Assures residency program directors and the US public that the international medical graduate (IMG) has met minimum standards to enter US residency programs
Prerequisite for all IMGs for:
Entry into ACGME-accredited GME
Taking USMLE Step 3
State licensure
J-1 visa sponsorship / ECFMG
What is an IMG?
An international medical graduate (IMG) is a physician who received his/her basic medical degree or qualification from a medical school located outside the U.S. and Canada
Citizens of the U.S. who have completed their medical education in schools outside the U.S. and Canada are considered IMGs
Non-U.S. citizens who have graduated from medical schools in the U.S. and Canada are not considered IMGs
Current Examination Requirements for ECFMG Certification
USMLE Step 1 Basic Medical Science
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills
(or ECFMG CSA)
Current Medical Education Credential Requirements for ECFMG Certification
Complete a medical school curriculum of at least four academic years
Medical school and graduation year must be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). IMED is maintained by FAIMER, a non-profit foundation of ECFMG
Medical diploma and final medical school transcript must be verified by ECFMG directly with the medical school
Standard ECFMG Certificate
Issued to applicant once he/she has passed USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS (or CSA), and after receipt of final medical diploma and primary source verification of diploma and transcript
Required to enter ACGME accredited residency programs in the United States
Required to sit USMLE Step 3
Prerequisite for unrestricted licensure in all states
ECFMG Standard Certificates Issued
ECFMG Standard Certificates Issued (Percentage US Citizens)
ECFMG Certificates Issued by Country of Citizenship*(Top 10 Countries – 1958 to 2004)
India China
United States Egypt
Philippines Iran
Pakistan Germany
United Kingdom Korea
*Citizenship is as of time of entrance into medical school
ECFMG Certificates Issued by Country of Citizenship* (Top 10 Countries – 1999 to 2004)
ECFMG Certificates Issued by Country of Medical School(Top 10 Countries – 1958 to 2004)
India Egypt
Philippines Mexico
Pakistan Dominican Republic
Germany South Korea
United Kingdom Grenada
ECFMG Certificates Issued by Country of Medical School (Top 10 Countries – 1999 to 2004)
India Philippines
Pakistan China
Dominica Germany
Grenada Israel
Netherlands Antilles Nigeria
Most Common Visas Types for Foreign National Physicians in U.S. GME
F-1 “Student”
H1-B “Specialty Occupation Worker”
J-1 “Alien Physician”
J-2 “Dependent”
J-2 is defined as the spouse or minor child of J-1 visa holder
O-1 of “Extraordinary Merit”
J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
Established by Congress in 1948
Administered by the U.S. Department of State
Regulatory Purpose: “. . . to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return home to share their experiences and to encourage Americans to participate in educational and cultural programs in other countries.” 22 CFR 62
Many colleges and universities serve as sponsor for other “J” categories of participation; ECFMG is the only sponsor for clinical training in the “alien physician” category
ECFMG: Program Sponsor for All J-1 Physicians in Clinical Training 22CFR§62.27(b)
Roles and Responsibilities in the J-1 Visa Sponsorship Process
DOS and DHS oversee J-1 program and visa processes
Track J, F, M visa holders in the SEVIS database
ECFMG, through its EVSP Regional Advisors, evaluates applications and approves visa sponsorship
Interfaces with DOS and DHS in SEVIS tracking
Host Institution/ TPLcooperate with ECFMG in providing on-site monitoring of J-1 physicians
J-1 physician and J-2 dependents must comply with all pertinent immigration laws and regulations
What is “SEVIS”
Student andExchange Visitor Information System
Data exchange with DHS/DOS
Tracks immigration activities of all non-immigrant students and exchange visitors ( J, F, M visa holders and dependents)
Accessed by Consulates, Embassies, ports-of-entry and other DHS agencies
ECFMG creates and updates SEVIS records for J-1 “alien physicians”
J-1 Physician: Terms and Obligations of J-1 Sponsorship
J-1 physician must have a pre-defined educational plan and objective for coming to the U.S. as evidenced by a full-time contract for training in an approved program of graduate medical education
J-1 physicians and J-2 dependents must comply with all U.S. laws and regulations pertaining to foreign nationals
J-1 Physician: Terms and Obligations of J-1 Sponsorship (continued)
J-1 physician must demonstrate sufficient ties to the home country and intention to return home upon completion of training
All J-1 physicians and accompanying J-2 dependents must return to the country of most recent legal permanent residence for a minimum of two years upon completion of training
Two-year obligation must be fulfilled or waived before J-1 is eligible for a change in U.S. visa status per §212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended
Comparison of Top Three Source Countries Number Sponsored by Academic Year*
National Resident Matching Program Data
Top Specialties for J-1 Physicians*
Total Number of J-1 Physicians Sponsored in Top Countries of National Origin*
India 1,022
Pakistan 723
Canada 565
Lebanon 390
Philippines 327
Syria 295
Germany 184
Jordan 178
Egypt 168
Peru 144
J-1 Sponsorship for GME*
Top States with J-1 Physicians*
EVSP Resources Review
EVSP Homepage @ http://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/index.html for access to:
EVSP Reference Guide
EVSP Fact Sheet
Application Materials
Updates and Memoranda
U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program @ http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services @
www.uscis.gov
U.S. Department of Homeland Security @
www.dhs.gov/dhspublic
ERAS Program at ECFMG
Designated Dean’s Office for International Medical Graduates
In Partnership with the AAMC
Request an ERAS Token
Applicant requests token on-line, via ECFMG OASIS at www.ecfmg.org
Token: $75
Token generated typically within 24 hours
Applicant acquires token, via OASIS Account
Work on ERAS Application
Applicant fills in Common Application Form (CAF) , creates personal statement/s and transmits both to the ERAS Post Office
“MyProfile” can be updated at any time by the applicant
ECFMG downloads program list and LoR name list
Register with the Match
Applicant Registration Deadline with NRMP: December 1
“Independent Applicants”
Participation in “Residency Match”
$50 late registration fee
Go to “www.ecfmg.org/eras”
“Post-Match Scramble” for information about the Scramble
ERAS Overview
Five components:
My ERAS online
Applicant completes residency applications; requests letters of recommendation (LoRs) and USMLE transcripts, selects programs, assigns documents to programs
Dean’s Workstation
Scan and attach documents (LoRs, medical school transcripts, Dean’s letters, photo)
Program Director’s Workstation
A tool to print or review applications; sort application pool by program criteria
ERAS Post Office
Documents transmitted to and received from the ERAS Post Office
ADTS: Applicant Document Tracking System
Tracks the status of applicant’s ERAS materials; lists applicant’s applied-to programs; records dates documents were uploaded by designated dean's office, records date the program downloaded each document.
