International medical graduate
An international medical graduate (IMG), earlier known as a foreign medical graduate (FMG), is a physician who has graduated from a medical school outside of the country where he or she intends to practice. The term non-local medical graduate may be similarly used in countries with distinct licensing regions within them. Generally, the medical school of graduation is one listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOM) as accredited by the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research or the World Health Organization. Medical schools around the world vary in education standards, curricula , and evaluation methods. Many countries have their own certification program, equivalent to the ECFMG in the United States. The purpose of ECFMG Certification is to assess the readiness of international medical graduates to enter clinical specialty training programs as resident physicians and fellowship programs in the United States. License requirements by country. The requirements to obtain a license to practice varies by country and often by state, province, or territory. Australia. IMGs (or Overseas Trained Doctors) who wish to be licensed in Australia must apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to arrange an appropriate assessment pathway. The standard pathway  involves an IMG sitting a series of assessments, including an AMC MCQ Exam and an AMC clinical exam. The AMC MCQ Exam consists of 150 MCQs organized through computer adaptive scoring. For AMC clinical exam, a candidate is required to pass 12 out of 16 cases: including one compulsory case in both gynecology and pediatrics. IMGs who have passed the necessary exams and obtained AMC certification can then apply to Australian specialty training positions. Australia is in the process of establishing a national registration process for all the doctors under theMedical Board of Australia. In 2010 the Minister for Health  and Ageing (Australia) launched an Inquiry process into registration and accreditation processes for international medical graduates which reported in 2012. Canada. In Canada, international medical graduates include all graduates from outside Canada with the exception of graduates from United States LCME accredited medical schools For IMGs to be eligible for full licensure in every Canadian province and territory, they must hold: The candidate must also: However, some provinces may have alternate paths to licensure, e.g. British Columbia. IMGs in Canada have a harder time getting into residency programs compared to Canadian graduates — only ten percent of IMG applicants get a  position. Several organizations have put pressure on the government such as the Association For Access to Health Care Services, and Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. However, other organizations deny there is a physician shortage that requires Canada to import more physicians. United States. In the United States, an international medical graduate (IMG) is a graduate from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada. Graduates of Canadian M.D. programs are "not" considered IMGs in the United States. IMGs may be either United States citizens or non-citizens who were educated in a school outside U.S.  or Canada. Process. The main process for IMGs who wish to be licensed as physicians in the United States requires them to complete a U.S. residency hospital program. The general method to apply for residency programs is through the National Resident Matching Program (abbreviated NRMP, also called "the Match"). To participate in the NRMP match, an IMG is required to be ECFMG verified. IMGs who have not met the examination requirements for ECFMG Certification by the Rank Order List deadline *usually in February" cannot participate in the Match.<ref>