UPDATE: Presidential Proclamation Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats
On September 24, 2017, President Trump signed a proclamation that limits the entry of certain foreign nationals to the United States. This new proclamation effectively replaces Executive Order 13780, which expired on that same day.
At this time, ECFMG is reviewing the proclamation in consultation with immigration counsel and other organizations in the U.S. medical education community. As we determine what impacts the proclamation might have on international medical students and graduates, we will communicate directly with individuals that we believe may be affected. We also will provide updates to officials of U.S. graduate medical education programs.
Additional information is available on the Resources on Presidential Proclamation web page. Updates will be posted to this web page as they become available.
[posted September 26, 2017; updated October 5, 2017]
ECFMG Receives Top Awards for “Healthiest Workplace” and “Most Family-friendly Workplace” as Part of Modern Healthcare’s 2017 Best Places to Work in Healthcare
ECFMG is honored to have been selected as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2017 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. At a September 28 awards dinner held during its annual Workplace of the Future conference in Las Vegas, Modern Healthcare announced that ECFMG ranked first among healthcare suppliers in the special categories of “Healthiest Workplace” and “Most Family-friendly Workplace.”
In addition to considering the various benefits and training and development opportunities made available to employees, judges determined the winning workplaces based on employee survey responses.
“I’m pleased that Modern Healthcare has recognized ECFMG as one of the top healthcare workplaces, and even more pleased to know that ECFMG employees agree,” said ECFMG President and CEO, William W. Pinsky, MD.
Read the full press release.
Relocation of Caribbean Medical Schools Impacted by Hurricane Irma
ECFMG is monitoring the impact of Hurricane Irma and its widespread and significant destruction throughout the Caribbean. Many international medical students, including U.S. citizens, study at medical schools located in the Caribbean, and some of these facilities are now no longer able to operate safely as a result of Hurricane Irma. Some impacted medical schools have temporarily relocated their educational activity to the United States to minimize disruption of their students’ medical education until they are safely able to return to their educational facilities in the Caribbean. ECFMG supports efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of international medical students impacted by these and other catastrophic events.
ECFMG defines an international medical school as a medical school or program chartered and operated under the authority of a country outside the United States and Canada whose graduates are eligible to practice medicine in that country upon graduation. Medical schools or programs operating in the United States, its territories or protectorates, and Canada, or that are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), are not considered international medical schools for the purposes of ECFMG Certification. However, ECFMG recognizes the gravity of the impact that Hurricane Irma has had on some medical schools and their students in the Caribbean. ECFMG supports the effort of the officials of impacted medical schools to ensure the safety of medical students and staff by temporarily relocating educational facilities. If educational activities are temporarily relocated as a result of Hurricane Irma or any other catastrophic event, the temporary relocation should be approved by the applicable governmental authorities of the home country and by the accrediting authority, if any. Any school temporarily relocated to the United States that extends beyond the temporary period will not be considered to be an international medical school, and its students may no longer be eligible for ECFMG Certification, including registration for the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) as a step toward ECFMG Certification.
Schools that have relocated or plan to relocate their operations to the United States or elsewhere as a result of Hurricane Irma should provide ECFMG with: a) a formal notice to ECFMG that includes the address of where the school is temporarily located and the expected date of when the school will return to its home country, b) copies of approvals from the home country governmental authorities, and c) copies of approvals from the accrediting agency, if any. This information should be e-mailed to Medical Education Resources at medschoolreview@ecfmg.org, along with any questions or comments.
Finally, ECFMG expresses its sympathy and concern for everyone impacted by Hurricane Irma and hopes that medical schools are able to return to normal operations as quickly as possible.
Important Information for Students Considering Transferring from Medical Schools Impacted by Hurricane Irma
ECFMG would like to express our continued concern for everyone impacted by Hurricane Irma and its aftermath and voice our support for those involved in ongoing relief efforts.
We understand that some medical students enrolled in Caribbean medical schools experiencing a disruption of services as a result of Hurricane Irma are considering transferring to other medical schools. Before considering a transfer to another medical school, students interested in pursuing ECFMG Certification are strongly advised to ensure they would still meet ECFMG’s requirements for certification, including the medical school requirements, transfer credit requirements, and medical education credentials requirements. If you are a medical student impacted by Hurricane Irma and have any questions, ECFMG staff is ready to assist you. We encourage you to contact ECFMG’s Applicant Information Services by phone at +1 (215) 386-5900 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, Monday through Friday), or by e-mail at info@ecfmg.org.
ECFMG On-line Services Unavailable September 16
Due to scheduled maintenance, ECFMG’s on-line services will be unavailable from approximately 12:00 a.m. through approximately 5:00 p.m. on September 16, 2017. All times are calculated using Eastern Time in the United States.
