Issue Nineteen - February 28, 2003
Graduates Must Submit a Final Medical School Transcript to Receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate Effective February 1, 2004
Effective February 1, 2004, there will be an additional medical education credential requirement for a medical school graduate to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate. In addition to submitting the final medical diploma, which is a current requirement to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate, medical school graduates will be required to submit a copy of their final medical school transcript. As with the medical diploma, ECFMG will verify the final medical school transcript with the medical school that issued the transcript. If the final medical school transcript and/or final medical diploma are not in English, the document(s) must be accompanied by an official English translation as described in the ECFMG Information Booklet.
When this additional requirement becomes effective on February 1, 2004, a medical school graduate's medical education credentials will not be considered complete, and the medical school graduate will not be eligible to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate, until ECFMG has received and verified both the final medical diploma and final medical school transcript with the medical school that issued these documents.
This additional medical education credential requirement applies to:
- All ECFMG applicants who, as of January 31, 2004, have not met all examination and medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate.
- Medical school graduates only. Medical school students will not be required to submit a final medical school transcript until after they have graduated from medical school.
The following table summarizes the medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate both before and after February 1, 2004.
| CREDENTIALS REQUIRED FOR A GRADUATE TO RECEIVE A STANDARD ECFMG CERTIFICATE | |
| Through January 31, 2004 | Effective February 1, 2004 |
| Complete medical school curriculum of at least 4 years' duration | Complete medical school curriculum of at least 4 years' duration |
| Medical school and graduation year listed in International Medical Education Directory | Medical school and graduation year listed in International Medical Education Directory |
| Submit final medical diploma | Submit final medical diploma and final medical school transcript |
| ECFMG verifies final medical diploma directly with medical school | ECFMG verifies final medical diploma and final medical school transcript directly with medical school |
While the final medical school transcript will not be required for graduates to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate until February 1, 2004, ECFMG will accept final medical school transcripts from graduates beginning May 1, 2003. If you have graduated from medical school and will not fulfill the examination and medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate by January 31, 2004, you are strongly encouraged to submit your final medical school transcript as soon as possible, since ECFMG must verify both the transcript and the final medical diploma with the medical school before a Standard ECFMG Certificate is issued.
ECFMG will continue to require that graduates submit a copy of the final medical diploma with their initial application for examination. Although a copy of the final medical school transcript is not required at the time of application, you may include the transcript with any exam application. You may also send the transcript separately to:
ECFMG
3624 Market Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
USA
You should monitor the ECFMG website for additional announcements concerning the requirement for the final medical school transcript as the February 1, 2004 implementation date approaches. You should also refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet for detailed information on the current requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate, including medical education credential requirements. If you have questions concerning ECFMG medical education credential requirements, you may write to ECFMG at the address above or e-mail ECFMG at credentials@ecfmg.org.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A FINAL MEDICAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT?
The final medical school transcript is an official document that is the record of the graduate's medical education, issued by the medical school or university, on or after graduation.
The format of the final medical school transcript may vary among institutions. The final medical school transcript contains the name of the medical school or university and the name of the graduate. Other items that may be contained in the final medical school transcript include, but are not limited to, the dates of attendance, courses taken, credits for each course, grade in each course, summary of transfer credit accepted and the name of the institution from which the credit was accepted, title of the degree awarded, date degree was awarded, program of study (i.e., medicine), and date the transcript was issued.
Graduates should contact their medical school to inquire what document the medical school issues as a final medical school transcript.
I AM A MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENT. SHOULD I SEND MY MEDICAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT?
No. Medical school students are not required to send a medical school transcript. The additional medical education requirement is for a final medical school transcript only. You should submit the transcript after you have graduated.
I PLAN TO TAKE USMLE™ STEP 1, STEP 2, OR CSA® FEBRUARY 1, 2004 OR LATER. SHOULD I SEND A FINAL MEDICAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT WITH MY EXAM APPLICATION?
Yes. Although the final medical school transcript is not required at the time of application, you are strongly encouraged to submit the final medical school transcript as soon as possible since ECFMG must verify the final medical school transcript (and the final medical diploma) with the medical school before a Standard ECFMG Certificate is issued.
I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED MY MEDICAL DIPLOMA TO ECFMG, BUT DO NOT EXPECT TO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE A STANDARD ECFMG CERTIFICATE BY JANUARY 31, 2004. SHOULD I SEND A FINAL MEDICAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT?
Yes. Applicants who have not met all examination and medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate by January 31, 2004 will be required to submit a final medical school transcript as one of the requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate.