Career Scope after Medical/MBBS Studies in Italy

The medical profession in Italy is highly valued and respected. A medical degree from Italy is globally renowned and is a highly sought-after degree in the world. The low-cost and high-quality education are one of the main reasons why international students choose to study medicine in Italy. Public universities in Italy cost €3,000 to 4,000 while private universities charge less than €22,000 yearly. So what scope do you have after getting your medical education in Italy? Here are some options  

• Practice medicine as a medical generalist or doctor
• Complete residency specialization 
• Pursue a postgraduate degree like Ph.D. to enter research 

Let us explore in-depth the career scope after Medical/MBBS studies in Italy.

Career scope after Medical studies in Italy

Practice Medicine in Italy

Here are some steps to start practicing medicine in Italy after graduation.

• After completing medical studies in Italy, graduates need to undergo a three-month clinical placement (a 1-month in medicine, 1-month in surgery, and 1-month in family medicine)
• They must then pass a national medical exam called “Esame di Stato”
• The next step is to register with the Italian medical professional association called Ordine Dei Medici to obtain a medical license
• Non-EU international citizens need to apply for a visa and a resident permit to work as a doctor in Italy.
• Registered doctors can look for hospital jobs (government or private) through Italian job search engines.

Medical graduates can work as doctors in Italy at 

• Prevention and Public Health Departments
• International Organizations/Agencies
• Primary Care Departments
• Direction of Local Health Agencies(LHAs)
• Regional Health Agencies (RHAs)

Average salary of a doctor in Italy

According to the Economic Research Institute, the average salary of a doctor in Italy is approximately €130,983 a year. Depending on experience and specialization this salary can range from €103,000-174,000 per year.

The top five highest-paying cities in Italy for doctors are listed below.

Practice Medicine in UAE

Medical practice in the UAE is subject to licensing criteria. The licensing authorities and specific territories in which you can practice are as follows.

According to the UAE Medical Council, doctors must have at least two years of experience in their field before applying for a license. The application is reviewed in 2-4 weeks. Following that, students must complete a Prometric evaluation test. 

Eligibility criteria

• Basic medicine degree from a recognized university in Italy.
• Proof/documentary evidence in support of the candidate having passed the final examination.

Average salary of a doctor in UAE

As per the data provided by the Salary Expert, the annual salary for a doctor in the UAE is AED 692,891 per year.

Practice Medicine in India

After completing medical studies in Italy, a candidate must obtain a license from the National Medical Commission (NMC) in order to practice medicine in India. He or she has to appear for the NMC screening test called the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) to get a license.

Examination dates: This exam is conducted twice a year, in June and December.

Eligibility criteria:

• Basic medicine degree (MD) from a recognized university in Italy (+ internship) 
• Documents in support of the candidate having passed the final examination. 

Document requirements:

• Admit card issued by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).
• Any one of the authorized photo identities: PAN Card/Driving License/Voter ID/Passport/Aadhar Card.
• Candidate’s photograph (minimum 35×45 mm) 

Average salary of a doctor in India

The yearly salary of a doctor or physician in India is INR 24,06,386 per year (Salary Expert). The compensation varies greatly depending on the city of practice, experience, and specialization. 

Residency programs after medical studies in Italy

Following a medical degree, many students in Italy enroll in resident training programs to advance their careers as specialists. In Italy, there are 44 medical schools that offer 54 distinct types of residency training programs to medical graduates. These training programs are classified as follows:

1. Medical 
2. Surgical 
3. Clinical medicine 

Except for surgical training programs that last 6 years, other residency programs last for 5 years. The medical graduates enrolled in residency programs are called “residents” or “physicians” (“medici in formazione” or “specializzandi”). They work in university-owned or university-affiliated hospitals under the supervision of professional doctors or tutors. The residency programs are funded by the Italian Ministry of University or Regional Administrations. Residents are paid €25,000 per year and must work a minimum of 38 hours each week. Doctors are not permitted to work at other hospitals while completing their residency program.

A student is accepted into a residency program based on their location, and they must pass an entrance exam. The test consists of multiple-choice questions and written presentations about clinical cases.

Some popular residency programs in Italy are 

• Cancer Medicine
• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Endocrinology
• General surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Anesthesiology 
• Hygiene and Preventive Medicine

Since medical degrees in Italy are recognized the world over, students can also practice residency in any country of their choice. 

Postgraduate research studies in Italy

After the completion of a medical degree in Italy, graduates can opt for a Ph.D. program offered by medical universities in Italy. Here is a list of medical universities offering doctoral programs for medical graduates who are interested in medical research 

• • Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
  • University of Pisa
  • Humanitas University
  • University of Padua

In short, a medical degree from Italy is recognized by all countries worldwide. Graduates can start practicing right away in Italy or in other countries such as the UAE, India, the United States, or the United Kingdom. To do so, they must take the country-specific exam. They can also pursue a residency to become specialists or do a Ph.D.