What are the steps to become ECFMG certified?

If you are an IMG aspiring to enter the US healthcare system, you might be puzzled by certain terms popping up repeatedly when you try to explore the pathway for it. So, here is all the necessary information for you.

What is ECFMG certification?

 ECFMG certification is a process for evaluating the qualifications of international medical graduates. ECFMG stands for Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

You need to get certified by ECFMG if you are willing to apply for the MATCH cycle.

Here is a step-by-step process for the same.

Step 1

Go to the World Directory of Medical Schools website at www.wdoms.org and check whether your medical school is listed. You are eligible to apply for ECFMG certification only if your graduation school is properly accredited.

From 2024, you will be eligible to apply for ECFMG certification if your school is accredited by an agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

Step 2

Get the ECFMG identification number. This number will be used during your whole USMLE journey.

It has a simple procedure. Go to the ECFMG website, www.ecfmg.org and request an identification number. Here, submit the online portion of your application and make payment. Application for certification is available on ECFMG’s Interactive Web Application (IWA). After payment, you can download identification form 186 if you are a graduate and form 183 if you are a student.

After downloading the form, get it notarized by a notary cam, as per the instructions written on the form.

Then, wait for the ECFMG email confirming receipt of your application's online part. Once you receive the email, you are allowed to schedule the exams.

Step 3

Now that you have received a scheduling permit, you can apply for USMLE steps in any sequence. Apply and pay for each of the required USMLE steps. Apply each step. After verification, you can schedule each exam on the Prometric site, www.prometric.com.

For getting ECFMG certified, you must pass step 1 and step 2 of USMLE.

Throughout the steps, follow your application status.

Step 4

Complete your Occupational English Test (OET). A satisfactory score on OET is essential for ECFMG certification. This is a test to assess your communication skills in English, as IMGs from many countries are not native English speakers. It is only to check if you can communicate with patients properly.

Step 5

Ask your medical school to scan and email your medical diploma to ECFMG.

Once verified, a notification that your medical school credentials are completed and verified appears on OASIS (Online Applicant Status and Information System).

After doing all that mentioned above, send the application for certification, and you can receive your ECFMG certificate by email. For the latest information for 2024, monitor the ECFMG website at https://www.ecfmg.org/accreditation. You can apply for MATCH till your ECFMG certificate is valid. It will now be valid for one MATCH cycle.

So, this was a quick look from our side. PROGRAM INSIDER wishes you luck in your journey for ECFMG certification.