Recognition of foreign qualifications in Dominican Republic

My own self I never arrove in the DR until I was already retired. I have done a bit of writing since then and sold a couple of pieces, but didn't need proof of qualifications for that.
Dingo El Gringo

No my professional qualifications were not recognized and I would have to repeat lots of "inferior" training here to get qualified.  No way....Too bad as it was a great loss for the DR and the north coast.  But that is the way it is in this country many times.  Short sighted. 

Bob K

That is the case almost across the board.  For example an American trained nurse is in many cases better trained then doctors here.

Some skills are valued but almost no "credentials" are  valued or approved.  Really it is a money grab to make professionals "requalify"  based on  their standards here.

That is the way it goes anywhere. In Miami I had a total of probably 8 different doctors and dentists working for me doing unskilled work such as painting because their doctor's credentials were not accepted from their country of origin.  Most were Cubans and as soon as they studied enuff English to pass their tests they began to work as doctors.

Here the wducation of almost all professions is seriously lower then many other countries.

It is critical to know the language the customs and the local issues.

Well yeah ! I was in the Peace Corps here and worked for Salud Publica for years near Loma de Cabrera !

I would have to forget 50% of what I learned to be on par with peers trained here.  Like I said ...pretty sad

Bob K

I was trained in the US military, and University of Arizona and Southern Illinois University. Language training here.

This may not be the very best place for language training.  Dominican Spanish is way off center as far as professional Spanish.  Like my Mexican friend said when he goes to the Dom Rep he leaves the letter s at home because he knows he will have no use for it on this island.

I had United States Foreign Service Language training here. After 34 years I speak Dominican well. If you want to speak "Spanish" go to Spain. I live and speak here.

Back on topic guys.

Being a Hospital Pharmacist here in the States,   Wonder if there is a need for a pharmacist knowledge in the DR?   In 33 years of practice I have learned a lot over the years!!!   especially in terms of Emergency Medicine and Management

Your chances of getting a position as a pharmacist at a hospital, clinic or private pharmacy here are pretty close to ZERO.
Sorry but that is the way it is.  Too bad as there are lots of Expats here with some very professional skills that are going to waste.
Bob K

I figured that would probably be the case.  But I'm okay with that.   My specialty is really in  I V therapy.   Antibiotics,  Emergency IV therapy.     But I understand that's probably not going to be an option there in the DR.    But I'm retiring anyway.    To get away from all that  !!!

I know American doctors who are practicing in the DR.  One is an orthopedic surgeon and the other two are medical doctors who have established hospice care in the Santo Domingo area.  I've been told that the surgeon is the first person to ever perform Tommy John surgery in the country.  Don't know how true that is as I have not researched it for myself, but I do know that these individuals are pretty well connected with "the government."  Is it possible that this connection would provide them with "special privileges" as I'd be very surprised that they, especially the surgeon, did any additional schooling in the DR.  However, I will ask and see what information they may be willing to share with me.

And Bob, yes, I totally agree with you about what a loss it is to the people of the DR to not be able to benefit from what many expats could and would bring to the table.

One of the issues of course is Spanish.  Your skills and qualifications are awesome but if you cannot communicate these things clearly and correctly in Spanish its an issue.

Yes there are a couple of  american doctors and others working here.  But some had to  "requalify"

Hello. I am a Spanish-speaking American doctor (psychiatrist) practicing in the US for almost 35 years. I studied medicine at the Universidad Central del Este in San Pedro de Macoris, completed my residency training in New York, and was thinking of repatriating to the D.R. I wonder what the process would be like? Thanks.

Wow  welcome to the forums. I am going to send you a private message  on some of this.

I am not sure what the process will be.  Did you graduate  fully here? I would think doing residency there would be beneficial to us here.

Hi, yes I graduated from the Universidad Central del Este in San Pedro de Macoris. I completed my psychiatric specialization in New York and have been working here for almost 35 years. I would love to return to the DR and perhaps work part time and enjoy the rest of my life there.
Thanks you

I am sure you will be very welcome!

I also studied at UCE in San Pedro de Macoris and graduated in 2005 and completed my Med Peds residency in NC.  If you did not complete pasantia, that would be the next step.  From what I understand, the next step after that would be to go to the cancelleria and have your US exams and residency documents verified and convalidated.  Then take them to MESCyt.

Hello there! Can I as an american doctor practice aesthetic medicine in DR? I bought a house in Samana and several women in my area are interested in my services(fillers, botox, etc) but I want to do it in a legal way and buy the products in DR. Importing them will be illegal. What will be the best way to find out how to obtain a permit or license?

You will need to contact both the  Doctors association and the  Plastic surgeons association.   SODOCIPRE is the  plastic surgeons group.   You do well to do this legally!

http://www.sodocipre.net/

If you want to have a medical license here, you will have to spend a year working for the government and take board exams in Spanish. This is what I have heard from two friends who are doctors here.

I don't know the requirements for cosmetic injections, but I am aware of spas that provide that service without a doctor on staff. Whether that is legal here or not, I do not know!

Hello. I have an Ophthalmology Degree from Israel,a Diploma in Family Medicine from South africa,and almost 30 years of practice as an eye specialist in South Africa. Can I be registered as such in DR ? My level of Spanish is decent.   Thanks , Roland

It's a long difficult process. You will need all your credentials and education produced in original, then translated officially, maybe apostilized and then submit for consideration. Zero guarantees.  Your Spanish will need to be very good as well

@planner I see this thread goes back to 2017. I wonder how the folks that made contributions specifically Bob are doing these days anyone know?

Bob left for the USA  a few years ago and is no longer active.

    Hello. I have an Ophthalmology Degree from Israel,a Diploma in Family Medicine from South africa,and almost 30 years of practice as an eye specialist in South Africa. Can I be registered as such in DR ? My level of Spanish is decent.   Thanks , Roland
   

    -@rolanderob

From what I've been told by both a Dominican doctor and a doctor who went to medical school here but completed her residency and has only practiced in the US, once your credentials have been confirmed and accepted, you have to work for one year in a public hospital or clinic to become fully licensed.

@planner  Thanks for your reply. Can you tell me where I should apply ? Most of my credentials are already translated in Spanish,as I intended to move to Spain some time ago.

Regards 

Roland

Could you also tell me if there is an age limit for practicing medicine in the Dominican Republic ?

Regards

Roland Berger

    Could you also tell me if there is an age limit for practicing medicine in the Dominican Republic ?
Regards
Roland Berger
   

    -@rolanderob

Maybe start here - Colegia Medico Dominicano

Great start the colegio!

@DingoElGringo

I am specialist ophthalmologist,and I intend to settle in the future in the Dominican Republic.  Do you know what I am supposed to do to have my qualifications recognized ?

Thanks

Roland Berger

Canada

@planner

Hello

Thanks for your message.

I have most of my documents translated in Spanish and even with Apostille of Hague .Do you know where I should send/forward them ?

I manage to communicate quite decently in Spanish.

Regards

Dr.Roland Berger

I would start with the medical association.  In addition I will check with someone I know who is in the industry.

Thank you very much. I look forward to have your answers.

Regards

Dr.Roland Berger

Is anyone aware of registration or licenses to practice acupuncture in the DR? How or where could one register to do that?

Many thanks in advance,

Ryan