<p>I ultimately want to practice in California because this is where all my family lives. </p>
<p>If I go to medical school in another state though, how does that affect that prospect?</p>
<p>What about which state one does residency in? How does that ultimately affect where the doctor would end up working?</p>
<p>Ultimately affect? Not really. There are some things that you might have to relearn policy wise, but it is definitely not a huge problem to move to another part of the country and practice. Where you go to medical school and residency CAN determine where you practice, but not because of the barriers. It’s because you might have grown roots there via friends, a spouse, etc.</p>
<p>You can go to a medical school anywhere in the U.S. and end up practicing in California. When the time comes, just apply to job openings in the state you wish to reside in.</p>
<p>You will also need a license to practice here. No major barriers I can think of, but it does take time.</p>
<p>From what I can tell, I wouldn’t turn down an admission to an otherwise good medical school because of where you want to live (I went to med school in D.C., residency in New York, fellowship in California), but being local does help as you move from one stage to the next.</p>