Country Guides
Your licensing roadmap,
country by country.
Comprehensive guides covering regulator pathways, exam requirements, indicative fees, and visa routes for internationally trained doctors and nurses. Compiled July 2026 from officially published sources.
United Kingdom
The UK's healthcare system is regulated on a UK-wide basis: doctors register with the General Medical Council (GMC) and …
United States
The US has no single national licence for either doctors or nurses. Physicians are certified nationally (ECFMG) before p…
Australia
Australian healthcare registration is unified nationally under AHPRA, working alongside profession-specific boards. Regi…
Canada
Canada has no single national medical or nursing licence. The Medical Council of Canada sets national examination standa…
United Arab Emirates
The UAE has no single federal medical licence. Licensing is devolved to three separate authorities — DHA (Dubai), DOH (A…
Quick Comparison
At-a-glance overview across all five destinations
| Country | Doctor regulator | Nurse regulator | Core exams | Key visa route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | GMC | NMC | PLAB 1 & 2 / CBT & OSCE | Health and Care Worker visa |
| 🇺🇸United States | State boards + ECFMG | State boards + CGFNS | USMLE Steps / NCLEX-RN | J-1 → H-1B (doctors); EB-3 Schedule A (nurses) |
| 🇦🇺Australia | AHPRA / Medical Board | AHPRA / NMBA | AMC CAT & Clinical Exam / OBA (NCLEX-RN & OSCE) | Skills in Demand (482) / Skilled Independent (189) |
| 🇨🇦Canada | MCC + provincial College | NNAS + provincial College | MCCQE & NAC / NCLEX-RN or REx-PN | Express Entry / Provincial Nominee Program |
| 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | DHA / DOH / MOHAP | DHA / DOH / MOHAP | Prometric or Pearson VUE licensing exam | Employer-sponsored residence visa |
Important disclaimer
Immigration rules, exam fees, and visa costs change frequently. Always verify time-sensitive figures against the official regulator or government website linked in each section before making decisions or payments. Figures are drawn directly from the official regulators and government immigration authorities named in each source line.