Rickie
My name is Rickie. I am a US citizen. The only language I know is English. I am however attending medical school in Poland. My degree is therefore recognized by the EU! I was wondering what are the steps needed after I get my degree to becoming a physician in Switzerland. Is the fact I only know english a problem?? Are there any board exams I have to pass? The more information the better. I would prefer a step by step guideline but whatever anyone can offer is much appreciated. Thanking you
most doctors I've encountered are fluent in at least 3 languages. So I'd say Yes, you're limiting your market and marketability.
It will be very hard to get a job as a doctor in Switzerland without having had an internship here.
Other than that (depending on where you want to practice) you should speak more than one language. Without this you may not be able to communicate with some of the hospital staff etc.
Good luck with your medical degree.
You would have to be fluent in at least one of the local languages
for sure! German is the most widely spoken of the three languages.
Most of the foreign doctors that come here are specialised.
I.e. Radiology, Oncology, etc.
To find the exact information will not be so easy since you
don't know the language.
does switzerland have any board exams that are required to pass in order to be a practicing physician? Like in the US, 3 exams are needed to pass before anyone can practice.
Thanks to the agreements on free movement of persons within the EU and other participating countries including Switzerland, a medical degree from Poland will be recognised abroad.
There seems to be a catch, though. As far as I know, most of these agreements only apply to nationals of participating countries.
So a person with exactly the same degree but an EU/EFTA/... passport will have it recognised, but you probably won't. You won't have easy access to the European job market either.
There's quite a lot of reading on this on the official websites...
http://www.bbt.admin.ch/themen/hoehe...x.html?lang=en
Sarik
(all this is a guess only, fortunately there are a few legal experts on EF, let's wait for them to come across this thread)
Wrong as far as diplomas are concerned.
Right.
Failing a bilateral agreement the recognition of diplomas is left at the discretionary authority of the relevant canton.
To get any kind of permanent medical job here, you need to get a certificate of competence in the language for the area.
My husband is currently working as a Gastarzt - guest doctor - here in Zurich at the Triemli hospital on a one year fellowship. He is highly experienced - he qualified as a doctor in 1995 and also has a Phd in his field - in the UK he would be a consultant, ie. senior doctor now.
He got the job because his former boss in the UK worked here and he wrote to the professor and then applied and got grants to fund his position here.
From his experiences so far, it's very difficult for someone to get a good permanent position in a teaching hospital especially at a junior level. It's very much about who you know and where you've worked already. They don't train up many doctors and the other junior doctors he works with have, interestingly enough, not had the same sort of opportunities for advanced training that he has had in the UK.
Good luck with your application, I have no idea where jobs are advertised and how you would go about finding out where to apply.
Hey Rdugal
A nice question..
As far as I can understand you are doing your graduate studies in Poland right.....doesnt matter about your citizenship status though...
I would sugges you to start learning a little german now, or may be a little french..
when are you gonna complete your basic degree.
Surely you can get hold of a job here in Switzerland...but put some stress in learning the language.
Well..no step examinations are usually required for Switzerland, Germany, Austria , France or Italy...
In Switzerland it is basically under the authority of FMH ( equivalent of GMC in UK ) and you can visit their site in www.fmh.ch
I would give you other tips too..
Have a nice day and enjoy!
Cheers
Dr.med.Diganta
Thanks a lot Dr. Diganta. I took a year off med school after my 2 years of basic science to study for my step 1 USMLE exam. I am keeping my options open. This is why I went to med school in Poland. I would love to be in American practicing, but I am really worried about how this war is going and who knows in 10-15 years what kind of war we will be in. I am glad in Switzerland, that its a neutral country and doesnt get itself into wars. Plus, I visited when I was 15, and really loved it. I went to Lausanne, And Geneva.
Anyways....I should be graduating in a 2 more years after I finish clinical rotations. After that I will make my decision where I want to do my residency/internship and where I would like to practice. I have narrowed my choices down to the US, Switzerland, and the UK. A lot of my decision making has to do with this years election, and the war we are in. Hillary, Obama, and Mccain all have health care plans that seem to make sense when they talk. But when these plans are actually put into action, I have no idea the kind of effect it will have in reality. I dont know the effect it will have on Dr's.
I am 26 years old, and its very hard for me to learn a new language. I know a couple of words here and there in french and german. I took 2 years of French in high school, but there is no way I remember all of it. I feel as though I can learn enough of either language to "survive". Becoming fluent is very difficult for me, because I do have a difficult time learning languages, and I am getting older...so it does become harder. In Poland, we learned basic Polish and how to say Medical Terms in Polish so we can interract with the Patients. I was able to get a decent hold of that.
Anymore information you can give me is much appreciated! Also, if you have any information on the GMC in the UK please pass along that. I went to their website and as far as I understand.....since my medicine degree is from Poland, I dont have to take the PLAB or any other board exam. Please tell me if I have that correct. Thanks a lot for your help and patience. And hopefully, we can talk on Skype or MSN messenger.
hello rickie
cheers!dont analyse so...much on what when and where in the present day scenerio........just pluck your grey cells into marfans, ulcerative colitis..or the history of billroth.....
we....cheers again....!!
i suppose the best for you to opt for the USMLE, take up the step 1, 2 CK and CS and go for a residency in the US..ofcourse your home country too..
Well....UK is a little mess these days...but perhaps might go better in the next 2-3 years...yea right, you will be exempted from PLAB...infact no one even opts for PLAB these days....complete your basic medical education and may be look for a job in the UK as a SHO if you wish too...but remember, if possible take up the ACLS/ATLS course there in Poland...would be cheap there I suppose...
Best wishes..and regards
DR.MED.DK
Hello Rudgal
I'd focus on english-speaking countries as UK or US or...
You may take into consideration that medical personel from France, Italy and Germany/Austria already apply for medical jobs in Switzerland, and they all speak fluently at least one of our language.
Don't waste your precious time with Switzerland ...
Good luck!
Apologize!! your name is rdugal , I'm sorry
my name is Rickie. I do realize that in the UK or the US the language barrier wont be there. But I am willing to adapt and learn. I am also trying trying to find connections and network myself.
Have you considered medecins san frontieres or the red cross?
Hi there ! Would you also have any idea on a non- EU qualified specialist? I am a radiologist with 7 years experience( in two asian countries,have been a stay at home mom for a year now) and am thinking of starting part time work. I dont mind doing research or fellowship work also.
Although I am taking French classes I am nowhere near to being fluent . Question is that if I am willing to do research based work like writing papers would it still require some additional qualifications? I have a phobia for taking exams . I haven't been able to find much Information on this on the net or with the local people. Thanks for any help.
Hi Rickie,
Don't let a little thing like language get in your way. 26 is not too late
to start learning a language! I started learning German at 30, and I have
the ZOP. That qualifies one to attend university in German.
You have to be disciplined and not afraid to practice.