IMG REQUIREMENTS

We are proud of our tradition of recruiting and training excellent international medical graduates. Our trainees bring to our program a wealth of diverse cultural, clinical, and educational experiences that adds a depth and breadth to our training program’s explorations of what is “normal” in human individuals, families, communities, doctor-patient relationships, and in clinical training. We are frequently asked about application requirements for IMGs. The primary requirements are superb English language and communication skills and the flexibility to gracefully adapt to the role of a psychiatric trainee in a multi-disciplinary treatment team setting.

Because of the high volume of these requests for requirements for IMGs, we cannot answer these inquiries personally and ask that you accept these answers to our most frequently asked questions.

• We only accept applications via ERAS.
• Application deadline—applications must be submitted by December 1, and the application packet must be completed by January 1.
• USMLE scores—though we have no absolute cut-off scores for IMGs, almost all candidates invited for interviews have USMLE scores above 80 and no more than one failure.
• ECFMG certification—all candidates must be ECFMG certified before the deadline for match submission. We prefer that candidates are ECFMG certified at the time of the interview.
• USMLE step 3—preference is given to candidates who have passed step 3, though this is not a requirement.
• US clinical experience—preference is given to candidates who have clinical or research experience in the United States or in the United Kingdom, though this is not a requirement.
• Previous psychiatric experience outside of US—preference is also give to candidates who have psychiatric experience in countries other than the US or UK.
• Years after graduation—we have no maximum number of years between graduation from medical school and application to our program. We only ask that candidates evidence the flexibility to shift back into the role of trainee.
• J visa sponsorship—we sponsor J visas.
• H1 visa sponsorship—typically we sponsor H visas only if the applicant already has an H visa with enough years remaining on it to complete the residency program or if the candidate has an F visa with an OPT extension that can be used until the H visa cap opens up in October of the candidate’s PGY-1 year. We will occasionally offer to initiate a new H1 visa for truly exceptional candidates.
• H1 visa cap—we fall under the H1 visa cap; therefore we prefer candidates who will accept J visas, candidates who already have an H visa, or candidates with greencards or US citizenship.
• Research experience—this will help your application if you also show signs of clinical excellence.
• Observerships/externships in our program—we do not currently offer observerships or externships in our program.
• Out of match offers—yes, we do make pre-match offers to truly exceptional candidates. These candidates typically have high USMLE scores and have passed all three steps. They will have excellent English language and communication skills. Finally they usually have extensive previous psychiatric experience, either clinically or in research.

Bryan Chambliss, M.D.
Director, Residency Training
Department of Psychiatry
Drexel University College of Medicine