Plan for your future with our Student and Resident Career Timeline.
Student Year 4
- Does your program require a state license?
- Does state license require APMLE Part 3?
Residency Year 1
- APMLE Part 3 (if not taken fourth year of medical school)
Residency Year 2
Fellowship
- Explore fellowships in second half of year—most fellowships begin interviewing in August/September
- Research the types of fellowships and decide which, if any, are a good fit
- Contact past fellows
- Visit (if permissible)
- Begin collecting information needed for standard application
- Attend fellowship breakfast at the Annual Scientific Conference
- Meet directors, get information on programs
Private Practice
- Network at the ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference
- ACFAS Job Fair in the Exhibit Hall at the Annual Scientific Conference
Residency Year 3
- Fellowship Interviews
- Discuss with residency director how time off for interviews will be arranged
- Most fellowship interviews are in person
- Update CV
- Prepare general cover letter
- Ask for letters of recommendations
- Residency director and one to two attendings
- Board qualification exam
- Need qualification status for hospital privileges
- Research Jobs
- Know state laws
- Do you need ankle permits to perform ankle surgery?
- Know requirements—may need op notes from residency
- Is there a state exam that is needed in addition to your board exams
- When are these exams offered?
Once You Have a Fellowship
- Apply for state license EARLY--it can take several months to obtain
- Contact fellowship regarding insurance plans - do you need to get on as a provider?
- Apply for hospital privileges EARLY
- Know what documents you need to obtain from residency
- Contact medical staff office
Once You Have a Job
- You will need a DEA # if you did not have to have one in residency
- Apply for state license EARLY, it can take several months to obtain
- Apply for hospital privileges EARLY
- Know what documents you need to obtain from residency
- Contact medical staff office
- Malpractice insurance
- Is practice providing? If not, need to obtain coverage for when you start
- CAQH Application
- Required PRIOR to obtaining private insurance applications
- Centralized application – CAQH ID #
- Start applying to be a provider on insurance companies - this can be a long process!
- Know local/state specific insurances
- Medicare - pecos.cms.hhs.gov
- Medicaid - State specific
- BCBS -State specific
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
Important Resources
Find more information regarding testing deadlines, boards and state requirements for licensure.
Council on Podiatric Medical Education