Certification

About ECFMG Certification | IMGs in the United States | Definition of an IMG | How the Certification Process Works | Requirements for Certification | Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials | Eligibility for Examination | Verification of Credentials | Certification Verification

To be eligible for certification by ECFMG, an international medical graduate (IMG) must meet the following requirements.

Application for ECFMG Certification
International medical students/graduates must submit an Application for ECFMG Certification before they can apply to ECFMG for examination. The Application for ECFMG Certification consists of questions that require applicants to confirm their identity, contact information, and graduation from or enrollment in a medical school that is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). As part of the application, international medical students/graduates must also confirm their understanding of the purpose of ECFMG Certification and consent to a release of legal claims.

Examination Requirements
To meet the examination requirements for ECFMG Certification, an IMG must:

1. Satisfy the medical science examination requirement. USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) are the exams currently administered that satisfy this requirement. To meet the medical science examination requirement for ECFMG Certification, applicants must pass both Step 1 and Step 2 CK within a specified period of time.

2. Satisfy the clinical skills requirement. USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) is the exam currently administered that satisfies this requirement. Specific time limits for passing Step 2 CS for ECFMG Certification may apply.

For detailed information, including information on time limits for completing the examinations for ECFMG Certification and using a passing performance on former exams to satisfy these requirements, refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet. For detailed information on USMLE examinations, refer to the USMLE Bulletin of Information.

Medical Education Credential Requirements
To meet the medical education credential requirements for ECFMG Certification, an IMG must:

• be a graduate of a medical school listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). The IMG’s graduation year must be included in the school’s IMED listing.
• have been awarded credit for at least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given toward completion of the medical curriculum) by a medical school that is listed in IMED. There are restrictions on credits transferred to the medical school that awards an IMG’s medical diploma that can be used to meet this requirement.
• document the completion of all requirements for, and receipt of, the final medical diploma. ECFMG must also receive copies of the IMG’s final medical school transcript and, if required, transcripts to document credits that were transferred to the medical school that awarded the IMG’s medical diploma.

Additionally, ECFMG must obtain primary-source verification of the IMG’s medical diploma and transcript(s).

Back to top