Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Encyclopedia
Through its program of certification
, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses the readiness of international medic
al graduate
s to enter residency
or fellowship programs in the United States
that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME).
ECFMG acts as the registration and score-reporting agency for the USMLE for foreign medical students/ graduates, or in short, it acts as the designated Dean's office for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in contrast to the American Medical Graduates (AMGs).
It conducts three examinations: Step 1
, Step 2CK
, Step 2CS. The ECFMG certificate is issued to a physician if he or she passes the above the three exams within a time period of seven years.
Medical schools in Canada
that award the M.D.
are not assessed by ECFMG, because the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
historically accredited M.D.-granting institutions in both the U.S. and Canada (today, Canada has its own accrediting body that generally follows U.S. standards). M.D. graduates of American and Canadian institutions are not considered IMGs in either country.
s who wish to be licensed as a physician in the United States
is to complete a U.S. residency
hospital program. The general method to apply for residency programs is through the National Resident Matching Program
(abbreviated NRMP, but also called "the Match"). To participate in the NRMP, an IMG is required to have an ECFMG certification by the "rank order list certification deadline" time (usually in February of the year of the match).
To acquire an ECFMG certification, the main requirements are:
In comparison, regular graduates from medical schools in the United States need to complete USMLE Steps 1 and 2 as well, but can participate in the NRMP while still doing their final year of medical school before acquiring their medical diplomas. In effect, taking regular administrative delays into account, and with residency programs starting around July, there is a gap of at least half a year for IMGs between graduation from medical school and beginning of a residency program.
That the specified medical school is recognized by the government of the country for award of the Doctor of Medicine (or equivalent) degree
The date on which recognition was granted
That the specified medical school has a physical campus in the country and the address of that campus.
Whether instruction has begun at the school, and on what date. If instruction has not yet begun, the date classes are expected to begin.
If applicable, the name of the university with which the medical college is affiliated.
That graduates of the specified medical school eligible for medical licensure in the country
The date on which graduates of the specified medical school became eligible for medical licensure
The letter must be received directly from the Ministry of Health or other authority, on letterhead stationery, with the signature and seal of the Minister or appropriate official.
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses the readiness of international medic
Medic
Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency...
al graduate
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
s to enter residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
or fellowship programs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education is the body responsible for the accreditation for graduate medical training programs for medical doctors in the United States. It is a non-profit private council that evaluates and accredits medical residency and internship programs...
(ACGME).
ECFMG acts as the registration and score-reporting agency for the USMLE for foreign medical students/ graduates, or in short, it acts as the designated Dean's office for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in contrast to the American Medical Graduates (AMGs).
It conducts three examinations: Step 1
USMLE Step 1
The USMLE Step 1 is the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It assesses whether medical school students or graduates can apply important concepts of the sciences fundamental to the practice of medicine. US medical students typically take Step 1 at the end of the second...
, Step 2CK
USMLE Step 2-CK
The USMLE-Step 2-CK is the multiple-choice portion of the second part of the United States Medical Licensure Examination. It assesses clinical knowledge through a traditional, multiple-choice examination. In contrast to the USMLE Step 1, the focus is much more on clinical application of medical...
, Step 2CS. The ECFMG certificate is issued to a physician if he or she passes the above the three exams within a time period of seven years.
Medical schools in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that award the M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
are not assessed by ECFMG, because the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
Liaison Committee on Medical Education
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education is an accrediting body for educational programs at schools of medicine in the United States and Canada. The LCME accredits only the schools that grant a doctor of medicine degree; osteopathic medical schools are accredited by the Commission on...
historically accredited M.D.-granting institutions in both the U.S. and Canada (today, Canada has its own accrediting body that generally follows U.S. standards). M.D. graduates of American and Canadian institutions are not considered IMGs in either country.
Certification
The main pathway for international medical graduateInternational medical graduate
An International Medical Graduate or "IMGs", earlier known as a Foreign Medical Graduate or "FMGs", is a term used to describe a physician who has graduated from a medical school outside of the country in which he or she intends to practice...
s who wish to be licensed as a physician in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is to complete a U.S. residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
hospital program. The general method to apply for residency programs is through the National Resident Matching Program
National Resident Matching Program
The National Resident Matching Program is a United States-based non-profit non-governmental organization created in 1952 to help match medical school students with residency programs...
(abbreviated NRMP, but also called "the Match"). To participate in the NRMP, an IMG is required to have an ECFMG certification by the "rank order list certification deadline" time (usually in February of the year of the match).
To acquire an ECFMG certification, the main requirements are:
- Completion of USMLE Step 1USMLE Step 1The USMLE Step 1 is the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It assesses whether medical school students or graduates can apply important concepts of the sciences fundamental to the practice of medicine. US medical students typically take Step 1 at the end of the second...
, USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills - A medical diploma of medical educationMedical educationMedical education is education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner, either the initial training to become a doctor or additional training thereafter ....
taken at a institution registered in the International Medical Education DirectoryInternational Medical Education DirectoryThe International Medical Education Directory is a public database of worldwide medical schools. The IMED is published as a joint collaboration of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research...
(IMED)
In comparison, regular graduates from medical schools in the United States need to complete USMLE Steps 1 and 2 as well, but can participate in the NRMP while still doing their final year of medical school before acquiring their medical diplomas. In effect, taking regular administrative delays into account, and with residency programs starting around July, there is a gap of at least half a year for IMGs between graduation from medical school and beginning of a residency program.
Register in International Medical Education Directory
Before a medical school is considered for listing in IMED, the authorized agency of the government in the country where the school is located must write to FAIMER to provide the following information. The authorized agency may be the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, medical council or other authority.That the specified medical school is recognized by the government of the country for award of the Doctor of Medicine (or equivalent) degree
The date on which recognition was granted
That the specified medical school has a physical campus in the country and the address of that campus.
Whether instruction has begun at the school, and on what date. If instruction has not yet begun, the date classes are expected to begin.
If applicable, the name of the university with which the medical college is affiliated.
That graduates of the specified medical school eligible for medical licensure in the country
The date on which graduates of the specified medical school became eligible for medical licensure
The letter must be received directly from the Ministry of Health or other authority, on letterhead stationery, with the signature and seal of the Minister or appropriate official.