Overview
Board of Trustees
Statement of Values, Mission, and Purposes
Senior Staff
Annual Report
History
Organizational Members
Careers at ECFMG
ECFMG Certification
Assessing whether IMGs are ready to enter U.S. graduate medical education programs that are accredited by ACGME
Certification Verification Service
Providing primary-source confirmation of an IMG’s ECFMG certification status to residency programs; state medical boards; and other organizations, such as hospitals and HMOs
ERAS Support Services
Assisting IMGs who use the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to apply for residency positions in U.S. graduate medical education programs
Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (J-1 visa)
Sponsoring physicians on J-1 Exchange Visitor visas and ensuring that Exchange Visitors and their host institutions meet the federal requirements for participation in the Exchange Visitor Program
ECFMG International Credentials Services
Serving international regulatory authorities by obtaining primary-source verification of credentials of physicians educated or trained outside of their jurisdictions
Acculturation Program
Developing resources that assist IMGs with the transition to living and working in the United States and that help orient them to the U.S. health care system
Programs Overview »

For International Medical Graduates

IWA—Interactive Web Applications
Complete the Application for ECFMG Certification; apply for USMLE; access USMLE scheduling permits; request extension of Step1/2 CK eligibility period; request to have USMLE results withheld from your medical school
OASIS—On-line Applicant Status and Information System
Review and manage your ECFMG record; manage your financial account; check the status of your ECFMG applications, medical education credentials, and Standard ECFMG Certificate; view USMLE score reports; access ERAS Support Services; complete the physician portion of an on-line application for J-1 visa sponsorship
Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling
Check test dates and schedule testing appointments
CVS ON-LINE—Certification Verification Service On-line
Request a status report be sent to a medical licensing authority
IAN—IMG Advisors Network
Connect with an IMG advisor to ask questions about participating in U.S. graduate medical education and living in the United States; volunteer to be an advisor

For International Medical Schools

EMSWP—ECFMG Medical School Web Portal
Verify the status of students/graduates for USMLE registration; verify the medical education credentials of their students/graduates; access data on the USMLE performance of students/graduates; upload and track supporting documents on behalf of students/graduates participating in ERAS

For Residency Programs/Licensing Authorities

CVS ON-LINE—Certification Verification Service On-line
Request an IMG’s certification status
EVNet—Exchange Visitor Network
Submit appointment profile details for J-1 visa sponsorship applicants; view reports on currently sponsored J-1 physicians

For All Users

IMED—International Medical Education Directory
Search for medical schools
Employment Application
View and apply for jobs
On-line Services Overview »
Publications
Forms
E-Newsletters
Data
ECFMG Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior
Fees and Payment
2011 Annual Report
 2011 ECFMG Annual Report
PDF
More Publications »
Certificates Issued, 1987-2011
More Data »
Resources Overview »
ECFMG 2012 Information Booklet - Format of the Exams
Home > Resources > ECFMG 2012 Information Booklet

ECFMG 2012 Information Booklet

Preparing for Examination

Format of the Exams | Orientation and Practice Materials | NBME Self-Assessments | Step 1/Step 2 CK Practice Session at a Prometric Test Center

Format of the Exams

Step 1 and Step 2 CK are each one-day, multiple-choice exams that are administered by computer. Each exam consists of multiple-choice questions divided into 60-minute blocks. The Step 1 testing session lasts approximately eight hours. The Step 2 CK testing session lasts approximately nine hours.

Step 2 CS is a one-day exam that consists of 12 simulated patient cases. The Step 2 CS testing session lasts approximately eight hours.

For detailed information on test lengths and formats, see Preparing for the Test in the USMLE Bulletin of Information. You should also review the orientation materials and run the sample test materials available on the USMLE website.

Important Note: The Comprehensive Review of USMLE (CRU) was initiated in 2004. The goal of this review was to determine if the mission and purpose of USMLE were effectively and efficiently supported by the current design, structure, and format of USMLE. This review resulted in proposed changes. In 2009, the proposed changes were approved by the USMLE sponsoring organizations, FSMB and NBME.
Planning, research, and development efforts have been underway for the last three years. Initial modifications are being introduced into the upcoming exams. Regular updates on the CRU process are posted to the USMLE website.
Changes resulting from CRU are planned for all USMLE Steps and Step Components. These changes may affect both content and item formats. As changes are implemented, the orientation and practice materials available on the USMLE website may be updated to reflect these changes. If you plan to take USMLE examinations, you should monitor the USMLE and ECFMG websites for the latest information on changes related to CRU.
previous | next


Last updated: September 15, 2011

® Registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

ECFMG 2012 Information Booklet
View Information Booklet updates
View the Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials
Apply on-line using IWA
Fees and Payment
Contact ECFMG
Print the 2012 Information Booklet ECFMG 2012 Information Booklet
Terms | Privacy | Sitemap | Careers | Contact