IF YOU WANT TO STUDY IN THE UNITED STATES: SCHOLARS AND PROFESSIONALS
SCHOLARS AND PROFESSIONALS
Increasingly, mid-career scholars and professionals travel to the
United States to participate in postdoctoral research, to
lecture, to consult or to gain short- or long-term professional
training. Some come as part of established government or academic
programs; others are invited by particular institutions or are
self-sponsored.
If you are considering mid-career opportunities in the
United States, this booklet will address some of your concerns:
how to find information about training, research or temporary
positions; factors to consider when weighing options; and living
conditions.
The first part of the booklet discusses the professional
environment that a temporary academic or professional visitor
will encounter, some varieties of short-term academic experiences
that are available, and considerations for planning your stay.
The second part gives special information for physicians, nurses,
dentists, veterinarians and lawyers. A third section discusses
personal considerations that will be important in your planning.
A bibliography lists sources of further information, including
references for a large number of professions.
Another valuable source of information will be the
educational advising centers in your country: United States
Information Service (USIS) offices or libraries, U.S. educational
exchange commissions (Fulbright Commissions) and binational
centers. These centers provide information free of charge and may
also offer predeparture orientation programs or other services.
THE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
Academic and research institutions in the United States differ in
many respects from those in other countries. As a visiting
scholar, researcher or lecturer, you may find that many aspects
of faculty procedure, interaction with students, research
arrangements and responsibilities differ from your expectations.
Higher Education in the United States
Higher or postsecondary education in the United States builds on
12 years of education at the primary and secondary level. After
completion of high school at about age 18, students may enter a
college or university to work toward a baccalaureate degree, or
they may enter two-year community colleges or technical schools
for other training. The bachelor's degree, which takes a minimum
of four years to complete, can stand alone or can serve as the
prerequisite for graduate work.
At the graduate level, students may enter into a one- to
three-year master's program, or enter directly into predoctoral
programs which lead after a minimum of three years to a doctoral
degree. Some students complete a master's degree and then enter a
doctoral program in the same or in a different field.
After earning a doctorate, many students pursue further
research under a postdoctoral fellowship before seeking a
permanent position with a university, research center or business.
Faculty
In working on a temporary basis with faculty or researchers at
universities in the United States, you will need to be aware of
constraints and pressures on academics, as well as the underlying
structure of the faculty system.
In almost every academic institution, faculties are
organized into departments based on academic field, or
occasionally into multidisciplinary centers for focus on a
certain academic area. Each department operates independently,
headed by a department chair, under broad university guidelines.
Faculty members of a department usually choose their own
department chair, either a senior member of the department, or
occasionally someone from outside the university. In many cases,
the position of department chair rotates from one department
member to another, changing every three to four years. In other
cases, the department chair remains as long as other faculty
members agree. The department acts as a democratic body, by
participation of all members, who determine requirements for
degrees (within broad limits set by the university), admit
graduate students, decide whether degree candidates qualify,
choose teaching assistants, determine curriculum and hire new
faculty. In some departments, real power lies with the department
as a whole, more than with the chair as an individual. In others,
the chair is more powerful.
Faculty titles denote academic rank. In ascending order,
they are "lecturer" (or "instructor"), "assistant professor,"
"associate professor" and "professor." Except in the case of
very distinguished senior professors, most faculty members
address each other by first names and do not use these titles in
conversation.
Lecturers and assistant professors have a full teaching load
-- usually two classes that meet three times a week with a
laboratory, or perhaps three classes without a laboratory. In
addition, they may have one or more committee assignments (the
curriculum committee, the honors committee, etc.), which take
several hours per week. Add to this grading time, as well as
conference time and office hours for students, not to mention the
many hours of research or writing necessary to build a reputation
for scholarly research.
Under the system of promotion current in most university
departments, an assistant professor has five to seven years to
gain "tenure." At the end of this time, a committee of peers
(other university faculty) votes whether or not to recommend
tenure. One of the most important considerations is the faculty
member's research and publication record. Tenure is a guarantee
that he or she will remain employed by the university until
retirement, unless, for example, the institution suffers extreme
budget cuts leading to the elimination of the department or the
person commits a serious moral offense.
The purpose of the tenure system is to preserve academic
freedom, to prevent an institution from firing a professor for
making unpopular or radical statements or advocating unorthodox ideas. Today, with tight university budgets, the effects of the
tenure system have put strong pressure on assistant professors to
succeed early.
What difference does this system make to visiting scholars
and researchers? If you are given a year's appointment as a
visiting assistant professor or lecturer, you will be expected to
make similar commitments of time and to fulfill similar teaching
loads. Similarly, if your faculty collaborator is working toward
tenure, you may find that he or she has little extra time
available for collaboration. In centers or institutions devoted
entirely to research, however, visiting scholars often have fewer
distractions from research.
Faculty in the United States tend to identify first with
colleagues in their academic field and second with their
institution, except in smaller colleges at which teaching is the
primary activity. This is perhaps a consequence of the emphasis
on research and publication record as a measure of success.
Faculty salaries are often lower than salaries at comparable
levels of business or industry, ranging from an average of
approximately $30,000 for a lecturer to about $65,000 for a
professor. Faculty salaries in fields like engineering are higher
than the average.
Many faculty members serve as consultants to business,
industry and government, both as a source of outside income and
as a stimulus for professional development. Senior faculty
members sometimes hold joint appointments with part-time teaching
responsibilities and part-time administrative responsibilities.
Often administrative duties reduce the time and energy available
for effective research.
Students
In the university setting, faculty interactions with students are
informal. Often graduate students and faculty become close
friends and work together almost on an equal basis. Since U.S.
educational philosophy stresses analysis and critical thinking in
addition to mastery of information, class formats stimulate
exchange of ideas. Students, both graduate and undergraduate, do
not hesitate to challenge professors in class; in fact, most
professors encourage it as a sign of intellectual independence.
Encouragement of questioning, however, does not mean that
professors lack respect from students. Despite informality,
students and faculty maintain a certain personal distance, with
students deferring to faculty members. Faculty members usually
construct their own examinations, and students expect that
examinations will be given frequently. In most cases, faculty
grade examinations and papers for their courses, unless the
course has a very high enrollment.
Research Institutions
Some universities are devoted to research; others are not.
Research and scholarly activity take place in many kinds of
institutions besides universities. Often visiting scholars,
researchers and faculty come to private or public research
centers or hospitals.
Most research institutions are organized by field, with both
an administrative and a scientific/technical head for each
department (in some cases, the same person). Researchers may work
together as part of a team, or they may work alone; all have some
administrative relationship to the department. Grants-management
staff monitor expenses on the grant, and the principal
investigator is usually responsible for an annual grant report.
Quite often a foreign researcher establishes an arrangement
with a particular research center that focuses on his or her area
of research and then obtains a grant from public or private
sources (see Obtaining Funding) to work as the principal
investigator for the grant.
FINDING AND ARRANGING ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES
There are many avenues by which scholars, researchers and faculty
can come as temporary academic visitors to the United States.
Those described below are among the most common.
The Fulbright Visiting Scholars and Scholar in Residence Programs
Under the auspices of the Fulbright Program, foreign senior
scholars can come to the United States to do a year of research
or to lecture at U.S. academic institutions. Senator J. William
Fulbright introduced legislation in the U.S. Congress in 1946
establishing the Fulbright Program to increase mutual
understanding between the people of the United States and of
other countries.
