General dentistry. In the United States, individuals can enter practice in dentistry with a first professional D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. In addition to providing preventive care, dentists may restore damaged or missing teeth and treat diseases of the mouth. Advanced postdoctoral residency programs in general dentistry lasting twelve or twenty-four months are also available, providing exposure to a variety of practice areas. These programs are very competitive and difficult for internationally educated dentists to enter.

Endodontics. Endodontists diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the inner tooth structure. Residency programs in this specialty typically last between twenty-four and thirty-six months.

Public health. Public health dentists promote dental health through organized efforts to educate and inform the public. Residency programs typically last twelve to twenty-four months.

Oral and maxillofacial pathology. Oral pathologists diagnose diseases of the mouth through laboratory procedures including clinical, microscopic, radiographic, and biochemical examinations. Residency programs typically last thirty-six months.

Oral and maxillofacial radiology. Oral and maxillofacial radiologists use imaging and associated technologies in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, and related areas.   Programs last twenty-four to thirty-six months.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons extract teeth and repair defects of the mouth through surgery.  Programs vary in length from four to six years and are all residency programs; some award the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

See also our page of Top U.S. Study Web Sites for some more general sites that allow you to search for undergraduate or graduate programs in fields including medicine and related sciences.

• American Medical Association, International Medical Graduates Section. While the AMA site as a whole is rich in educational information, this section represents the particular interests of physicians who graduated from schools outside the United States. Their Web site provides details and advice regarding the certification process, immigration, applying for a residency, position vacancies, and state licensure requirements for international medical graduates.

Sports medicine is not a single profession but rather an "umbrella" grouping careers related to treatment of athletic injury and the effects of exercise on health. Practitioners of sports medicine include physicians, athletic trainers, nutritionists, physical therapists, psychologists, and many others.

Medicine

A physician wishing to specialize in sports medicine could do a residency in any discipline. The most traditional choice is orthopedics, treating bone, joint, and ligament injuries to which athletes are often prone. Another appropriate specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation—the physiatrist works to restore damaged physical function, generally without surgery but using such methods as orthopedics, prescription drugs, massage, biofeedback, and therapeutic exercise. Whatever specialty is chosen, the physician will probably want to choose a residency site with a sports medicine center. Training should include study of the stresses of exercise, related injuries, alternative forms of exercise during treatment of injury, means of treating injuries with minimal effect on athletic performance, and ways healthy athletes can maximize performance. See EducationUSAIran’s articles on medicine for more details on applying to U.S. residencies.

In the United States, the residency is the essential final step in preparing physicians to practice medicine independently. It can also be the perfect opportunity for international physicians to gain experience in the United States.

Before undertaking a residency, U.S. students complete undergraduate study, then spend four more years in medical school, earning the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Unfortunately, because of relatively small enrollments and high competition for admission, international students have little chance of being admitted to M.D. programs in the United States. Such programs often only enroll residents of particular U.S. states or regions, and even those that are open to international application typically only admit a handful of international students, generally with U.S. bachelor’s degrees. However, many international medical graduates (IMGs) do complete residency programs in the United States.

Residency programs are designed to allow participants to gain expertise in a medical specialty and to gradually take on increasing responsibility for patient care within a supervised clinical environment. Programs typically last three to seven years, depending on the medical specialty chosen. Advanced medical technology and facilities, expert faculty, and the wide variety of programs available (approximately 8,300 educational programs in 126 specialty and subspecialty areas are currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education), can make U.S. residency an exciting opportunity.

In the United States, the residency is the essential final step in preparing physicians to practice medicine independently. It can also be the perfect opportunity for international physicians to gain experience in the United States.

Before undertaking a residency, U.S. students complete undergraduate study, then spend four more years in medical school, earning the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. Unfortunately, because of relatively small enrollments and high competition for admission, international students have little chance of being admitted to M.D. programs in the United States. Such programs often only enroll residents of particular U.S. states or regions, and even those that are open to international application typically only admit a handful of international students, generally with U.S. bachelor’s degrees. However, many international medical graduates (IMGs) do complete residency programs in the United States.

Residency programs are designed to allow participants to gain expertise in a medical specialty and to gradually take on increasing responsibility for patient care within a supervised clinical environment. Programs typically last three to seven years, depending on the medical specialty chosen. Advanced medical technology and facilities, expert faculty, and the wide variety of programs available (approximately 8,300 educational programs in 126 specialty and subspecialty areas are currently accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education), can make U.S. residency an exciting opportunity.

• American Psychological Association, Education. Professional accreditor for doctoral degree programs, postdoctoral residencies, and pre-doctoral internships in clinical, counseling, and school psychology as well as some related programs. , and internship programs in

• Art Therapy (American Art Therapy Association)
• Dance therapy Home Page (American Dance Therapy Association)
• Music Therapy (American Music Therapy Association)

• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACRAP). Listings of professionally accredited graduate programs related to mental health, school and university, gerontological, marital, and mental health counseling as well as counselor supervision and education programs.
• Council on Rehabilitation Education. Information on master’s programs in disability counseling as well as undergraduate programs in rehabilitation and disability studies

In the United States, counselors assist their clients with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems through consultation, evaluation, therapeutic techniques, teaching, and research. Counselors work in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions, health care facilities, counseling agencies, and in private practice. 

Formal education is necessary to become a licensed counselor in the United States. Degrees are offered at the master’s and Ph.D. levels through departments of education or psychology. While counselor education programs are not commonly offered at the undergraduate level, interested students may wish to take basic psychology courses and gain practical experience through volunteer or internship positions.

Graduate Education

At the master’s degree level, students specialize in fields of study ranging from elementary or secondary school counseling, college student affairs, education, gerontological counseling, marriage and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling (which involves work with individuals with disabilities), agency or community counseling, clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, career counseling, and related fields.

A typical master’s program consists of forty-eight to sixty hours of coursework in eight core areas: human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, relationships, groupwork, career development, assessment, research and program evaluation, and professional identity. Students also complete 600 hours of supervised clinical experience in counseling.

The Education Specialist credential (Ed.S.) provides additional training in individual, group, and family counseling beyond the master’s degree level. These programs are often offered through departments of education.

Psychology is one of the top undergraduate majors in the United States, second only to business.  If you are interested in this field, pursue a well-rounded high school education including courses in English and other languages, math, sciences, and social sciences.  You’ll want to polish your computer skills, and if your school offers courses in statistics or psychology itself, take those for a head start.  Volunteer work in the community can also often be helpful in building the “people skills” you need to succeed in the profession.

At the undergraduate level, psychology is a liberal arts program, involving the opportunity to explore many subjects.  Undergraduate admissions requirements for psychology are the same as for other majors.  Four-year programs may award either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.  Two-year associate degrees in the field are also available.

Undergraduate degrees in psychology provide students with a basic introduction to the principles of psychology and opportunity to take more advanced classes in one or a few subfields, as well as some research experience.  Those who plan to continue their psychology studies at the graduate level will want to get involved in faculty research, an independent study project, and/or a fieldwork course to strengthen their application.

Graduate Study

Only about 25 percent of those completing undergraduate study continue to graduate school.  The undergraduate major provides good background for entering careers in areas such as marketing, human resources, management, advertising and sales, politics, social service, and many others.  However, to actually become a psychologist, graduate study is necessary.