Medical Education Credentials

Medical Education Credential Requirements

To be eligible for ECFMG Certification, you must have been awarded credit for at least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given toward completion of the medical curriculum) by a medical school that is listed in the World Directory with an ECFMG note stating it meets ECFMG eligibility requirements. Your graduation year must be included in the ECFMG note in your medical school’s World Directory listing. See Medical School Requirements. There are restrictions on credits transferred to the medical school that awards your medical degree that can be used to meet ECFMG’s medical education credential requirements.

Important Notes: Graduates not eligible for admission to the exams or for ECFMG Certification include, but are not limited to: Graduates with degrees only in stomatology, ayurvedic or homeopathic medicine; graduates awarded only the diploma of Physician-Epidemiologist-Hygienist, Physician-Biochemist, Physician-Cyberneticist, Physician-Biophysicist, Licensed Medical Practitioner, or Assistant Medical Practitioner; and graduates awarded degrees in specialties other than Clinical Medicine (such as in Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Implementation of the Recognized Accreditation Policy will begin in late 2024. Once the policy is in effect, it will not impact an individual's eligibility for certification. IMGs will still be able to apply for and obtain ECFMG Certification, regardless of whether their medical school meets the current requirements of the Recognized Accreditation Policy. Any updates or changes to the policy will be communicated well in advance. For more information on this policy, visit www.intealth.org/accreditation/.

International medical graduates must document the completion of all requirements for, and receipt of, the final medical diploma. ECFMG verifies every international medical graduate’s final medical diploma with the appropriate officials of the medical school that issued the diploma. When ECFMG requests verification of your medical diploma from your medical school, ECFMG will request the medical school to provide your final medical school transcript. Verification by ECFMG with the issuing school may also be required for transcripts that are submitted to document transferred credits. An international medical graduate’s credentials are not considered complete until ECFMG receives and accepts verification of the final medical diploma, final medical school transcript, and, if required, transfer credit transcript(s) directly from the issuing school(s).

Please do not send original documents, as they will not be returned to you. Please do not send any credentials not required (such as licenses, certificates of full registration, high school diplomas, academic awards, etc.). Submission of unnecessary documents can delay the processing of your exam application.