The United States Information Agency (USIA) funds and
administers the Fulbright Program overseas; in some countries,
the host country shares in the funding. Different aspects of the
Fulbright Program are operative in each country; not all
countries participate. Check with the U.S. embassy or consulate
to determine Fulbright opportunities.
Scholars may obtain information about the program, which is
an open competition, and an application through the local
Fulbright Commission or U.S. Educational Foundation, or if there
is no Fulbright Commission, through the United States Information
Service (USIS) office located in the U.S. embassy or consulate.
After preliminary screening by the Fulbright Commissions/U.S.
Educational Foundations or by the USIS posts, recommended
applications are forwarded to the United States Information
Agency in Washington, D.C. and to the J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board for final selection by its members
which are appointed by the president of the United States.
The Council for the International Exchange of Scholars
(CIES) assists with the implementation of the program by
arranging university affiliations for senior Fulbright scholars
at U.S. academic institutions. Once scholars are in the United
States, CIES assists in program administration and support. CIES
has prepared a comprehensive publication explaining privileges
and obligations under the Fulbright Program. Fulbright grantees
receive this booklet at the time they receive their grant
documents.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, also administered by
USIA, provides opportunities in the United States for academic
study and professional development at selected institutions to
mid-career professionals from developing countries around the
world. The Humphrey Program awards fellowships on a competitive
basis in the fields of agriculture, public health, planning and
resource management, and public administration. USIS posts,
Fulbright Commissions and binational centers nominate candidates.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) reviews
nominations with the assistance of independent selection
committees and makes recommendations to the J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board, which approves final selections and
awards fellowships.
In contrast to many fellowship opportunities, the Humphrey
Program does not have as its goal the attainment of a degree.
Rather, in cooperation with Humphrey Program coordinators on
college and university campuses, fellows devise individually
tailored plans for a year-long program of academic work balanced
with professional development and internship activities.
University Affiliations Program
USIA's University Affiliations Program makes three-year grants to
partnerships formed by higher education institutions in the
United States and abroad to conduct exchanges for faculty members
in the humanities, social sciences, communications and education.
United States Agency for International Development
In participating countries, United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) missions arrange short- and
long-term training, both in-country and in the United States, in
technical and applied areas requested by the host country.
Usually the host-country government selects trainees.
Participants spend several months to several years either on U.S.
campuses or in training institutes. Alternatively, they attend
short study tours or courses concentrating on applications in
their field. Typical fields are agriculture, business, health,
banking and engineering. Although academic programs usually
require English-language proficiency, courses or tours are
sometimes conducted with the aid of an interpreter.
University Invitational Positions
University departments often have invitational positions, usually
a year in length, for visiting scholars, researchers or
lecturers. To be invited as a visiting scholar or visiting
lecturer a candidate must be a recognized authority in the field.
If you have an outstanding reputation as a researcher or have
personal or professional contacts with U.S. faculty, you may be
able to arrange a special invitational position. The U.S.
university normally provides a salary and in addition, may
provide research facilities. In some countries, there are
agencies which claim to be able to find invitational positions
for scholars, but these are rarely effective.
Short-term Training Programs and Seminars
Continuing education has become increasingly important in
American education in recent years. Universities, hospitals and
professional associations offer seminars and short courses for
mid-career professionals in all fields: however, these are
usually a week or less in length and therefore impractical for
someone from overseas. The vast majority of commercially
available seminars for mid-career professionals are also one to
three days in length.
Semi-independent training institutes affiliated with
universities or government entities, however, are beginning to
offer short-term training in business, agriculture and other
topics of interest to overseas professionals, with courses of
three months to a year in length. Consult the bibliography,
Sources for Further Information, as well as advisers
at an educational advising center in your country, for
possibilities.
Other Arrangements
Scholars and researchers anticipating a sabbatical or wishing to
conduct research in the United States often learn of
opportunities through speaking or corresponding with colleagues
in the same field or by attending professional meetings.
Professors may also learn of colleagues with similar research
interests through former students who are in the United States,
from U.S. university faculty or administrators visiting in their
country, or from papers in scholarly journals. Sometimes scholars
and researchers negotiate directly with a department or research
center. In business, scientific and technological fields, the
probability of arranging a research sabbatical in the United
States is higher than for humanities, social sciences and the
performing arts.
OBTAINING FUNDING
Take every step possible to secure adequate funding for research.
Arrangements for funding visiting researchers and scholars vary
greatly. Often the scholar's home institution pays regular salary
while the scholar is on sabbatical. Occasionally, scholars come
to the United States on their own funds.
Scholars considering a sojourn to the United States should
know that the budget situation in most universities and research
centers is currently tight. U.S. government funding for research
has been curtailed. Careful and realistic financial planning will
be crucial for the success of your program.
Some foundations and organizations provide grants to support
scholarly research in the arts, sciences, humanities and
health-related fields. Although competition is intense, foreign
nationals as well as U.S. citizens are often eligible to apply.
Consult sources listed in the bibliography at the end of this
booklet, as well as additional resources available at the nearest
educational advising center in your country. Usually the grant is
for a specific amount and supports research at a particular
facility or center.
Many grant applications specify that you present not only a
research plan, but also an agreement with a research institution before they will fund a grant. It is your responsibility to find
an institution that will agree to provide research facilities,
employ you and monitor grant expenditures if you are awarded a
grant. A committee of peers reviews grant proposals.
If you do receive a grant, determine whether the grant is to
you as an individual or to the institution who then agrees to
employ you with the funds from the grant. If you leave before the
grant is completed and the grant is to the institution, it will
remain with the institution.
Perhaps the ideal situation is to find an academic
department in the United States with a research grant allowing
employment of additional researchers. Usually such arrangements
arise through personal correspondence between the people
involved. There is no central source for information of this
type.
OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Negotiating Terms of Your Academic Stay
In negotiating a position as a visiting scholar or researcher,
you can avoid many painful misunderstandings by obtaining clear
agreement, in writing, about a number of important issues
regarding your stay. If you are corresponding with a researcher
(and not an administrator), try to ascertain diplomatically
whether the key administrator who will be responsible for your
arrangements is aware of your needs and interests, and is willing
to assist in meeting them. In universities, this key person is
usually the department chair.
In your preliminary correspondence, find out how much time
the principal faculty-contact person, as well as others in the
department, will actually be able to devote to collaboration or
consultation with you. Also, find out how directly involved your
faculty contact will be in the specific research project in which
you are interested. This is important, since a scholar often
expects that the faculty host will see him or her for 10 to 20
hours per month, whereas the host may not be prepared to spend
more than three or four hours a month.
Discuss what form the collaboration might take. Request a
copy of your host's curriculum vitae and become familiar with the
scope and background of his or her work, as well as educational
background, travel and languages. Make sure that you share
proficiency in at least one language with the person with whom
you will be working. Finally, arrive at a mutual understanding
about the length of time you will be visiting or working.
Departments may extend courtesies to visiting scholars, such
as an office with a desk and telephone, a university
identification card that allows access to the university library
and recreational facilities, authorization to apply for a parking
permit and perhaps secretarial help. These privileges are by no
means guaranteed. You should make sure before you come that your
expectations match those of the department in detail, not just in
broad outlines.
