PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANT PROFESSIONALS

In recent years, a few initiatives have emerged that promote the integration of immigrant professionals. Some of these initiatives focus on professional licensing in particular. Most programs operate at the local level, but a few are expanding into other cities in the U.S.

The programs below provide services for immigrant professionals as well as valuable online resources.

Careers for New Americans: This Upwardly Global project provides step-by-step licensing guidelines for foreign-educated professionals in Illinois and California, and plans to include information on other states. Professions covered include accounting, architecture, civil engineering, dentistry, law, teaching, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing. The site also discusses alternatives to licensing.

Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians: The Center, located in Philadelphia, has published guidelines for immigrants in Pennsylvania to understand the requirements for licensing in accounting and auditing, mechanical engineering, teaching, and systems analysis. Other publications include How to Succeed in the Workplace: A Career Guide for the Immigrant Professional.

The Welcome Back Initiative aims to help foreign-trained health professionals re-enter their careers in the U.S. Welcome Back Centers assist participants in developing a career pathway plan that builds on their education, experience, and skills. They currently have five active centers nationwide and plan to expand to new states.

The programs below offer several services that help foreign-trained professionals advance in their careers in the U.S.:

Foreign Physician Alternative Certification Program (FOPAC) at Miami Dade College: The FOPAC program provides orientation, assistance and training to foreign health care professionals living in the U.S. The program offers two tracks. One provides foreign physicians the opportunity to train and study for licensure to work as practicing medical doctors in the U.S. The other track provides retraining for foreign health care professionals to obtain degrees in other in-demand medical careers such as in nursing, medical lab technology, respiratory care, sonography, and teaching, among others.

UCLA International Medical Graduates (IMG) Program: This pre-residency training program is designed for native Spanish-speaking international medical graduates. The IMG Program prepares them to be California licensed family physicians. Program participants commit to train in Family Medicine and practice in an underserved area (rural or urban) for 18 to 36 months after completing their residency in exchange for assistance in exam preparation and residency placement. This program works to provide healthcare to immigrants and low-income patients who face financial and language barriers to care.

International Institute of Minnesota: The Medical Careers for New Americans program offers a career path for new Americans interested in employment in the medical field. The three-step program begins with nursing assistant training and then offers academic skills training for entry-level medical professionals. Finally, it provides assistance in medical career planning. Program participants become nurses, medical assistants, and surgical technicians.