medical treatment

2. Physician activities that represent their scope of practice and behaviors.

The MCCQE Part I is a summative test that assesses a candidate's medical knowledge and clinical decision-making abilities at the level expected of a medical student earning their medical degree in Canada. The test is based on the MCC Objectives, which are organised into CanMEDS roles. Candidates who graduate and complete the MCCQE Part I often enter supervised practice.

The MCCQE Part I is a one-day computer-based exam. Candidates get up to four hours in the morning session to answer 210 multiple-choice questions. They can spend up to three and a half hours in the afternoon session on the Clinical Decision-Making component, which includes 38 cases with short-menu and short-answer write-in questions.

How to Get Medical Licence in UK?

While studying MBBS in UK, students must pass the UKMLA exam to obtain their MBBS degree. The UKMLA is a 2 step examination including an applied knowledge test and a clinical and professional skills assessment. To acquire a medical license in UK after completing MBBS, students must clear the PLAB (Professional and Linguistics Assessment Board) exam conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC).

Eligibility Criteria for PLAB

• MBBS degree needs to be recognized by the GMC.

• English proficiency scores of IELTS or OET to show that you are proficient in English.

• Work experience and character references are required.

• You must pass PLAB 1 before you can register for PLAB 2, which tests your practical clinical skills. After passing PLAB 1, you have a window of up to two years to take PLAB 2.

• If you are an Indian student who earned your MBBS from a college or university listed in the 'World Directory of Medical Schools,' you are eligible to take the PLAB exam.

How to get Medical Licence in Germany?

Obtaining a medical licence (approbation) for practicing medicine in Germany, particularly for doctors who had their medical education outside of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). In order to practice medicine independently in Germany, candidates must fulfil all of the requirements mentioned below.

• Recognition of Foreign Medical Degree: One must get a medical degree recognised as equivalent to a German medical degree. This includes sending documents such as transcripts, diplomas, and course descriptions to the appropriate authorities. ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education) evaluates the paperwork and issues a statement of equivalency. In some cases, the State Medical Chamber of the German state where you wish to practice will carry out the evaluation.
• German Medical Language Exam (Fachsprachprüfung - FSP): Candidates must pass the German Medical Language Exam, which assesses their ability to comprehend and communicate medical terminology in German. It is essential for smooth patient engagement and safety in the German healthcare sector.

Once your degree has been recognised, and you have passed the FSP, you can apply for a temporary licence (Berufserlaubnis) for practicing medicine under supervision in Germany.

How to Get Medical Licence in Russia 2025?

Students seeking a medical licence for practicing in Russia must have their medical degree officially recognised by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. This includes providing documents such as diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions for evaluation. Additional requirements are listed below.

• They must pass the Nostrifikacia test, a state medical licencing test that evaluates their medical knowledge and skills. It is primarily performed in Russian, therefore fluency in the language is required.

• While not necessarily required, completing a one-year internship in a Russian medical institution can be advantageous. This gives practical knowledge and helps students adjust to the Russian healthcare system.

• After passing the Nostrifikacia exam and potentially completing an internship, candidates may apply for a temporary medical licence to practice under supervision in Russia.

• Residency training in the chosen medical specialty is necessary for a complete medical licence. Residency programmes in Russia are usually for two to five years, depending on the speciality.

• After successfully completing the residency programme, candidates can apply for a full medical licence, which permits them to practice independently in Russia.

How to Get Medical Licence in Australia 2025?

All students aspiring to practice medicine in Australia must first apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to create an acceptable assessment pathway. The standard pathway requires students to take several exams, such as the AMC MCQ Exam and the AMC Clinical Exam. The AMC MCQ Exam usually consists of 150 MCQs organised using a computer adaptive scoring system. Exam eligibility is mentioned below:

Eligibility:

• To take the AMC-MCQ and AMC Clinical exams, students must have graduated from an AMC-recognized institution.

• To pass the AMC clinical test, a candidate must pass at least 12 of 16 cases, including one required case in each of Gynaecology and Paediatrics.

Note: Candidates who have passed all the relevant tests and obtained AMC accreditation are then eligible to apply for Australian Speciality Training positions.

Additional Considerations for Acquiring a Medical License

Apart from the licensing exams, there are other requirements such as:

• Visa Requirements: International students will need appropriate visas for studying, working, and potentially permanent residency in that country throughout the process.

• Time Commitment: The entire process can take several years, so be prepared for a long-term commitment.

• Documents: Provide all the relevant documents regarding your medical degree abroad, such as MBBS degree, certificate, internship experience etc.