Universities and research centers in the United States are
not as highly subsidized as they are in many other countries.
Funds for research must be carefully budgeted within the department or research program. If you need access to a personal
computer or time on a mainframe computer, or if you need specific
laboratory equipment or facilities, negotiate with the department
(or, for a research center, with key administrators) about how
these will be provided and funded.
There are a number of research areas where, for reasons of
national security, there are government restrictions to
information access. If the research center with which you are
negotiating has been awarded sensitive U.S. government contracts,
the institution may require a security clearance. If you are not
a U.S. citizen, this requirement might pose problems.
Sometimes visiting scholars wish to attend classes. Some
universities extend this option as a courtesy without charge;
some do not. The demand on faculty time and the tight budgets of
many institutions make this issue a sensitive one. If you think
that you might be interested in courses, whether for credit or
not, correspond with the university before beginning your stay,
so that everyone has a clear understanding, in writing, of the
policy.
Corresponding With the Office of International Services
On some university campuses, particularly the large research
universities, an Office of International Services (variously
called Office of International Educational Services,
International Program Office, Office of International Students
and Scholars, etc.) offers a valuable liaison between visiting
scholars, researchers or faculty and the campus community. On
other campuses such an office may exist, but its focus may be
directed primarily to students. Even in the latter case, however,
this office may be a helpful source of general and visa
information. Among other things, it can provide information about
many aspects of living and working in the United States and the
particular institution you have chosen.
Because these offices were originally established primarily
in response to the needs of international students, the office
that assists scholars, researchers and visiting faculty may even
be called the International Student Services Office. This is not
meant to be derogatory or demeaning to scholars and international
faculty members; it is simply a historical remnant. Most
campuses, in fact, have been changing the name of these offices
to reflect current realities in international exchange.
As soon as you begin to negotiate with a department or
granting body, it would be helpful to send a copy of your
correspondence to the Office of International Services. This
office can advise the department, in light of the information
that you send them about your situation, regarding the most
appropriate visa to request, both for you and your family. In a
research center or training hospital, a training liaison officer
performs this function.
Visa Information
As you finalize your arrangements with an institution or
organization, you should be sure that you have received clear
information and have given clear information to the university or organization about the following:
- The terms of your appointment, how long the appointment is
for, the type of appointment and what field the appointment
is in;
- Visas you have previously held for the United States and
their dates;
- Your qualification for the position;
- How soon you plan to depart your country and how long you
will stay in the United States;
- Your professional standing;
- Whether or not your family will accompany you, and if so,
whether your spouse would like to work;
- Funding arrangements and any tax implications; and
- Your plans after completion of the appointment.
After the university or research center sends you the
appropriate documentation to apply for a visa, you will need to
present to the American consul, proof of sufficient funding for
the duration of your stay, for yourself as well as for any family
members who will accompany you. In any case, do not plan to come
on a business (B-1) or tourist (B-2) visa and change your
immigration status after arrival. The U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Service may not authorize such changes.
Professional Meetings, Conferences and Training Events
While you are in the United States, correspond with professional
associations to determine dates and locations of professional
meetings, seminars, conferences and short-term training programs
in your field. These can be costly; attending a week-long
conference can cost over $1,000, but the benefits usually justify
the expense. If you have a grant or fellowship, ask if there is a
provision for attending conferences or for other professional
development activities.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
This text covers medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary
medicine and law in some detail. Information about a large
assortment of additional professions is available through
references cited in "Sources for Further Information" at the end
of this booklet.
Medicine
First Professional Degree
In the United States, admission to medical school is very
competitive. It is rare for students from other countries to be
admitted to a first professional-degree program in medicine. To
be eligible to apply for medical school, students usually
complete the equivalent of a bachelor's degree (four years beyond
the 12 years required to finish secondary school).
The cost of educating a medical student is much more than
the cost of tuition. Because many medical schools are funded
largely by taxes raised in the state where they are located
(e.g., Wisconsin or Pennsylvania), they naturally give preference
to state residents. There are no spaces reserved for foreign
students in U.S. medical schools. Although anyone is eligible to apply, foreign students rarely gain admission to a U.S. medical
school without pre-medical study in the United States and even
then, very rarely.
U.S. students, too, feel the effects of the high level of
competition for a limited number of spaces; less than half of
U.S. applicants are accepted. Because of the extremely high level
of competition, only 150 of the 15,867 students who entered
medical school in a recent year were foreign nationals. Of these,
all but a few had graduated from a college or university in the
United States.
Medical school usually lasts four years, combining classroom
experience with observation and patient care in the areas of
internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics,
psychiatry, surgery and often family practice. Classroom study
includes basic medical science, basic clinical science (both
therapy and technology), preventive medicine and social sciences
pertinent to the practice of medicine: ethics, behavioral science
and human values.
To be eligible to practice medicine, a physician who
attended medical school in the United States must:
- Attain the doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree from a medical
school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical
Education, consisting of representatives of the American
Medical Association, the Association of American Medical
Colleges and representatives of the public;
- Complete a period of residency or graduate medical
education; and
- Pass state licensure examinations.
Obtaining ECFMG Certification
In the United States, graduate training for physicians may take
several forms. Those who wish to practice a specialized field of
medicine usually complete a prescribed period of clinical
training in the chosen specialty or residency. The training
received, or additional graduate study, also may lead to teaching
in a medical school or toward medical research.
To obtain residency positions, clinical fellowships or other
training involving patient contact, foreign medical graduates
must meet certification standards. The Educational Commission for
Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) conducts a program of
certification of foreign medical graduates to assure the people
of the United States and the directors of residency programs
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education (ACGME) that applicants meet minimal standards of
eligibility. Graduates of foreign medical schools, including U.S.
citizens who have graduated from medical schools not accredited
by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, must meet
requirements for ECFMG certification. In order to qualify for
application to residency training involving patient contact, a
medical school graduate must:
- Submit documents (and translations if necessary) showing
graduation from a medical school listed at the time of
graduation, in the then-current World Directory of Medical
Schools;
- Submit documents showing completion of all educational
requirements to practice medicine in the country where
medical education was completed. (nationals of the country
must provide a license to practice in that country);
- Pass the ECFMG English test;
- Pass both the clinical and basic medical science sections of
the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and
Step 2, or the former Foreign Medical Graduate Examination
in the Medical Sciences (FMGEMS) or Visa Qualifying
Examination (VOE), (no longer given) or the Federation
Licensing Examination (FLEX) as given prior to June 1985.
(Note: The FLEX as currently administered by individual
state medical boards differs from the examination as given
before June 1985 and is not acceptable for ECFMG
certification.); and
- Present a clear ECFMG financial record for payment of
testing fees.
USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 and the ECFMG English test are given
twice a year at a number of locations overseas. ECFMG annually
publishes the Information Booklet and Application for ECFMG
Certification through USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 and the ECFMG
English Test. For a copy of this booklet, which contains further
information about these examinations, about credentials and
documents accepted from each country, and about ECFMG
certification, contact:
Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA
Telephone: (215) 386-5900 / Telex: 710-670-1020
The number of applicants for ECFMG certification far
surpasses the number who attain it. In addition to ECFMG
certification, some states require that prospective foreign
residents or clinical fellows pass the licensing examination,
currently the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX). The FLEX
test covers basic medical science and clinical practice. State
medical boards administer the FLEX examination, usually in the
state capital city in June and December of each year. FLEX will
be replaced by the USMLE program which consists of Step 1, Step 2
and Step 3. For further information, contact:
Federation of State Medical Boards of the U.S.
