Search the ECFMG website
Home > Resources > Publications

Resources

Overview | Blogs | Data | E-Newsletters | Fees and Payment | Forms | Guidance on Medical School Selection | MyECFMG Mobile App | Organizational Publications | Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior | Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials | Social Media | Staff Publications and Presentations | Translation Service

Organizational Publications

Most ECFMG publications are available on this website. For inquiries regarding publications not found on this website, contact ECFMG by e-mail at pubs@ecfmg.org.

ECFMG Certification Fact Sheet

The ECFMG Certification Fact Sheet provides an introduction to ECFMG Certification, as well as web-based resources for those interested in ECFMG Certification and graduate medical education in the United States.

ECFMG Information Booklet

The ECFMG Information Booklet contains detailed information about ECFMG Certification. Applicants for examination are required to read the applicable edition of the Information Booklet.

Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials

Applicants for ECFMG Certification must submit a copy of their final medical diploma. The Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials lists the exact name of the final medical diploma that these applicants must have earned (and must provide). The Reference Guide lists these medical credential qualifications by country of medical school.

USMLE Bulletin of Information

The USMLE Bulletin of Information contains detailed information about USMLE, a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States. Applicants for examination are required to read the applicable edition of the Bulletin of Information.

ECFMG Fact Card

The ECFMG® Fact Card provides summary annual data on international medical students and graduates pursuing ECFMG Certification, J-1 visa sponsorship, and first-year residency positions in the United States.

Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP)

The ECFMG J-1 Visa Sponsorship Fact Sheet provides an overview of ECFMG sponsorship for the J-1 visa, which is commonly used by foreign national physicians to participate in U.S. programs of graduate medical education.

Quick Guides
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Back to top

New to ECFMG Certification? Click here for more information.

New to ECFMG Certification?

close certification modal window

Then you probably have a lot of questions. Here are a few answers to get you started.

What is the purpose of ECFMG Certification?

ECFMG Certification is the standard for evaluating the qualifications of IMGs entering the U.S. health care system. It is a requirement for IMGs to:

  • enter residency or fellowship programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME),
  • take Step 3 of the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and
  • obtain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States.

What is an IMG?

ECFMG defines an international medical graduate (IMG) as a physician who received his/her basic medical degree or qualification from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada. The location of your medical school, not your citizenship, is what determines whether you are an IMG. This means that U.S. citizens who graduated from medical schools outside the United States and Canada are considered IMGs. Non-U.S. citizens who graduated from medical schools in the United States and Canada are not considered IMGs.

What are the requirements for ECFMG Certification?

The requirements for ECFMG Certification include:

  • completion of the Application for ECFMG Certification;
  • passing performance on USMLE Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, and Step 2 Clinical Skills; and
  • primary-source verification of your medical education credentials.

How do I begin the certification process?

The certification process begins when you request a USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number, which you can do through ECFMG’s Interactive Web Applications (IWA) by clicking on the link to establish an account.

Learn more about ECFMG and the certification process »

Top Resources for IMGs Applying for ECFMG Certification »

Want to subscribe to one of ECFMG’s free E-Newsletters?

The ECFMG Reporter provides its nearly 200,000 subscribers with regular e-mail updates on ECFMG Certification, GME in the United States, and other issues important to IMGs.

ECHO News provides ECFMG-certified physicians with updates on new ECHO resources and other news related to planning their careers.

ECFMG Focus provides nearly 4,000 representatives of international medical schools with updates on ECFMG's activities and services for the international medical education community.

Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials

FAIMER’s Data Resources on International Medical Education

Contact ECFMG