Speciality certification for physicians that studied abroad. Experience of the National Autonomous Commission for the Certification of Medical Specialties (CONACEM)

Background: The number of foreign or Chilean physicians with pre or postgraduate studies abroad, seems to be increasing. Aim: To report the experience of CONACEM in the certification of specialities for Chilean or foreign physicians that studied abroad. Materials and methods: The certification process for 90 physicians (38 Chilean and 52 foreign) with studies abroad is reported. Criteria for certification of specialties were the same used for physicians with studied in Chile and results were compared with those obtained by the latter. Results: Physicians with studied abroad required additional evaluations with a greater frequency than local physicians, due to the fact that foreign training programs are not well known by CONACEM members. Eighty five percent of foreign physicians required those further evaluations, compared with 66.6% of all physicians certified but eh commission. Fifty five percent of Chilean physicians with studied abroad did not accept this additional assessment. Applications for specialities of physicians with studies abroad, were rejected with a greater frequency than those of Chilean physicians (31% and 13% respectively). Conclusions: Physicians with studies abroad applying for certification of medical specialities required more evaluations and were rejected with a greater frequency than Chilean physicians.