6000 Western Pl., Suite 707
Fort Worth, TX 76107 USA
Telephone: (817) 735-8445
Locating A Residency or Clinical Fellowship
The supply of qualified physicians in the U.S. has exceeded
demand in recent years. At present, the number of available
residency positions or clinical fellowships is less than the number of qualified applicants. In some cases, U.S. physicians
trained in accredited U.S. medical schools have been unable to
find residency positions. In some years, only small percentages
of foreign medical graduates who attained ECFMG certification
were placed in residency positions.
Residents receive a salary from the participating hospital.
Clinical fellows see patients under the supervision of licensed
physicians just as residents do, however, they may or may not
receive a salary but rather have funding from other sources,
perhaps from an institution in their home country or from their
own resources. The term "fellowship" does not imply funding from
the hospital for clinical fellows.
Foreign medical graduates applying for residencies or
clinical fellowships must have ECFMG certification before
beginning their program, but they may initiate correspondence
with a hospital before they receive certification. If they
participate in the National Resident Matching Program, they must
pass the ECFMG examination sequence by January 1 of the year in
which they plan to enter and must submit proof of certification
by the start of the residency. Physicians may apply directly to
accredited residency programs or clinical fellowships in a
specialty listed in theDirectory of Residency Programs (published annually), or they may elect to enter the computerized
National Resident Matching Program (the avenue chosen by most
applicants). This program allows each applicant to submit a list
of preferred residencies, and the requests are matched with
available programs. For information, see the bulletin of the
ECFMG, or write:
National Resident Matching Program
Executive Secretary
2450 N St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037-1141 USA
Telephone: (202) 828-0566
For an order form for the Directory of Residency Programs, write
to:
American Medical Association
Order Department OF416792
P.O. Box 109050
Chicago, IL 60610 USA
Telephone: (800) 621-8335
In corresponding with hospitals, be sure that you have clear
information about salary, length of employment or appointment,
elements of the residency program, hours of duty and
responsibilities, and whether or not the hospital will provide
health and professional liability insurance.
ECFMG-certified foreign physicians who are matched with
residency positions usually are eligible to receive sponsorship
from the ECFMG as Exchange Visitors. The period for which their Exchange Visitor (J-1) status may be valid varies with the
medical specialty chosen and must be renewed annually. Each
specialty board determines the appropriate length of time for
postgraduate clinical training in that specialty. After
completion of the stipulated training period, Exchange Visitor
status expires and the Exchange Visitor physician must leave the
United States. The Exchange Visitor physician is not eligible to
petition to apply to return to the United States in immigrant
status, "H" temporary worker or trainee status, or as an
intracompany transferee until he or she has resided in the home
country or country of last permanent residence for two years.
Some Alternatives That Do Not Require ECFMG Certification
ECFMG Foreign Faculty Fellowship Program in the Basic Medical
Sciences
This program, designed to strengthen basic science teaching in
foreign medical schools, brings selected faculty members from
foreign medical schools to teach and study for periods of nine
months to one year in a U.S. medical school. Completed
applications are submitted by the U.S. host institution on behalf
of a candidate, or, if a U.S. institution has not been selected,
ECFMG will evaluate the partial application and attempt to
arrange a suitable match with a U.S. medical school. All
applications must include the endorsement of the candidate's
home-country medical school. The fellowships are not intended to
support research or a formal curriculum leading to a degree.
- ECFMG International Medical Scholars Program
This program provides educational opportunities in the United
States or foreign scholars who will contribute to academic
medicine or the development of health services in their home
countries. The program provides support for training in medicine,
public health or health care administration for periods of three
months to one year. Applicants must be proficient in English,
have a graduate or professional degree related to their chosen
field and demonstrate professional achievements. The fellowships
are not intended to support research or a formal curriculum
leading to a degree. For further information about either of
ECFMG's fellowship programs, contact:
- ECFMG Washington Office
- 2000 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 3600
- Washington, D.C. 20006 USA
- Telephone: (202) 293-9320
- Immigrant Physicians
Since the United States now has more qualified physicians than
demand warrants, foreign medical doctors are no longer given
automatic labor certification leading toward immigrant visas. A
physician who wishes to immigrate to the United States is not
given priority treatment, but must qualify for an immigrant visa
either through an individual labor certification showing that no
qualified U.S. physician is available for the position being
offered the alien applicant, or through family relationship to a
U.S. citizen or permanent resident. A foreign medical doctor who
obtains an individual labor certification may qualify for an
immigrant visa under third preference (members of the
professions). One who qualifies for an immigrant visa because of
family relationships may do so as an immediate relative (spouse
or unmarried minor child of a U.S. citizen or parent of a U.S.
citizen who is over 21-years-old), or as a first, second, fourth
or fifth preference alien (son or daughter of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, spouse of a permanent resident, or brother or
sister of a U.S. citizen). In any case, a graduate of a foreign
medical school must obtain ECFMG certification in order to
practice medicine in the United States.
An Exchange Visitor (J-1) physician, as mentioned, must
leave the United States at the end of the training period and is
not eligible to petition to return to the United States in
immigrant status, temporary "H" worker or trainee status, or as
an intracompany transferee until he or she has resided in the
home country for two years.
Nursing
In the United States, professional "registered" nurses (RN) must
be licensed in the state of employment. Each state has its own
Board of Nursing which issues RN licenses on the basis of
individual, state-mandated regulations. However, every state uses
the same licensing examination known as the NCLEX-RN which must
be passed before a license can be given. Most states require
nurses educated outside of the U.S. to have a Certificate from
the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) as
a prerequisite to taking the NCLEX-RN. The CGFNS is further important when applying for either a
temporary non-immigration visa (H-1A) or a permanent visa. When
applying for the H-1A visa, you will be asked to prove that you
will be employed in a U.S. healthcare facility that is qualified
to hire nurses with H-1A visas and that you already have either a
full and unrestricted RN license in the state where you will be
employed or a CGFNS Certificate. When applying for a permanent
immigrant occupation preference visa, you will need a U.S. Labor
Certificate from the Department of Labor. You need a CGFNS
Certificate to be issued a labor certificate.
To obtain a CGFNS, first submit documents to the CGFNS
credentials review. You will be registered for the CGFNS Exam if
you:
- Are currently registered as a first-level general nurse in
the country where you were educated;
- Have completed an upper secondary school education, separate
from nursing education;
- Have graduated from a government-approved general nursing
program of at least two years; and
- Have received theory and clinical practice in medical,
surgical, obstetric, pediatric and psychiatric nursing.
The two-part CGFNS Exam tests nursing knowledge and
English-language proficiency. It is a "predictor" test in that it
is designed so that a passing result on the CGFNS Exam means you
have a very good chance of passing NCLEX-RN. The CGFNS Qualifying
Examination is given three times a year at sites around the
world. For information on the CGFNS Certification Program,
including application forms, write:
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools
3600 Market St., Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2651 USA
Telephone: (215) 349-8767
Veterinary Medicine
There are no spaces in veterinary schools reserved for students
from other countries. In fact, it is very difficult for foreign
students to gain admission to U.S. veterinary schools, simply as
a result of the intense competition for a limited number of
places.
