Yes, a Doctor of Medicine (MD) is the same as a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in the countries like the United States of America (USA), the Caribbean, and Canada. MBBS or MD Program is a post-graduate program taught for four years in these countries. Prospective medical students who want to acquire a medical education must earn a bachelor’s degree. Applicants wishing to pursue an MD or MBBS program must complete pre-med coursework.
On the other hand, MBBS is a bachelor’s degree in India, the United Kingdom, and countries with a similar educational system. It usually takes around 5.5 years, including a one-year internship, to graduate with an MBBS degree in India and the UK. Please remember that a British or Indian medical graduate with an MBBS degree cannot practice directly in the USA. Medical students must have a post-graduate degree in medicine to be eligible to practice medicine in the USA. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has clearly defined medical programs students must complete after MBBS to become successful physicians in the states.
Even students with an MD degree in the USA are not eligible to practice medicine in any of its 50 states. After a four-year MD school program in the USA or the Caribbean, medical graduates need to get into the residency program to become eligible to practice medicine in the USA.Â
Notably, a residency program in medicine is a post-graduate training for medical graduates within an area of medicine. Medical graduates can gain training in various areas of medicine based on their interests, such as general surgery, radiology, family medicine, neurology, internal medicine, pediatrics, anesthesiology, or orthopedics.Â
Now that you better understand the MD and MBBS programs, we will explore why pursuing medicine in the Caribbean is a viable option.
Advantages of pursuing medicine in the Caribbean
Here are the top perks of choosing the MD program in the Caribbean:
1. Medical curriculum in line with the USA
Caribbean medical schools offer students a proven quality of education at an affordable cost. The medical curriculum in the Caribbean medical universities is like that in the USA. Moreover, Caribbean medical schools have seasoned tutors with considerable experience in medicine to equip students with quality education and excellent hands-on clinical experience.
2. Small class size
Class size is crucial to consider as it plays a significant role in student outcomes. Fortunately, Caribbean medical schools have small class sizes as they believe studying in a class with fewer students is fundamental to their experience. In general, reputable medical schools in the Caribbean have a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio to provide students with one-to-one attention and guidance throughout the course.
3. USMLE preparation
Most importantly, international medical graduates need to take the USMLE to become eligible to practice medicine in the USA. Fully credentialed medical schools in the Caribbean help international medical graduates prepare for the USMLE during the course.
Interested students can explore top-tier colleges and universities in the Caribbean to pursue the MD program. Browse now!