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I don't know if New Zealand also does this, but the United States licensing and accreditation boards don't accept a lot of foreign degrees and licenses. I notic

I don't know if New Zealand also does this, but the United States licensing and accreditation boards don't accept a lot of foreign degrees and licenses. I noticed this in particular after the fall of the Soviet Union. When I first went to college, it was LA City College, and in some way, if your grades were curved, it was probably the most competitive school in the country, because so many students in my biology classes had been practicing physicians and researchers with medical degrees and licenses from Soviet Republics that were starting over because US medical boards didn't accept their credentials.

BlameKaneda 5y ago
I know of someone who was a practicing cardiologist (or a cardiothoracic surgeon, can't remember which) in her home country, but after she immigrated to the US she had to take on odd jobs. Studying and taking US qualifications would've set her back by some years, and it's possible she didn't want to go through it.
- bsenftner 5y ago
  Similar story: my wife's male nurse during chemotherapy was a cardiologist in Eastern Europe, and at the time had chosen to be a nurse rather than go through medical school again.
Scoundreller 5y ago
In New York State, you must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident to become a licensed pharmacist. No visa statuses permitted. Now that I think about it, I do wonder if this violates trade agreements (e.g. the successor to NAFTA)…
rayiner 5y ago
My uncle was a doctor in Bangladesh. When he immigrated to New Zealand, he worked as a bell hop in a hotel while getting his medical degree and license again. Now he’s a doctor in Australia. Which is fine. A lot of these foreign degrees are pretty unreliable.
- SkyPuncher 5y ago
  There's also an aspect of learning the health system of each country. It's not solely about the science aspect.
jgalt212 5y ago
It's sort of like the H1-B Visa exploitation in reverse.

BlameKaneda 5y ago

I know of someone who was a practicing cardiologist (or a cardiothoracic surgeon, can't remember which) in her home country, but after she immigrated to the US she had to take on odd jobs. Studying and taking US qualifications would've set her back by some years, and it's possible she didn't want to go through it.

bsenftner 5y ago
Similar story: my wife's male nurse during chemotherapy was a cardiologist in Eastern Europe, and at the time had chosen to be a nurse rather than go through medical school again.

Scoundreller 5y ago

In New York State, you must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident to become a licensed pharmacist. No visa statuses permitted. Now that I think about it, I do wonder if this violates trade agreements (e.g. the successor to NAFTA)…

rayiner 5y ago

My uncle was a doctor in Bangladesh. When he immigrated to New Zealand, he worked as a bell hop in a hotel while getting his medical degree and license again. Now he’s a doctor in Australia. Which is fine. A lot of these foreign degrees are pretty unreliable.

SkyPuncher 5y ago
There's also an aspect of learning the health system of each country. It's not solely about the science aspect.

jgalt212 5y ago

It's sort of like the H1-B Visa exploitation in reverse.