There are only 27 schools of veterinary medicine in the
United States, all associated with universities. Of these, 25 are
largely state-financed; that is, tax money raised by the
individual state (e.g., Minnesota) supports the school. Hence, it
is not surprising that applicants from the home state are given
first preference and that there are few opportunities for
students from other countries. The American Veterinary Medical
Association reports that in 1991 and 1992, of the 2,225 students
admitted to veterinary schools, 16 were foreign nationals.
In the United States, many students who enter veterinary
school have completed at least four years of education past the
secondary level and attained a bachelor's level in universities,
although a few universities have pre-veterinary majors similar to
pre-medical studies, and vocational colleges have programs to
train veterinary assistants.
Veterinarians begin practice in the United States after four
years of study in veterinary schools and attainment of the first
professional degree, doctor of veterinary medicine, D.V.M. or
V.M.D. Before beginning practice, veterinarians must be licensed
by the state in which they plan to work.
Admission to U.S. Veterinary Schools
There is no central admissions service for veterinary schools as
there is for law schools and medical schools. Students apply
directly to veterinary schools; chances are somewhat better at
private than at state-supported schools. The primary
consideration for admission is the quality of the undergraduate
record. Of the 27 schools, more than half require the Veterinary
Aptitude Test for admission; four require the Medical College
Admissions Test (MCAT); a few require parts of the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE). Another alternative to veterinary
school is to enter a graduate academic program in animal studies.
Competition is less intense, since these programs do not lead to
professional certification.
Postgraduate Training
For foreign-trained veterinarians with the equivalent of the
D.V.M., there are two alternatives for postgraduate training in
the United States. Veterinary schools offer postgraduate academic
programs leading to the master's degree in veterinary science or
to the Ph.D., in conjunction with associated universities. These
programs do not lead toward clinical practice, but rather toward
teaching in veterinary schools, employment by pharmaceutical
companies or research. The proportion of foreign graduate
students in these programs (on the average, about 10 to 20
percent of total enrollment) is higher than in programs leading to the D.V.M.
Another postgraduate option is residency training leading
toward board certification in a specialty, such as veterinary
ophthalmology or veterinary pathology. Residency training, also
associated with veterinary schools, takes three years; it
involves a combination of academic and clinical experience. Most
U.S. veterinarians do not elect to enter a specialty; rather,
they go into general practice. Foreign veterinarians are
occasionally accepted into residency training. Apply to the
individual veterinary school which offers the specialty of
interest.
Immigrant Veterinarians
To practice in most states in the United States, immigrant
veterinarians must gain certification from the American
Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Educational Commission
for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). In all states,
veterinarians must pass state licensure before they are eligible
to practice. For additional information, contact:
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 North Meacham Rd., Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173 USA
Telephone: (708) 925-8070, Extension 211
Dentistry
First Professional Degree
In the United States, dental study usually begins after four
years of undergraduate work (a minimum of two years of
undergraduate pre-dental study is mandatory). Most students
attain a bachelor's degree or master's degree before entering
dental school. Universities do not have undergraduate studies in
dentistry; students planning to study dentistry take a
combination of liberal arts and sciences, with any major being
acceptable for admission.
Dental school curricula leading to the first professional
degree, doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) or doctor of dental
medicine (D.M.D.) require four years of study_two years with an
emphasis on basic medical sciences as it applies to dentistry,
and two years emphasizing a clinical orientation. Upon attaining
the D.D.S. or D.M.D., dentists must pass both the National
Licensing Examination and the State Board Examination in the
state of intended professional practice.
Admission to First Professional Degree Programs
Those who apply to dental schools should remember that the level
of competition is very high, for U.S. citizens as well as for
foreign nationals. There are no spaces reserved for foreign
students in U.S. dental schools. Chances of obtaining admission
to a private dental school are somewhat higher than those of
admission to a state-supported dental school. The cost of
educating a dental student far exceeds tuition payments, because
many dental schools naturally give preference to state residents. For this reason, students who are state residents are admitted to
state dental schools before U.S. students who live in other
states and foreign nationals.
Although anyone is eligible to apply, foreign students
rarely gain admission to a school of dentistry in the United
States without having completed at least two years of pre-dental
study in a U.S. university. Other requirements for admission are:
- An excellent undergraduate academic record;
- Proficiency in the English language; and
- A score on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) judged
satisfactory by the individual dental school.
The Dental Admissions Test, given in the Spring and Fall, is
an examination which measures proficiency in mathematics,
biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, reading and perceptual
motor abilities. Although its scheduled locations are all within
the United States, applicants who inquire several months in
advance can sometimes arrange an overseas administration. For
further information, contact:
American Dental Association
Council on Dental Education
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611 USA
Telephone: (312) 440-2500
Postgraduate Dental Training
After receiving the equivalent of the D.D.S., dentists may apply
for postgraduate training at hospitals or dental schools. Some
programs lead to a master's degree in advanced dentistry. Others
offer specialty training. Upon completion of specialty training
programs, licensed dentists may apply for board certification in
that specialty. These programs admit foreign dental graduates,
particularly in fields such as dental public health, more
frequently than do first professional degree programs.
There is no certifying examination administered worldwide
for postgraduate dental students comparable to the FMGEMS for
medicine. Some specialty programs, such as oral surgery and
periodontics, require that foreign dentists complete at least the
last two years of prudent studies in a U.S. university, as well
as complete the D.D.S. at a dental school in the United States
that is accredited by the American Dental Association. Some may
also require state licensure and national board certification.
Dental schools are more likely to consider unlicensed foreign
applicants for postgraduate training than are hospitals.
Short-term Educational Opportunities
Dental schools and hospitals offer postgraduate continuing
education courses lasting from a few days to a few weeks. These
courses provide updates on the latest information about specific
topics and are open to foreign dentists. Current listings of
continuing education courses appear in the June and December
issues of The Journal of the American Dental Association ordered
from the address given above for the American Dental Association.
Law
The legal system in the United States on the federal level and in
most states derives from the British system of common law;
however, one state, Louisiana, has a legal system modeled on the
French legal code.
Postgraduate Legal Education
The most appropriate U.S. degree programs for foreign national
lawyers are the master of comparative law (M.C.L.) and the master
of comparative jurisprudence (M.C.J.). Recognizing that legal
systems in many other countries differ from common law as
practiced in the United States, these programs acquaint lawyers
from other countries with U.S. legal institutions and relevant
specialties of U.S. law. Another possibility is the master of
laws (LL.M.). Consult the prospectus of individual law schools
for programs. These programs, one year in duration, are flexible
and can be planned according to the interests of the student.
During the period of study, foreign lawyers receive opportunities
to observe courts and governmental agencies in the United States.
Law schools arrange for foreign lawyers entering graduate study
to attend an orientation on American law given by:
The International Law Institute
1615 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009 USA
Telephone: (202) 483-3036
Similar programs are given by several U.S. universities on a
short- term basis, often in the summer. Foreign lawyers may also
find graduate programs in international law or international
business law of interest.
