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MEDICAL SPECIALIZATIONS ABROAD
How can one access medical specialization classes abroad
Medical specializations abroad are a concrete opportunity for students who wish to undertake a course of study in Europe. In Italy, obtaining a degree in Medicine is not enough to access specialization classes; it is also necessary to take the Concorso SSM. This is a test with 140 questions. The result of the test, combined with a score derived from the degree grade and average, as well as any additional points, generates a final score of up to 147 points, which allows the candidate to be placed in a national ranking.
The higher the score, the greater the chance of being able to access the chosen classes and locations. The lower the score, the more likely you are to have to "settle" for both the specialization and the location.
It is clear that for the most popular specializations it is particularly difficult to access the classes, and it is precisely for this reason that many Italian doctors are increasingly considering medical specializations abroad.
HOW TO ACCESS MEDICAL SPECIALIZATION CLASSES ABROAD
Answering this question is very difficult because the procedures obviously vary from country to country. However, there are some general rules that apply to almost all countries in the European community.
If you are thinking of obtaining a specialization abroad, the first thing you need to do is complete all the procedures to make your degree usable. In this specific case, it will most likely be necessary to have your degree translated. This must then be submitted for recognition to the competent authorities of the destination country.
In the same way that a foreign student who decides to specialize in Italy must have their degree recognized by the MIUR, an Italian student who wants to specialize in another country must have their degree recognized by the equivalent Ministry of Education of the country in question.
MEDICAL SPECIALIZATIONS ABROAD: THE LANGUAGE ASPECT
Specializing abroad is undoubtedly an interesting challenge, but there is one factor that cannot be underestimated: the language aspect. In order to undertake a theoretical and practical specialization course in a foreign country, it is essential.
Specialization schools, in fact, require, with small differences from country to country, a language certification of a medium-high level in order to access the teaching classes. If you are thinking of obtaining a medical specialization abroad, organize all the required certifications in advance to be able to access the competition classes.
ADMISSION PROCEDURES AND REMUNERATION FOR MEDICAL SPECIALIZATION ABROAD
Again, it is not easy to make a general statement about the admission procedures to specialization classes in foreign countries: this is because each country has different procedures and timelines. Some countries, like Italy, have a competition with a related ranking (even if in some cases structured very differently from the Italian one), while others have a "simple" evaluation of the curriculum of studies with a related interview directly with the heads of the various departments of the specialization schools.
The placement, from a work and remuneration point of view, of residents during the years of specialization is also different. In some countries they are "funded" by student scholarships, in other cases they are already considered full-fledged doctors with a salary that increases directly in proportion to the years of the course.
In conclusion, the world of medical specialization abroad is very varied. If you are thinking of taking this path, carefully research the opportunities offered by the various countries and choose the one that best suits you.
© Centro Studi Europeo | All rights reserved 2025 | VAT 05570700657