October 30, 2020
In This Issue:
Eligibility Requirements for Pathways Expanded, More IMGs May Be Eligible
On October 12, ECFMG®|FAIMER® expanded the eligibility requirements for certain pathways used to meet the requirements for ECFMG Certification for the 2021 Match, and additional international medical graduates (IMGs) may be eligible to apply to the pathways. Details on the expanded eligibility requirements and instructions for Pathways 1, 2, and 4 are now available in the Requirements for ECFMG Certification for 2021 Match section of the ECFMG website. IMGs who believe they are eligible under the expanded requirements can now apply using the on-line Application for Pathways for ECFMG Certification for 2021 Match.
For an overview of the changes to Pathways 1, 2, and 4, please see the October 12 announcement. Other eligibility requirements apply to specific pathways, and all applicants who apply to a pathway must meet all other requirements for ECFMG Certification.
If your institution is completing the ECFMG Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Attestation form for students/graduates pursuing Pathway 2 or the Clinical Skills Attestation form for students/graduates pursuing Pathways 3, 4, or 5, please submit the completed forms directly to ECFMG as soon as possible but no later than January 31, 2021. Please see the forms for detailed instructions.
Important reminder: These pathways are available only to eligible IMGs who plan to enter U.S. graduate medical education (GME) for the 2021-2022 academic year. Additionally, IMGs who have a passing performance on United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) that is valid for ECFMG Certification and/or are certified by ECFMG are ineligible for the pathways; these individuals do not need to pursue the pathways to meet the requirements for ECFMG Certification or to participate in the 2021 Match.
Individuals who do not plan to enter U.S. GME for the 2021-2022 academic year and/or who are ineligible for the pathways should monitor the ECFMG website, since we are developing longer-term plans for applicants to future Matches. In the interim, these individuals can continue to pursue other requirements for ECFMG Certification, such as passing Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) of USMLE.
Does Your School Participate in the ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP)?
The ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP) provides access to ECFMG’s web-based services for international medical schools. Through EMSWP, schools may:
- verify the status of their students/graduates who apply to ECFMG for USMLE;
- verify the authenticity of the medical education credentials of their students/graduates;
- access data on the USMLE performance of their students/graduates; and
- upload and track supporting documents on behalf of their students/graduates who participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
For more information, visit the ECFMG website. If your school does not already participate in EMSWP, a medical school official can e-mail the ECFMG EMSWP Administrator at [email protected] for information on how to establish an EMSWP account.
