In accordance with California’s most pressing needs and the availability of Family Medicine residency openings in the state, the UCLA IMG Program currently accepts ONLY those applicants who are bilingual Spanish/English, who have graduated from medical schools recognized by the Medical Board of California, and who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. You must agree to reside in the Los Angeles area for the duration of your participation in the program. You may not undertake outside employment, either full-time or part-time, during your participation in the program. Finally, you will be contractually committed to working in a medically-underserved community in California for 24-to-36 months beyond completion of a Family Medicine residency. No exceptions are currently being made to these requirements.

Please read thoroughly the information in The IMG Program Overview. There you’ll find a description of the steps involved in the long and complex process of medical licensure, and how the UCLA IMG Program is structured to help Program participants navigate the steps to achieve that goal. The roadmap also provides a sense of what you can expect as a participant, as well as the various timelines for completion depending on your individual circumstances.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

Please check your eligibility. Our selection criteria are very strict, and we make almost no exceptions.

The Medical Board of California also requires that IMGs have a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL, or “California Letter”) to be eligible for a medical residency position in California. To be eligible for a PTAL, IMG applicants MUST have received their medical school education, and graduated from, a medical school recognized and approved by the Medical Board of California. Please check to make sure your medical school is included among these schools.

No exceptions to this state medical board requirement can be made by the UCLA IMG Program.

Click here to request an application form.