The name of our company contains the English word "Evaluation," which translates into Russian as "equivalency." Foreign Consultants, Inc. performs the equivalency of any foreign diploma to its American equivalent. Evaluation is the determination of the correspondence of education received in other countries to American norms and standards: by the essence of the specialty, by the nature and number of studied disciplines, attended lecture hours, practical classes, and passed exams.
Fifteen years of experience in this field gives us the right to assert: all talk that Ukrainian diplomas are not recognized or valued anywhere, and that your compatriots, if they do buy tours to Portugal, do so only for the purpose of odd jobs, arises solely from the lack of reliable information! This also applies to the diplomas of our medical workers. But when leaving for the USA, many of our doctors hear from uninformed colleagues that, firstly, their diploma is not needed there; secondly, that they need to spend a huge amount of money and time to confirm it; and thirdly, if the diploma is not confirmed, then it is completely unclear what to do with it...
Our office in Chicago receives 5-6 doctors daily. And the consultants of Foreign Consultants, Inc. explain to them the following: yes, the process for confirming a medical diploma may be somewhat complicated, but it is quite feasible! The diploma of a doctor who studied for six years at a medical institute in the post-Soviet space and came to the USA is equated to the American Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. This is exactly the same diploma that a graduate of the most prestigious American school (up to Harvard Medical School) receives. What is the difference? After completing their studies, a graduate of an American medical school is required to enter a residency. Its purpose is to enable a young doctor to gain practical work experience or improve qualifications over three years. Our doctor, who has come to the USA and wants to work directly in their specialty, should do exactly the same. Of course, their diploma must undergo Evaluation, because otherwise they will be offered to first obtain a medical education (which they already have!).
To enter a residency, a foreign doctor must pass three exams: two in their specialty and one in English. The exams are taken on subjects that the physician studied at their university and knows well from years of practice. And the fact that the exams are in English is not a problem either, because they are taken on a computer, and perfect knowledge of the language is not a decisive factor. Good exam results give the right to apply to a residency.
Of course, these exams require serious preparation. In the USA, there are various courses that prepare doctors for such exams. The most popular are the so-called Kaplan courses (Kaplan Courses). They last about six months, and the cost of classes is several thousand dollars. As a rule, all doctors who have completed Kaplan courses receive the highest score on the exams.
Once you enter a residency, you can consider yourself financially secure: the fact is that a residency is a paid practice. In the first year, residents receive $36,000, in the second year up to $45,000. During the third year of residency, a doctor can work extra shifts in the emergency room and earn up to $80,000. The minimum salary of a doctor in an American hospital is about $200,000 per year, and the income of a doctor with a private practice is virtually unlimited. In any case, a doctor in private practice easily earns from $300,000 per year or more.
But what about those who do not have the opportunity to prepare for a residency and study for another three years? Suppose you need to start earning money right away, or your age exceeds 40, which makes entering a residency virtually impossible. Are education and professional experience truly unnecessary for such doctors? That is not the case. In America, there are many types of jobs that will accept a person with a degree from a higher medical institution without any exams and without the need to complete a residency.
Firstly, in the field of medical research (Medical Research). Such companies deal with pharmaceutical drugs, various medical equipment, diagnostic devices, etc. They have special departments where many doctors work. Of course, doctors involved in Medical Research do not earn as much as practicing physicians—from $50,000 to $80,000–100,000 per year.
Secondly, in America there is a huge need for specialists in various mid-level medical professions, such as radiologists, physical therapists, emergency medical workers, surgical assistants, etc. All these positions require people with a medical education. But to get such a job, you need a license that requires specific education in that area. Training in such medical programs is usually conducted in the evening at various universities and colleges. It is relatively inexpensive ($5,000–7,000 per year), but takes four years. However, if you provide your Doctor of Medicine diploma that has undergone Evaluation, then your core subjects will be credited, and you will only need to study the specific disciplines that the college specifies. And instead of four years, you will study for only a year and a half.
In addition, in America there are colleges that train chiropractors (Doctor of Chiropractics); colleges of Eastern/Chinese medicine that award degrees of Master of Science in Traditional Eastern/Chinese Medicine; colleges of alternative medicine (degrees of Master of Science in Alternative Medicine), and many others. In all such educational institutions, instead of four years, one can study for a year to a year and a half using the same scheme. And thus, you can obtain a new version of your profession that is in demand everywhere and well paid—a minimum of $50,000 per year.
Currently, medical specialists in the field of Medical Office Management are in demand. This work involves the management of any medical institution. With a confirmed diploma, doctors can open Medical Supply offices and pharmacies, which in itself is very profitable - they earn approximately $200-300 thousand a year. You can simply own medical offices where licensed American doctors work.
Doctors with diplomas that have passed Evaluation can also work in the social sphere: in city hall departments related to sanitary inspection, hygiene, prevention of infectious diseases; in offices with various social services for the disabled, pensioners, children, etc. In all these cases, Evaluation saves, firstly, from lengthy training, and secondly, saves huge money. Each training course costs at least $1,000, plus expenses for books (up to $100 each!). And sometimes several books are required on one subject. Moreover, it is very difficult to work, study in English in the evenings, and take tests. All these costs and burdens can actually be reduced threefold.
Dear doctors! Know that, having in hand a diploma that has passed Evaluation, you will be able to successfully retrain and obtain an updated equivalent of your specialty, expending a minimum amount of effort and time. This will give you a happy opportunity to keep your profession and achieve a high and prestigious standard of living for yourself and your family.