Short-term Legal Education
Lawyers in many countries may participate in short-term programs,
usually about 30 days in length, which provide visits to U.S.
legal institutions. For information about these programs, contact
the United States Information Service (USIS) or the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID).
The First Professional Degree
Law schools in the United States prepare students for the juris
doctor (J.D.) degree (considered equivalent to a doctoral
degree). Since the curriculum provides general basic legal
education directed toward the practice of law in the United
States, foreign nationals will find other degrees more
appropriate. Although law schools offer individual courses which
emphasize particular subject areas such as environmental law,
taxation or business law, there are no specific J.D. programs for
any single specialty except at the postgraduate level. Law school
requires three years of full-time study.
Admission to Law School
Although some law schools will admit students with only three years of undergraduate study, almost all applicants to law school
complete a bachelor's degree before entering. Other requirements
for application include:
- An excellent undergraduate academic record; and
- Taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Foreign students whose native language is not English also
must submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL examination given
several times a year at many sites in the United States and
overseas. For further information about the LSAT, contact:
Law School Admissions Services
Box 2000 Newton, PA 18940 USA
Telephone: (215) 968-1100
Most students apply through the Law School Admission
Service. Competition for spaces in law school is intense for U.S.
citizens as well as foreign nationals. For information about
being a law student, contact:
American Bar Association
Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar
550 West North St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
Telephone: (317) 264-8340
Admission to Legal Practice
To practice law in the United States, an applicant must pass the
bar examination for the state where he or she intends to
practice. While there is no national bar examination, part of the
state bar examination usually consists of a national, standard
multiple-choice examination. The other half of the bar
examination is state-specific. Each state has different
requirements for admitting candidates to the bar. Immigrants are
eligible to take state-bar examinations.
PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOLARS AND PROFESSIONALS COMING TO
THE UNITED STATES
Consult the Office of International Services, the training
liaison officer, or other administrative officer to ask for
further information about aspects of living and working in the
United States. Before you go, you may find valuable advice in the
references listed in the bibliography below or from other sources
in the nearest U.S. educational advising office, USIS library or
U.S. educational exchange commission.
Cost of Living
Ask for an estimate of the total cost of living in the community
and at the institution where you will be working. Usually, the
Office of International Services or the training liaison officer
will have cost ranges. Find out if the estimate was prepared for students or for mid-career professionals; if for students, you
will find that estimates are low. Actual living costs will depend
heavily on housing and transportation options available, and on
whether you are bringing your family. Be sure to include in your
estimate costs of health insurance, rent, travel, purchase of
publications, clothing required because of climate differences,
and automobile purchase and maintenance, if you will need a car.
It is common for foreign scholars and professionals to find that
all costs exceed what they had anticipated.
Housing
In some instances, you may be eligible for special housing
provided by the institution. The Office of International Services
may be aware of possibilities and options, and sometimes will be
in a position to help you find housing. Establish by
correspondence before you leave whether you will be finding
housing on your own, or whether the department, the research
center, the Office of International Services or some individual
will be willing to help you. It is unrealistic to expect that
someone will help unless you have established this in advance.
Bringing Your Family
Whether or not you bring your family will depend on the cost of
living, the educational level of your dependents, opportunities
for your spouse and the level of support you can expect. You may
want to consider coming by yourself at first and then bringing
your family after you are settled.
Schooling for Children
School-age children will be eligible to attend public or private
schools as your dependents. The Office of International Services
or training liaison officer can advise you about documents,
medical requirements and immunizations for the local school
district. Bring academic records for each of your children,
translated if necessary, to aid in placement. Instruction is in
English (except in a few areas with large populations of other
ethnic groups). Large cities or diplomatic centers such as New
York and Washington, D.C. may have special schools that teach in
the language of your home country or according to particular
religious preferences.
Opportunities for Spouses
There are a variety of opportunities for cultural, educational
and professional enrichment for a spouse accompanying a foreign
scholar, researcher or professional. Individuals with
appointments at a U.S. college or university may find active
support programs for spouses and dependents, including
English-language classes, student and support groups, and
outings. Depending on the community and the organization at which
you will be placed, similar opportunities may be available in
noncampus settings.
If your spouse has an advanced degree, or has distinguished
merit and ability in some field, or a high degree of professional
or artistic skill, he or she may be able to qualify for one of several temporary-worker visas. If your spouse is qualified and
interested in pursuing academic training in the United States, he
or she may be able to enroll at a college or university as an F-1
non-immigrant student. In most cases, however, your spouse will
not be permitted to work. Permission to engage in employment is
granted by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and
involves an application process which may take several months to
process.
If you are admitted to the United States as a J-1 Exchange
Visitor, your spouse is eligible for work permission as a J-2
visitor. For specific information about this employment
eligibility, ask for information from your Exchange Visitor
program sponsor.
Banking
Inquire locally, as well as from sources in the community to
which you will be travelling, about the best method for
transferring funds from your country, and about establishing a
bank account in the United States. The Office of International
Services may have suggestions about who should transfer funds,
how they should be transferred, how long it will take (sometimes
up to six weeks) and when you should begin.
Taxes
All visiting scholars and professionals are subject to federal
and state income tax on U.S.-source income, as well as on most
grants and scholarships. In certain cases, particularly if your
stay in the United States exceeds a certain number of years, you
may be subject to income tax on your worldwide income. The extent
of that tax liability for that income, however, varies
significantly depending on numerous factors, including your tax
status as either a resident or nonresident taxpayer. Please note
that tax status is different than immigration status; you may
find that you are treated as a nonresident for immigration
purposes and a resident for tax purposes. The nonimmigrant status
you have in the United States will have an impact on what tax
treatment you receive, but it is not the only consideration in
determining that treatment. Inquire about your tax treatment
before you leave your home country so that you can make
adjustments as necessary. Be sure to find out if there is a tax
treaty between your country and the United States, and what
provisions might affect your tax status. Bring the necessary
records and keep copies of any documents involved in tax records.
Depending on your immigration status, you may also be subject to
U.S. Social Security taxes.
Health Insurance
In the United States, medical treatment, especially hospital
care, is extremely expensive, and the government does not provide
free or subsidized medical care. You must make adequate provision
for possible emergencies and health care by buying health
insurance for you and your dependents, as do most Americans. If
you have a policy already that offers international coverage,
inquire whether it will be valid for medical costs incurred in the United States. Also check whether your coverage is adequate
for U.S. costs. If not, ask the Office of International Services
or your sponsor about any available low-cost group policies. If
you are ineligible for some reason (for example, sometimes
scholars exceed the age limit imposed on policies that are
primarily designed for foreign students), you will still need to
purchase health insurance.
Before buying a policy, read it carefully to see what is and
is not covered. Usually, routine office visits, dental care and
eye care are not covered. Most policies state that pre-existing
conditions are not covered until a certain time has elapsed after
the purchase of the policy. If pregnancy is a possibility, read
the policy carefully to see what proportion of prenatal, delivery
and postnatal costs is actually covered.
Religion
The United States encourages religious freedom for all faiths. In
most U.S. cities, even small ones, you will be able to locate
others who share your faith. The Office of International Services
will have information about local religious activities.
Sources for Further Information
The following references may be available in your
country at a U.S. educational advising office, U.S. educational
exchange office, binational center or USIS library. This is only
a sampling of available resources and does not imply endorsement.
