Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) developed the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) to allow medical school students and graduates to apply electronically for residency positions in accredited U.S. programs of graduate medical education. Since ERAS was established in 1996, ECFMG has served as the designated Dean’s office for students and graduates of international medical schools, assisting these individuals with the MyERAS application process for first- and second-year (PGY-1 and PGY-2) residency positions.
As your designated Dean’s office, ECFMG is your primary contact for assistance and information throughout the MyERAS application process. It is important to know that ECFMG and AAMC are not associated with other services seeking to assist you with the MyERAS application process for a fee.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are a student or graduate of a U.S. (LCME- or AOA-accredited) medical school, you must apply for residency positions through the Dean’s office at your medical school. If you are a student or graduate of a Canadian medical school, the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) acts as your Dean’s office for the purpose of applying to positions in the United States.
Your pursuit of a residency position involves three separate organizations:
Obtain a Residency Token
Log in to ECFMG’s OASIS and select ERAS Support Services from the menu. You will then see the option to Request a Residency Token.
When will Tokens for ERAS 2022 be available?
Tokens for ERAS 2022 are no longer available.
How much does the Token cost?
There is a $155 non-refundable fee for this service.
How can I pay the Token fee?
When you request your Token using OASIS, you can pay on-line using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express). You can also pay by electronic check from a checking account at a U.S. bank.
Once I request the Token, when will it be issued, and how long will it be available?
After your payment is approved, click Continue on the payment confirmation page for immediate access to your Token. Your Token will remain on the ERAS Token Request page in OASIS and may be accessed at any time during the ERAS season.
Can I use my ERAS 2022 Token to apply in future seasons?
No. The ERAS software will not recognize a Token issued for previous ERAS seasons. You need one Token per ERAS season, and you can use that one Token to apply to as many specialties and programs as you want during the ERAS season. You can also use your 2022 Token to apply for both a clinical year (PGY-1), which begins in 2022, and for an advanced position (PGY-2), which begins in 2023 (e.g., Radiology, Neurology, etc.).
I am a fellowship applicant. How do I request a Token?
Fellowship Tokens must be requested through the ERAS Fellowships Documents Office (EFDO) . Tokens requested through ECFMG’s OASIS are for residency applications only. If you are currently enrolled in a residency program and require a Token for a fellowship application, you must request your Token through EFDO.
ERAS Support Services at ECFMG strongly encourages you to read the AAMC publication, Roadmap to Residency , which provides an overview of U.S. graduate medical education recruitment processes.
*IMPORTANT NOTE FOR 2022 MATCH: In response to the suspension and subsequent discontinuation of the USMLE Step 2 CS exam by the USMLE program, ECFMG|FAIMER has identified Pathways that will allow qualified IMGs who have not passed Step 2 CS to meet the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG Certification. For IMGs who apply for and satisfy all requirements for a Pathway and have passing performances on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK that are valid for ECFMG Certification, ECFMG will verify to the NRMP that they have met the examination requirements for ECFMG Certification. Please review the Requirements for ECFMG Certification for 2022 Match for detailed information.
ERAS Support Services at ECFMG also strongly encourages you to read the biennial NRMP Program Director Survey . This publication provides insight into the factors program directors use in selecting applicants for an interview and in ranking applicants for their programs. Additionally, you are encouraged to read the NRMP Main Residency Match: Match Results by Specialty and State , which details the number of positions secured by IMGs through the Match by specialty and by state.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important to know that programs may participate in ERAS but not in the Match. The reverse holds true; programs may participate in the Match but not in ERAS. You can research this information on your own using AMA's FREIDA™ and the list of ERAS-participating programs .
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[Last update: April 4, 2022]
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