Ecfmg 2015 Annual Report

recognition or accreditation, will be added to meet the needs of medical regulatory authorities (MRAs), 

certifying bodies, and researchers. Te availability of current, high-quality information on undergraduate 

medical education in the form of a centralized resource will advance research on the quality of medical 

education and eforts to improve medical education, with the ultimate goal of improving public health. More 

information is available at www.wdoms.org. 

Growth and Development Bring New Opportunities for Students of GEMx 

Partner Schools 

Te past year brought continued growth 

and development for GEMx

SM

 with the 

Global educational exchange in 

medicine and the health professions 

expansion of its educational exchange 

opportunities for undergraduate medical 

students of GEMx Partner Schools in multiple, exciting new directions. Students of GEMx Partner Schools 

are crossing the globe to engage in exchange experiences ofered by our committed partner institutions. Tese 

experiences are having a profound impact on their learning and career paths. 

Te ofcial launch of GEMx at the beginning of 2015 opened the program to medical schools 

worldwide. In 2015, GEMx also began to establish partnerships with new types of institutions. Trough 

GEMx’s partnership with the Conservation and Ecosystem Health Alliance (CEHA), students of GEMx 

Partners now have opportunities for short-term research placements, electives, and internships with medical 

organizations throughout Uganda. During the past year, GEMx partnered with 10 new institutions, bringing 

total membership in the GEMx global network to 30 partners located in 22 countries. 

In mid-2015, ECFMG established the GEMx Student Exchange Grants, ofering fnancial awards 

of US$1,000 to up to two qualifying students from each GEMx Partner School. ECFMG’s Board of Trustees 

has authorized the use of US$500,000 of ECFMG’s investment funds, the income from which is designated 

to support this initiative. Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, a GEMx Partner, also contributed substantially to 

the grants program. ECFMG also announced that GEMx would expand its exchange opportunities beyond 

medicine to serve other health professions such as nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry, among others, and 

ECFMG is actively exploring relationships with new institutions in the health professions worldwide. For more 

information about GEMx, please visit www.gemxelectives.org. 

the YeAr in highlight

s  

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suPPorting u.s. grAduAte MediCAl 

eduCAtion (gMe) And internAtionAl 

PhYsiCiAns entering u.s. gMe 

ECFMG Certification 

ECFMG’s program of certifcation assesses whether international medical graduates are ready to enter U.S. 

graduate medical education (GME) programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate 

Medical Education (ACGME). ACGME requires ECFMG Certifcation for international medical graduates who 

enter such programs. 

ECFMG Certifcation assures directors of accredited residency and fellowship programs, and the people 

of the United States, that international medical graduates have met minimum standards of eligibility to enter 

such programs. ECFMG Certifcation is one of the eligibility requirements for international medical graduates to 

take Step 3 of the three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) and is a requirement for 

international medical graduates seeking unrestricted medical licensure. 

Currently, applicants for certifcation must apply for ECFMG Certifcation, pass the required exams, 

and satisfy medical education credential requirements. For 

detailed information on the ECFMG certifcation process and 

To learn more about ECFMG Certification, 

requirements, please consult the ECFMG Information Booklet, 

visit www.ecfmg.org/certification/. 

available on the ECFMG website. 

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 

USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 are the exams currently administered that satisfy examination requirements for ECFMG 

Certifcation. Step 2 has two separately administered components, the Clinical Knowledge (CK) component and 

the Clinical Skills (CS) component. 

ECFMG determines eligibility and registers international medical students/graduates for USMLE Step 

1 and Step 2. Te National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) performs these functions for applicants 

from U.S. and Canadian medical schools/programs accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education 

(LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). 

During 2015, ECFMG completed 23,730 registrations for Step 1; of these registrations, 41% were 

for students and 59% were for graduates. For Step 2 CK, ECFMG completed 17,499 registrations; of these 

registrations, 36% were for students and 64% were for graduates. 

Step 1 and Step 2 CK are delivered via computer by Prometric through its network of test centers 

worldwide. Of the Step 1/Step 2 CK exams administered to international medical students/graduates in 2015, 63% 

were delivered in test centers located in the United States and Canada. 

During 2015, ECFMG completed 15,024 registrations for Step 2 CS; of these registrations, 36% were for 

students and 64% were for graduates. 

Te Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) operates test centers for administration of Step 2 CS 

located in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia in the United States. 

Examinee performance data for recent administrations of Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS are provided 

in Exhibits 1 and 2. 

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