For additional references, consult other booklets in this series.
Directories
Directory of Graduate Programs
4 vols. Published biennially. Warner Books, Education Department,
Time and Life Building, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10020.
Volume A: Natural Sciences;
Volume B: Engineering and Business;
Volume C: Social Science and Education; and
Volume D: Arts, Humanities and Other Fields.
Institutions listed by fields of study, crossclassified
by number of students in each department; useful for assessing
relative size and emphasis of departments.
Encyclopedia of Associations: Volume I, National
Organizations of the United States. Published
annually. Gale Research Co., 835 Penobscot Building, Detroit,
MI 48226.
Crossclassification of associations by field,
with contact address, telephone and major services of national
organizations which can be helpful in locating particular types
of research or shortterm learning opportunities.
Guide to International Education.
1994. David S. Hoopes. Gale Research Co., 835 Penobscot Building,
Detroit, MI 48226.
Educational exchange organizations; associations
and agencies concerned with international studies in the professions;
source books and directories; resource and service organizations
for foreign visitors.
Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study.
6 vols. Published annually. Peterson's Guides, 202 Carnegie Center,
P.O. Box 2123, Princeton, NJ 085432123.
Volume I: Graduate and Professional Programs: An
Overview;
Volume II: Graduate Programs in the Humanities and
Social Sciences;
Volume III: Graduate Programs in the Biological and
Agricultural Sciences;
Volume IV: Graduate Programs in the Physical Sciences
and Mathematics;
Volume V: Graduate Programs in Engineering and Applied
Sciences; and
Volume VI: Graduate Programs in Business, Education,
Health and Labor.
Short capsular descriptions and detailed information
about research interests of faculty, with overall descriptions
of the graduate program of the department. Contains useful information
about research centers as well.
Research Centers Directory.
Published annually. Gale Research Co., 835 Penobscot Building,
Detroit, MI 48226.
Name, contact persons, types of research and sponsorship
of research centers in the United States, crossclassified
by type of research.
Academic Fields
There are hundreds of references for particular fields;
it is impossible to include more than a sampling. Consult the
advising center nearest you for additional information.
American Studies
American Quarterly. Johns
Hopkins University Press, 2715 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD
21218.
Architecture
Accredited Programs in Architecture.
Published annually. National Architectural Accrediting Board,
1735 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
Landscape Architecture, Accredited Programs.
American Society of Landscape Architecture, Accreditation Board,
4401 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20008.
Business Management/Public Administration
Annual Roster of Accredited Programs.
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration,
1120 G St., N.W., Suite 730, Washington D.C. 20005.
Members of the Accreditation Council (Accredited
Schools) of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
Published annually. American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of
Business (AACSB), 605 Old Ballas Rd., Suite 220, Attn: Publications,
St. Louis, MO 631417077.
Communication/Journalism/Mass Media
Accredited Journalism and Mass Communications
Education. Published annually. Accrediting
Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, University
of Kansas, School of Journalism, StaufferFlint Hall, Lawrence,
KS 66045.
Computer Science
Administrative Directory of College and University
Computer Science Departments and Computer Centers.
Published in evennumbered years. Computing Sciences Accreditation
Board, Two Landmark Square, Suite 209, Stamford, CT 06901.
This organization also publishes a directory of
graduate assistantships in computer science.
Economics/Agricultural Economics
Guide to Graduate Study in Economics, Agricultural
Economics, Public Administration and Doctoral Degrees in Business
Administration in the United States and Canada.
1989. Economics Institute, Publications Center, 1030 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302.
Description of graduate programs and courses, including
special information for foreign students and scholars.
Education
Annual List of Accredited Institutions.
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, 2010
Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 200361023.
Engineering
Accredited Programs Leading to Degrees in Engineering.
Published annually. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
(ABET), Inc., Publications Office, 345 East 47th St. New York,
NY 100172397.
Directory of Engineering Graduate Studies and
Research. American Society for Engineering
Education, Publication Sales, 11 Dupont Circle, Suite 200, Washington,
D.C. 20036.
Annual publication details research emphasis, describes
graduate departments and lists grants for research in various
fields.
Fine Arts
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Directory. Published annually. NASAD,
Publications Department, 11250 Roger Bacon Dr., Suite 21, Reston,
VA 22090.
Health Education
Allied Health Education Directory.
Published annually. Division of Allied Health Education and Accreditation,
American Medical Association, 515 North State St., Chicago, IL
60610.
Library Science
Graduate Library Education Programs Accredited
by the American Library Association. American
Library Association, Accreditation Commission, 50 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611.
Linguistics
Directory of Programs in Linguistics in the U.S.
and Canada. Linguistics Society of America,
1325 18th St., N.W., Suite 211, Washington, D.C. 200366501.
Mathematics
Mathematical Sciences Professional Directory.
Annual. American Mathematical Society, P.O. Box 5904, Boston,
MA. 02206.
Sciences
American Chemical Society Directory of Graduate
Research. Published biennially. American
Chemical Society, 1155 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
American Chemical Society List of Approved Schools.
Published annually. American Chemical Society, 1155 16th St.,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.
Directory of Geoscience DepartmentsNorth
America. American Geological Institute,
4220 King St., Alexandria VA 22302.
Guide to Graduate Study in Botany in the United
States and Canada. Botanical Society of
America, Office of Publications, American Journal of Botany,
1735 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 432101293.
Social Sciences
Directory of Accredited Programs in Planning.
American Institute of Certified Planners, Iowa State University
Research Park, 2501 North Loop Dr., Suite 800, Ames, IA 50010.
Directory of History Departments and Organizations
in the United States and Canada. Published
annually. American Historical Association, 400 A St., S.E., Washington,
D.C. 20003.
Graduate Faculty and Programs in Political Science.
Published every three years. Latest edition, 19921994. American
Political Science Association, 1527 New Hampshire Ave., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields.
Published annually. American Psychological Association, Publication
Sales Department, 750 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 200024242.
Guide to Departments of Geography in the United
States and Canada. Published annually.
Association of American Geographers, 1710 16th St., N.W., Washington
D.C. 200093198.
Guide to Graduate Departments of Sociology.
American Sociological Association, 1722 N St., N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20036.
Financial Planning, Grants and Fellowship
Consult current bulletins and special brochures for
scholars and researchers published by the universities, research
centers or foundations you are considering.
Annual Register of Grant Support: A Directory
of Funding Sources. Published annually.
Reed Reference Publishing, 121 Chanlon Rd., New Providence, NJ
07974.
The Foundation Directory.
Published annually. The Foundation Center, Department HC, 79 Fifth
Ave., New York, NY 10003.
Guide to research and other grants offered by the
largest foundations.
Grants, Fellowships and Prizes of Interest to
Historians. Published annually. American
Historical Association, 400 A St., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003.
The Grants Register. Published
biannually. St. Martin's Press, Inc., 175 Fifth Ave., New York,
NY 10010.
National Directory of Arts and Education Support
by Business Corporations. Updated every
two to three years. Latest edition, 1991. Allied Business Consultants,
Inc., P.O. Box 12010, Des Moines, IA 50312.
National Directory of Grants and Aides to Individuals
in the Arts. Updated every two to three
years. Allied Business Consultants, Inc., P.O. Box 12010, Des
Moines, IA 50312.