During this maintenance period, you will be unable to access the following:
- IWA—Interactive Web Applications
- OASIS—On-line Applicant Status and Information System
- Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling
- IAN—IMG Advisors Network
- EMSWP—ECFMG Medical School Web Portal, and its programs for medical schools and other institutions:
- Status Verification
- Credentials Verification
- Performance Data
- EMSWP ERAS
- GEMxSM for Partner Institutions
- CVS ON-LINE—Certification Verification Service On-line
- EVNet—Exchange Visitor Network
- EPICSM—Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials
- Physician Portal
- Report Portal
- GEMx on-line services for students
- MyECFMG mobile app
The World Directory of Medical Schools also will be unavailable during this maintenance period.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to maintain high-quality on-line services.
Important Information for International Medical Students and Graduates (IMGs) and Medical Schools Impacted by Hurricane Irma
ECFMG expresses its sympathy and concern for everyone impacted by Hurricane Irma. We are closely monitoring the situation. We are aware of the potential disruptions Hurricane Irma and its aftermath may cause for IMGs, and for medical schools and school officials, in using ECFMG’s programs and services. We stand ready to assist in overcoming such disruptions.
Applicants for ECFMG’s programs and services who are affected by this event, and require assistance, are encouraged to contact Applicant Information Services by phone at (215) 386-5900 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, Monday through Friday), or by e-mail at info@ecfmg.org.
For updates on the impact of weather on United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) administrations, please go to the Prometric website (for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3) or to the CSEC website (for Step 2 CS).
Officials from medical schools affected by Hurricane Irma are encouraged to contact emswpadmin@ecfmg.org with any questions, or to let us know how this event is impacting you and your school. If there is messaging you would like us to convey when we receive inquiries about your school, ECFMG will assist.
Additional information will be posted to the ECFMG website and shared via Facebook and Twitter as it becomes available.
ECFMG’s 2018 Information Booklet on ECFMG Certification and Application Materials Now Available
ECFMG’s 2018 Information Booklet on ECFMG Certification and the 2018 exam application materials are now available on the ECFMG website.
For Step 1/Step 2 CK, you can use the 2018 materials to apply for:
- available Step 1/Step 2 CK eligibility periods ending in 2017 (September 2017-November 2017 and October 2017-December 2017) and
- all Step 1/Step 2 CK eligibility periods ending in 2018, beginning with the November 2017-January 2018 eligibility period.
For Step 2 CS, you can use the 2018 materials to obtain a 12-month eligibility period that begins on the date that the processing of your application is completed.
Please monitor the ECFMG website, and follow ECFMG on Facebook and Twitter, for updates and important information.
(posted August 10, 2017, updated September 8, 2017)
REMINDER: ECFMG’s Interactive Web Applications (IWA) Unavailable September 6-7
Due to required maintenance, ECFMG’s Interactive Web Applications (IWA) will be unavailable for up to 24 hours, beginning at approximately 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, on September 6, 2017.
During this maintenance period, you will be unable to perform any IWA transactions, including working on or submitting an Application for ECFMG Certification or USMLE exam application; accessing a USMLE scheduling permit; or requesting an extension of a USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK eligibility period.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to maintain high-quality on-line services.
(published August 24, 2017; updated August 31, 2017)
REMINDER: Incomplete IWA Exam Applications Will Be Deleted on September 6
As part of the transition to the ECFMG 2018 Information Booklet and exam application materials, any USMLE exam applications that have been saved but not submitted via ECFMG’s Interactive Web Applications (IWA) will be deleted. If you have a saved exam application in IWA, you must complete and submit the application, including payment, by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. If you have begun but not yet submitted the on-line part of an exam application when IWA becomes unavailable on September 6, your incomplete application will be deleted. If your application is deleted, you will be required to begin a new application in order to apply for examination.
(published August 24, 2017; updated August 31, 2017)
ECFMG On-line Services Unavailable July 15
Due to scheduled maintenance, ECFMG’s on-line services will be unavailable from approximately 3:00 a.m. through approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2017. All times are calculated using Eastern Time in the United States.
During this maintenance period, you will be unable to access the following:
- IWA—Interactive Web Applications
- OASIS—On-line Applicant Status and Information System
- Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling
- IAN—IMG Advisors Network
- EMSWP—ECFMG Medical School Web Portal, and its programs for medical schools and other institutions:
- Status Verification
- Credentials Verification
- Performance Data
- EMSWP ERAS
- GEMxSM for Partner Institutions
- CVS ON-LINE—Certification Verification Service On-line
- EVNet—Exchange Visitor Network
- EPICSM—Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials
- Physician Portal
- Report Portal
- GEMx on-line services for students
- MyECFMG mobile app
The World Directory of Medical Schools also will be unavailable during this maintenance period.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to maintain high-quality on-line services.