Medical Education Credentials

Name on Medical Diploma and Transcript(s)

Your name as it appears on all credentials sent to ECFMG should be consistent and should match exactly the name in your record. If the names do not match exactly, you must submit documentation that verifies the name on your medical diploma/transcript(s) is (or was) your name. The documentation must show your name exactly as it appears on your medical diploma/transcript(s). See Your Name in Your Record and Verifying Your Name.

If the name on your credentials does not match the name in your record and you do not submit acceptable documentation that verifies the name on your credentials is (or was) your name, your exam application will be rejected. If your exam application is rejected due to a name discrepancy, ECFMG will contact you to request additional information.

An example of a discrepancy that requires such verification would be if your record lists your married name, but your medical diploma/transcript(s) lists your maiden name.

Verifying Your Name

If your name of record does not match exactly your name as listed on your medical diploma, transcript, or other credential, you must verify that the name on these documents is (or was) your name. To verify your name, submit to ECFMG a copy of one of the documents listed below that verifies the name on your medical diploma, transcript, or other credential. The name in your record will not be changed if you are verifying your name.

For the purpose of verifying your name, examples of the document(s) you may submit include:

• Expired Passport (including the pages with your photograph and the expiration date)
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate/License (if name discrepancy is due to name change after marriage)
• Official Court Order/Name Change Documentation
• Official Immigration Document, including
  • U.S. Resident Alien Card
  • U.S. Naturalization Certificate
  • Permanent Residence Card
• Driver’s License

If additional documentation is required for the purposes of verifying your name, and you cannot provide one of the documents listed above, ECFMG will consider accepting a letter from an authorized official of your medical school that verifies that the name on your medical diploma, transcript, or other credential is (or was) your name. If you choose to submit a letter from your medical school to verify the name on your credential, the letter must be completed and signed by an authorized official of your medical school. Each medical school has been requested to provide ECFMG with a list of authorized officials. The letter you submit must be completed and signed by an official on this list. The official must provide his/her name, official title, and the institution name. The official must also affix the institution’s seal to the letter. The letter must be on letterhead and must include the following statement:

This certifies that the names [name on document] and [name in ECFMG record] belong to one and the same person.

See additional important information on documents below.

Important Information on Documents for Changing or Verifying Your Name

• Attestations are not acceptable as documentation to change or verify your name.
• Please do not submit an original document; a copy of the document is sufficient.
• All documents submitted to change or verify your name that are not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation that meets ECFMG's translation requirements. See English Translations in Medical Education Credentials.
• All documents submitted to change or verify your name, including translations, will become a part of your permanent record and will not be returned to you.