A Selected List of Fellowship Opportunities and
Aids to Advanced Education for U.S. Citizens and Foreign Nationals.
The National Science Foundation, Forms and Publications, 1800
G St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20550.
Study Abroad 199293.
1991. Unipub, 4611F Assembly Dr., Lanham, MD 207064391.
Professional Fields
Dentistry
Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental
Schools. American Association of Dental
Schools, 1625 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 502, Washington,
D.C. 20036.
American Dental Association Annual Report, on
"Dental Education, Advanced Dental Education and Allied Dental
Education." American Dental Association,
Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago,
IL 60611.
Contains annual statistics about dental education
in the United States.
Dentistry in the United States: Information on
Education and Licensure. Published annually.
American Dental Association, Division of Educational Measurements,
211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
Presents information on dental licensure requirements
and opportunities for dental education and employment in the United
States.
List of Current Accredited Programs in "Dental
Education, Advanced Dental Education and Allied Dental Education."
Published annually. American Dental Association, Commission on
Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
Health Sciences Administration
Health Services Administration Education.
Published biennially in evennumbered years. Association
of University Programs in Health Administration, 1911 North Fort
Myer Dr., Suite 503, Arlington, VA 22209.
Institutions offering education including nontraditional
programs in health sciences administration.
Medicine
Directory of Graduate Medical Education Programs
Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Published annually. American Medical Association, Order Department,
P.O. Box 109050, Chicago, IL 60610.
Encyclopedia of Medical Organizations and Agencies.
1991. Gale Research Co., 835 Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI 48226
Lists 12,000 associations, agencies and research
centers concerned with all aspects of medicine and health. Listings
include name, address, phone numbers, activities, and research
and contact persons.
Medical and Health Information Directory.
3 vols. 1990. Gale Research Co., 835 Penobscot Building, Detroit,
MI 48226.
Volume I: Lists 16,000 associations, agencies, foundations,research
centers, medical and allied health schools.
Volume II: Lists 10,800 libraries, publishers, researchers
and databases.
Volume III: Lists 23,400 clinics, treatment centers
and other health institutions.
Medical Education in the United States.
American Medical Association. Published annually in the Journal
of the American Medical Association (JAMA). American Medical Association,
Order Department, P.O. Box 109050, Chicago, IL 60610.
Lists selected characteristics of educational programs
in U.S. medical schools; graduate medical education in the United
States; allied health education and accreditation; continuing
medical education; and medical students, residents and faculty.
Medical Research Funding Bulletin.
Published three times a month. Science Support Center, Box 587,
Bronxville, NY 10708.
Medical School Admission Requirements, United
States and Canada. Association of American
Medical Colleges, 2450 N St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037
Description of medical school curricula, tuition
and requirements with addresses of accredited U.S. and Canadian
medical schools.
NRMP Directory: Hospitals and Programs Participating
in the Matching Program. Published annually.
National Resident Matching Program, 2450 N St., N.W., Suite 201,
Washington, D.C. 200371141.
Nursing
The CGFNS Story. Commission
on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS), 3600 Market St.,
Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 191042651.
Facts About Nursing 199293.
American Nurses Association, Publications Distribution Center,
P.O. Box 90660, Washington, D.C. 200900660
Describes the status of nurses in the United States,
educational paths towards nursing careers and types of employment.
List of Accredited Programs in Nursing.
National League for Nursing, Boards of Review for Baccalaureate
and Higher Degree, Associate Degree Diploma, and Practical Nursing
Programs, 350 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.
StateApproved Schools of Nursing, LPN/LVN.
Published annually. National League for Nursing, 350 Hudson St.,
New York, NY 10014.
Tabular listings of approved training programs toward
the LPN (licensed practical nurse) and LVN (licensed vocational
nurse) degrees.
StateApproved Schools of Nursing, RN.
Published annually. National League for Nursing, 350 Hudson St.,
New York, NY 10014
Tabular descriptions of training programs and bachelor's
degree programs toward the RN (registered nurse) degree.
Optometry
Optometry: A Career with Vision.
Issued annually in the Fall. American Optometric Association,
243 North Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141.
Admission requirements, financial aid and student
profiles for accredited optometry schools.
Pharmacy
For information contact: American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy, 1426 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 223142841.
Accredited Professional Programs of Colleges and
Schools of Pharmacy. American Council
on Pharmaceutical Education, 311 West Superior St., Suite 512,
Chicago, IL 60610.
Approved Providers of Continuing Pharmaceutical
Education. The American Council on Pharmaceutical
Education, 311 West Superior St., Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60610.
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination
Information Booklet. Published annually.
National Association Boards of Pharmacy, 700 Busse Highway, Park
Ridge, IL 60068.
Explains examination procedures for graduates of
foreign pharmacy schools who wish to apply for state licensure
in the United States.
Physical Therapy
Listing of Accredited Programs in Physical Therapy.
American Physical Therapy Association, Department of Accreditation,
1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
Veterinary Medicine
For information about professional certification
and licensure, contact: Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary
Graduates (ECFVG), American Veterinary Medical Association, 1931
North Meacham Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Information for Graduates of Colleges of Veterinary
Medicine Outside the U.S. and Canada.
American Veterinary Medical Association, Scientific Activities
Division, 1931 North Meacham Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Explains qualifications for specialty practice and
licensure in veterinary medicine, as well as information about
the ECFVG National Board Examination and Clinical Competency Test
necessary for licensure application in most states.
Living and Travelling In the U.S.
Academic Orientation
The American University: A World Guide.
1984. National Textbook Company, 4255 West Touhy Ave., Lincolnwood,
IL 60646.
A useful introduction to the academic environment
of the United States.
Professional Integration: A Guide for Students
from the Developing World. NAFSA: Association
of International Educators, 1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite
6000, Washington, D.C. 20009.
A valuable orientation for the foreign scholar concerning
research and publication skills (including proposal writing and
the review process), developing a resource library, preparing
for return home and interacting with professionals at home.
Taxes
Foreign Scholars and Educational and Cultural
Exchange Visitors. Available from any
U.S. Internal Revenue Service office.
Regulations affecting the tax obligations of foreign
scholars and educational and cultural exchange visitors.
Social Security Coverage of Foreign Students and
Exchange Visitors. Available from any
U.S. Social Security Administration office.
Travel, Living and Working
See the booklet in this series, Predeparture Orientation.
Living in the U.S.A. 4th
edition. Alison Lanier, Intercultural Press, P.O. Box 700, Yarmouth,
ME 04096.
A useful guide for foreign nationals on basic aspects
of living in the United States.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The fivepamphlet series published under the
title, If You Want to Study in the United States, was produced
by the United States Information Agency, Office of Academic Programs.
In addition to the pamphlet series, If You Want to Study in
the United States is also available on videotape.
USIA wishes to thank the series' author, Dr. Martina
S. Davies, former director of AMIDEASTWest Bank and Gaza;
the editor of this revised edition, Marjorie Peace Lenn, executive
director of the Center for Quality Assurance in International
Education; and Sally Oesterling (Educational Commission for Foreign
Medical GraduatesWashington, D.C. office) for their contributions
to the revision of this pamphlet, and the many others both in
the United States and abroad whose invaluable assistance made
the revision of this series possible.
United States Information Agency
September 1993
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