How to Get Into Canadian Friendly U.S. Medical Schools

Being able to attend medical school is the culmination of many years of study, and represents both a great challenge and a wonderful educational opportunity. This is true for all medical students, including Canadian medical students, international students, and beyond.

However, while there are a number of fantastic Canadian medical college options available to Canadian students in their own country, not every Canadian student is interested in making a commitment to studying medicine at home.

Some want to explore and choose from among the many medical schools in America, the Caribbean, and around the world. So why do US medical schools have such an appeal? It turns out there are many reasons! 

If you’re a Canadian applying to US medical school (or even just thinking about it) read on to learn more about the requirements, the challenges and the opportunities of studying abroad.

Why Are U.S. Medical Schools So Attractive?

Many around the world, including Canadians and international students, consider an American medical education to be among – if not the best – in the world. 

Many educational publications consistently rank US medical schools as being among the top five – with some being of the opinion that American medical education programs deserve to take all five spots in the world’s top five.

This may be why applicants seeking admission to American medical programs require a good academic record and great MCAT scores, among other things.

Great pay

One reason why getting accepted to an American medical school or university attracts so many applications is related to pay.

A general practitioner in the United States will earn over $200,000 yearly, and specialists can make much more. While the US healthcare system is far from perfect and is very expensive for its citizens, the medical education remains top notch and very competitive. 

Working in the industry can be very profitable for those that work in the public health field.

You will be accredited to work in the United States

By gaining acceptance to (and graduating from) a competitive US medical school, you will automatically be accredited to work in the United States. This means that successful graduates from US programs will eventually be able to compete for those very high-paying clinical jobs.

For those interested in helping others while learning at the most cutting-edge academic institutions – not to mention getting paid well to do it – attending an American medical school can be a tempting option.

You can do your residency in the United States

It’s important to recognize that graduating from one of the academic programs – whether it is in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, or somewhere else – isn’t the end of the journey. In some ways, it is only the beginning! 

After a four year program, soon-to-be doctors will first need to complete a residency, something that takes between two and seven years.

The amount of time that residents spend in their residency will depend upon their specialization.

While residents can expect to face a grueling ordeal no matter where they land, the institution in which they do their residency matters a great deal, and can go a long way to defining the long-term path of a new doctor or physician. 

For this reason, graduating from a US medical school and gaining the clinical experiences you can only expect in a top-tier US residency will make it more likely that you can work in the United States once you’re done, and provide better opportunities to be successful.

Do U.S. Medical Schools Accept Canadian Students?

Yes they do! This means if you’re a Canadian thinking about applying to US medical school but are worried they won’t accept Canadian applicants at all, then you can breathe a sigh of relief.

And while graduating from a Canadian medical school is a prestigious accomplishment, we understand the appeal of attending a medical college in the United States. However, while many US medical schools accept international students, keep in mind that not every medical school in the United States accepts Canadians.

According to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), in addition to the Canadian medical schools available to its own citizens, there are a total of 57 Canadian friendly US medical schools to choose from.

These include programs across the country, from New York state in the northeast to California in the southwest, and from Washington state in the northwest of the country all the way down to Louisiana in the southeast.

What Other Options Do Canadians Have?

Each US medical school has its own set of regulations about how they classify Canadian students. Unfortunately, most consider Canadians “international students,” and reduce their admissions accordingly. 

However, as mentioned above, some schools treat Canadian citizens just like American citizens, making those applicants from Canada eligible to attend those schools. We call these “Canadian friendly US medical schools.” 

Canadians that are classified as international students by US schools face significant challenges when looking for access to a medical education in the United States. 

You can find an alternative list of American schools that accept Canadians (along with their tuition amounts and GPA cut-off scores) here. Hopefully it will help anyone trying to narrow down their choice of US medical schools for Canadian students.

US Medical Schools Are Not the Only Option

Canadian medical schools are still excellent in their own right, and any Canadian student should remember how lucky they are to be able to use the excellent programs available to take in their home country. 

And while Canadian students can study at home, they shouldn’t feel too limited. They can also decide to attend medical school outside of Canada or the US and still get to do their residency in the United States if they so choose. 

This is true as long as that school is accredited by the right US authorities. If so, graduates can do their residency in a US hospital. 

Can I Be Accredited to Do My Residency and Work in the US If I Study Abroad?

Yes, it is possible to do your medical residency at a US-based facility, even if you didn’t study medicine inside the borders of the US itself.

Besides graduating from a US medical school, one of the only other ways to gain a spot in a residency at a medical facility in the US if you are considered an international student is to graduate from a school that is properly accredited. 

There are many medical schools in Canada (such as the University of Toronto), in the Caribbean (such as the American University of Antigua), and around the world that have gained such accreditation.

Canadian Friendly Schools in the Caribbean

There are a number of excellent schools that aspiring Canadian physicians can submit their applications to in the Caribbean. We’ve written a helpful blog on the subject of Caribbean medical schools, and our conclusion is that American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA) is one of the best options available. 

Why is that? Because American University of Antigua scores well on what many consider to be the most important two factors when judging a school of medicine. Those two factors are: 

• The accreditation level of the Caribbean medical school, which is an indicator of the institution’s legitimacy and education quality
• The success of that school’s students, as defined by their test scores and residency placements

American University of Antigua College of Medicine

For graduates of AUA, the proof is in the numbers. 

First, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) has determined that the AUA meets the high standard expected of a top quality medical school. 

Holding accreditation from either the CAAM-HP or the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) is generally considered to be the gold standard for determining a Caribbean medical school quality The U.S. Department of Education’s National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) has vouched for the standards of accreditation used by both the CAAM-HP and the ACCM, describing their standards as comparable to those used to accredit medical schools in the U.S.

Additionally, AUA has received approval or recognition from various important state boards and departments, including:

• New York State Department 
• Florida Department of Education 
• Medical Board of California

Students from the AUA also fare well when faced with the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (USMLE), and perform very well in their respective residencies. 

You can find a list of the successful AUA residency placements here. In that list, you’ll see that graduates have been placed in hundreds of individual schools in both the United States and in Canada.

Bottom Line

Considering studying medicine abroad, particularly in the U.S., offers Canadian students numerous advantages, including access to top-tier medical education, competitive pay, and accreditation to work and complete residency in the U.S. While U.S. medical schools have broad appeal, Canadian students should also explore alternative options, such as accredited Caribbean medical schools like the American University of Antigua (AUA), which provide quality education, accreditation, and successful residency placements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Why are U.S. medical schools attractive to Canadian students?

U.S. medical schools offer top-tier education, competitive pay, accreditation to work in the U.S., and opportunities for residency.

Do U.S. medical schools accept Canadian students?

Yes, many U.S. medical schools accept Canadian students, though some may classify them as international applicants.

What are Canadian friendly U.S. medical schools?

Canadian friendly U.S. medical schools treat Canadian citizens similarly to American citizens in admissions, making them eligible for admission.

Can Canadian students study medicine outside of Canada or the U.S.?

Yes, Canadian students can attend accredited medical schools abroad and still complete residency in the U.S. if the school is recognized by relevant authorities.

What are some accredited Caribbean medical schools for Canadian students?

The American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine is one of the best options, offering accreditation, successful residency placements, and recognition from important state boards and departments in the U.S.