In This Issue:
- New Travel Restrictions Will Not Impact Visa Classifications Commonly Used for U.S. Graduate Medical Education (GME)
- Potential Impact of Coronavirus on USMLE® Examination Administrations
- Resource to Help Students Select a Medical School
New Travel Restrictions Will Not Impact Visa Classifications Commonly Used for U.S. Graduate Medical Education (GME)
On January 31, 2020, President Donald Trump issued his “Proclamation on Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry.” Non-immigrant visa classifications, such as the J-1 and H-1B, are NOT impacted by the new restrictions. Therefore, there should be no impact on individuals seeking non-immigrant visas to participate in U.S. GME.
Additional information is available on the Resources on Presidential Proclamations page of the ECFMG website.
Potential Impact of Coronavirus on USMLE Examination Administrations
The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE) program continues to monitor the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and is prepared to take appropriate measures as warranted to protect the health and safety of examinees and the public.
Whenever an examinee has a scheduled testing appointment, it is important to monitor the impact of illness, weather, or other conditions on USMLE administrations by going to the Prometric website (for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 exams) and the CSEC website (for Step 2 Clinical Skills exams) for updates. Test centers may close at any time.
If you have been impacted by a test center closure related to the coronavirus and need assistance with rescheduling your examination, please contact your registration entity.
It is also always important to monitor your own health. If you do not feel well on the day of your test, we strongly encourage you to reschedule your examination. If you become ill while taking any USMLE exam, inform a proctor promptly.
Please check the USMLE website for updates on the potential impact of coronavirus on USMLE administrations.
Resource to Help Students Select a Medical School
Did you know that ECFMG offers a resource designed to assist in identifying schools that offer quality medical education? It’s a valuable tool for those who are beginning their medical education, as well as for current medical school students who plan to transfer to a different medical school. Check out Guidance on Medical School Selection on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/medschoolselection.
The guide covers such important considerations as accreditation status, curriculum, faculty, educational resources, and the structure of clinical rotations. It also prompts students to ask questions about the student experience, consider how schools market themselves, and talk to alumni about their success in and beyond medical school.
