Educational commission for foreign medical graduates

About the ECFMG Information Booklet and Application Materials 

The ECFMG Information Booklet contains detailed information on ECFMG’s program of certification. You can 

access this publication, the Application for ECFMG Certification, and the application for Step 1 and Step 2 (Clinical 

Knowledge and Clinical Skills components) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) on 

the 

ECFMG website

. 

Applicants for examination must use the applicable edition of the Information Booklet. The 2012 Information 

Booklet pertains to eligibility periods in 2012. If your eligibility period extends into 2013 and you test in 2013, you 

must become familiar with and will be subject to the policies and procedures detailed in the 2013 Information 

Booklet. The 2013 Information Booklet is expected to be available in August 2012. See 

Step 1/Step 2 CK Eligibility 

Periods

 and 

Step 2 CS Eligibility Periods

 in Applying for Examination. 

The 

USMLE Bulletin of Information

 provides information about the USMLE, the three-step examination for medical 

licensure in the United States. The USMLE Bulletin of Information is available on the 

USMLE website

. In the event 

that information about the USMLE in the ECFMG Information Booklet differs from the corresponding information in 

the USMLE Bulletin of Information, the information in the USMLE Bulletin of Information shall govern. 

Applicants for examination are required to read both the ECFMG Information Booklet and the USMLE 

Bulletin of Information. 

Although current at the time of publication, the information contained in the 2012 Information Booklet is subject to 

change. If changes occur, information will be posted on the 

ECFMG website

. You must obtain the most recent 

information to understand current policies and procedures. 

If you are not able to access publications or updated information on-line, 

contact ECFMG

 to obtain updated 

information. Use the contact information for General Inquiries on the Contact ECFMG page of the ECFMG 

website. 

The ECFMG® Reporter

, ECFMG’s free e-mail newsletter, provides important updates on ECFMG Certification 

and entry into graduate medical education in the United States. All applicants should 

subscribe

 to The ECFMG® 

Reporter.  

The Information Booklet describes deadlines related to exam applications, scheduling, and other services. Unless 

otherwise indicated, deadlines are calculated using Eastern Time in the United States. 

ECFMG may share certain information contained in your applications and score reports with other organizations 

under specified circumstances. For further information regarding ECFMG’s data collection and privacy practices, 

please refer to our 

Privacy Policy

. 

Please note that applications and other requests for services will not be processed if it is determined that 

doing so would be considered violative of any applicable federal laws or regulations. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

1

---

ECFMG Certification 

About ECFMG Certification | 

Requirements for ECFMG Certification

 | 

Standard ECFMG Certificate

 | 

Validity of 

Examinations for Entry into Graduate Medical Education

  

About ECFMG Certification 

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), through its program of certification, 

assesses whether international medical graduates are ready to enter residency or fellowship programs in the 

United States that are accredited by the 

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

. ECFMG 

Certification is a requirement for international medical graduates who wish to enter such programs. 

ECFMG Certification assures directors of ACGME-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 Certification does not, however, guarantee that these graduates will be accepted into 

programs; the number of applicants each year exceeds the number of available positions. 

ECFMG Certification is also one of the eligibility requirements for international medical graduates to take Step 3 of 

the three-step 

United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

. Medical licensing authorities in the United 

States require that international medical graduates be certified by ECFMG, among other requirements, to obtain 

an unrestricted license to practice medicine. 

ECFMG and its organizational members define an international medical graduate as a physician who received 

his/her basic medical degree or qualification from a medical school located outside the United States and 

Canada

*

. Citizens of the United States who have completed their medical education in schools outside the United 

States and Canada are considered international medical graduates; non-U.S. citizens who have graduated from 

medical schools in the United States and Canada are not considered international medical graduates. 

* The United States and Canada refer to the geographic locations where citizens are issued passports by the 

governments of either the United States or Canada. 

 

 

Last updated: September 15, 2011 

 

Copyright © 2011 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

 

2

---