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Application guide · Updated

US fellowships for international graduates

Understand accreditation, ECFMG certification, licensing and observership options before applying for plastic surgery training in the United States.

Accredited and non-accredited fellowships are different routes

ACGME accredits two plastic surgery subspecialties: hand surgery and craniofacial surgery. Other common fellowship areas, including microsurgery, aesthetic surgery and burn surgery, are offered by individual institutions or through society processes such as the ASRM microsurgery Match and Aesthetic Society endorsed fellowships rather than ACGME accreditation.

Entry requirements differ. Accredited fellowships generally expect completion of an accredited residency, while some non-accredited positions consider surgeons trained abroad. Read the eligibility section of each programme rather than assuming that a specialty is open or closed to international graduates.

Certification and licensing come first

ECFMG certification is the usual requirement for international medical graduates entering US graduate medical education. Clinical fellows also need a state medical licence or training licence, issued under that state's rules; the host programme normally tells you which category applies.

Some programmes appoint international surgeons as clinical instructors or under a special licence category. These arrangements are state- and institution-specific. Ask the programme to describe the licence, the permitted clinical duties and the supervision in writing.

Use observerships and research posts deliberately

  • An observership can show you a unit's practice and build professional relationships, but it usually does not include patient care or count as training.
  • A research fellowship can produce publications and US references; check the supervisor, funding and visa category before committing.
  • Neither replaces the eligibility requirements of a clinical fellowship, so plan them as steps with a clear purpose.
  • Ask whether former observers or research fellows from your background later obtained clinical posts at the institution.

Shortlist with evidence

For each programme, record its accreditation status, international eligibility statement, visa policy, licence category, start date and application route. Programmes that say nothing about international applicants should be contacted directly with a concise enquiry. Use the directory to compare published details, and treat any missing information as unconfirmed rather than favourable.

Questions to take to the programme

  • Does this fellowship accept surgeons whose residency was completed outside the US or Canada?
  • Which licence would I hold, and what would I be allowed to do clinically?
  • Which visa route does the programme sponsor for fellows?
  • Is the fellowship accredited, endorsed by a society, or institutional only?

Official sources and scope

Sources checked on 24 October 2026. Institutional examples apply to their own programmes; requirements can change. These guides support educational decisions and do not determine an individual's regulatory or immigration eligibility.