International medical graduates (IMGs) who met the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG® Certification through the Pathways in a previous Pathways season who wish to revalidate a Pathway may now apply on-line through the 2025 Pathways for ECFMG Certification and Pathways Revalidation application. See Pathways Revalidation on the Information on Expiration of Pathways and ECFMG Certificate page of the ECFMG website for detailed instructions, including information on required documentation and application timing.
An accepted, unexpired Pathway is required for IMGs to participate in the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) Main Residency Match® (The Match®), among other requirements. An accepted, unexpired Pathway is required to become ECFMG Certified, among other requirements. ECFMG will not issue an ECFMG Certificate based on an expired Pathway.
ECFMG Certificates issued based on a Pathway also are subject to expiration. If you are certified by ECFMG based on a Pathway, your ECFMG Certificate will expire when your Pathway expires, unless you have met the requirements to have your certificate made valid indefinitely. A valid, unexpired ECFMG Certificate is required to enter a U.S. graduate medical education (GME) training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Please note: If you have already entered a training program that meets the requirements for your ECFMG Certificate to become valid indefinitely, but your ECFMG Certificate will expire before you have met the required 12 months of training, contact us regarding the process for extending the validity of your certificate; do not use the on-line revalidation application to extend the validity of your certificate.
