Non-US IMG Friendly States, Specialties, and Residency Programs

The term ‘IMG friendly’ can vary depending on what metrics you use to quantify it. In many cases, the information provided is based off of data including both US and non-US citizen IMGs as one group. However, this can become very overwhelming and confusing in determining what actually is 'IMG Friendly' for non-US citizen IMGs. In this blog post, we will cover NRMP data to determine what states and specialties are friendly for non-US IMGs, as well as our tool for IMG friendly residency programs.

This information was updated as of November 13th, 2024.

Top 5 IMG Friendly States by specialty and positions filled:

Anesthesiology(PGY-1 & PGY-2)

1. Massachusetts (15 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Michigan (9 positions filled by non-US IMGs

3. Minnesota (8 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. New York (7 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Florida (6 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Family Medicine

1. New York(83 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Pennsylvania (75 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. California (51 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Michigan (50 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Texas (37 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Internal Medicine

1. New York (609 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Pennsylvania (280 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Michigan (222 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. New Jersey (211 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Florida (198 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Neurology (PGY-1 & PGY-2)

1. New York (23 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Texas (22 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Florida (19 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. New Jersey & Pennsylvania - tie (17 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Ohio (16 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Obstetrics & Gynecology

1. New York (11 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Florida & Michigan - tie (5 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Pennsylvania (4 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Missouri & Texas - tie (3 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Illinois, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Georgia, & Ohio - tie (2 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Pathology

1. New York (30 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Texas (21 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Massachusetts (16 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Ohio (12 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Illinois (10 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Pediatrics

1. New York (151 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Florida (45 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Michigan (44 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Texas (41 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. New Jersey (29 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Psychiatry

1. New York (49 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Texas (16 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Florida (15 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Ohio (10 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Missouri (9 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Radiology-Diagnostic (PGY2)

1. Connecticut (11 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Texas & Massachusetts - tie (9 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. New York & Michigan - tie (6 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Ohio & Maryland - tie (4 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Florida, Georgia, & Illinois - tie (3 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

Surgery

1. New York (66 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

2. Florida (28 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

3. Texas (26 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

4. Minnesota (21 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

5. Pennsylvania (19 positions filled by non-US IMGs)

IMG Friendly Residency Programs

Through our IMG Friendly Residency Programs tool, we have curated data from residency program websites and NRMP data to create a list of IMG friendly programs. Included in this list is the percentage of IMGs in the program, USMLE step exam requirements and cutoffs, graduation year cutoffs, USCE requirements and preferences, and visa assistance. We hope this tool helps you on your journey in medicine. You can find IMG friendly programs in the following specialties below:

• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Neurology

• Pathology

• Pediatrics

• Psychiatry