Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)

To be eligible for an ECFMG certificate, students must have passed USMLE Steps 1, 2 Clinical Knowledge (2CK) and 2 Clinical Skills (2CS); the USMLE 2CS is a one-day exam that requires examinees to demonstrate clinical proficiency and appropriate interpersonal skills. A copy of your M.D. diploma will automatically be sent to ECFMG by OCSA to begin the certification process. Graduates will receive the certificate within 4 weeks.

Once a graduate obtains an ECFMG certificate he or she will be eligible to participate in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residence and fellowship programs in the United States.

ECFMG certification is also one of the eligibility requirements for international medical graduates to take Step 3 of the USMLE. The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) registers applicants for this exam. Step 3 assesses whether a potential physician can apply the medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science considered essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings. Most states require passage of Step 3 as part of their licensure; however, this varies with each state, and the requirements of the state where licensure is intended should be checked for particulars.

For more information, please contact:

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
www.ecfmg.org

Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ 08541
www.toefl.org

Federation of State Medical Boards
400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300
Euless, TX 76039
www.fsmb.org