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Resources » News/Announcements » Education »
EDUCATION COMMISSION FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES (ECFMG)
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General
USMLE Statement on the Fifth Pathway Program and Step 3 Eligibility (MAR 27, 2008)
2008 Match Performance -- Number of IMGs Matching Increases (MAR 24, 2008)
New ECFMG Acculturation Program Section of ECFMG Website Launches (MAR 5, 2008)
ECFMG Introduces Medical School Web Portal (FEB 13, 2008)
Important Notice for USMLE Applicants Regarding the Interactive Web Application (IWA) (FEB 4, 2008)
ECFMG’s IMG Advisors Network Seeking New Advisors (DEC 20, 2007)
NBME Test Delivery Software Field Trial (NOV 5, 2007)
An Announcement Regarding Fraudulent Letters of Recommendation (JUL 18, 2007)
AAMC Service for Applicants Seeking Residency Positions (MAR 14, 2007)
Change to ECFMG’s Policy on Annotating ECFMG Status Reports and CVS Reports (AUG 31, 2006)
Certification
USMLE Statement on the Fifth Pathway Program and Step 3 Eligibility (MAR 27, 2008)
New ECFMG Acculturation Program Section of ECFMG Website Launches (MAR 5, 2008)
ECFMG’s IMG Advisors Network Seeking New Advisors (DEC 20, 2007)
Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits (AUG 3, 2007)
An Announcement Regarding Fraudulent Letters of Recommendation (JUL 18, 2007)
AAMC Service for Applicants Seeking Residency Positions (MAR 14, 2007)
Change to ECFMG’s Policy on Annotating ECFMG Status Reports and CVS Reports (AUG 31, 2006)
Important Announcement for State Licensing Boards Concerning CSA Performance History for International Medical Students or Graduates (JUL 30, 2004)
Important Changes to Standard ECFMG Certificate (JUN 14, 2004)
Important Announcement for State Licensing Boards Concerning Changes to Standard ECFMG Certificate (MAY 18, 2004)
Important Announcement for Program Directors Concerning Changes to Standard ECFMG Certificate (MAR 26, 2004)
Step 1
Step 1 - Change in Number of Items / Delay in Scoring (APR 22, 2008)
Step 1 to Include Media Clips Starting in May 2008 (APR 15, 2008)
ECFMG Introduces Medical School Web Portal (FEB 13, 2008)
Important Notice for USMLE Applicants Regarding the Interactive Web Application (IWA) (FEB 4, 2008)
Upcoming Changes to Candidate Identification Number Screen Prompt (AUG 20, 2007)
Change in Limit on Attempts for Computer-based Steps (AUG 13, 2007)
Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits (AUG 3, 2007)
Change from Paper to Electronic Score Reports (JUL 30, 2007)
USMLE Elimination of the 60-Day Waiting Period to Retake a Failed Step or Step Component (APR 17, 2007)
Important Information for Step 1 and Step 2 CK Registrants: Change from Paper to Electronic Scheduling Permits (DEC 5, 2006)
NBME Self-Assessments for Individuals Planning to Take Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 (MAR 14, 2007)
Step 2 CK
ECFMG Introduces Medical School Web Portal (FEB 13, 2008)
Important Notice for USMLE Applicants Regarding the Interactive Web Application (IWA) (FEB 4, 2008)
NBME Test Delivery Software Field Trial (NOV 5, 2007)
Important Notice for Step 2 CK Examinees Regarding Message Prompts When Media Exhibits Are Being Played (AUG 22, 2007)
Upcoming Changes to Candidate Identification Number Screen Prompt (AUG 20, 2007)
Change in Limit on Attempts for Computer-based Steps (AUG 13, 2007)
Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits (AUG 3, 2007)
Change from Paper to Electronic Score Reports (JUL 30, 2007)
Change in Minimum Passing Requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills (JUN 20, 2007)
Step 2 CK Examination to include Items with Associated Audio and Video beginning in August 2007 (MAY 31, 2007)
USMLE Elimination of the 60-Day Waiting Period to Retake a Failed Step or Step Component (APR 17, 2007)
Important Information for Step 1 and Step 2 CK Registrants: Change from Paper to Electronic Scheduling Permits (DEC 5, 2006)
NBME Self-Assessments for Individuals Planning to Take Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 (MAR 14, 2007)
Step 2 CS
IMGs Participating in 2009 Match Should Register for Step 2 CS Now (APR 7, 2008)
ECFMG Introduces Medical School Web Portal (FEB 13, 2008)
Important Notice for USMLE Applicants Regarding the Interactive Web Application (IWA) (FEB 4, 2008)
IMGs Participating in 2009 Match Should Take Step 2 CS by August 2008 (DEC 3, 2007)
All watches to be prohibited during Step 2 CS testing – starting January 1, 2008 (NOV 30, 2007)
Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits (AUG 3, 2007)
Change from Paper to Electronic Score Reports (JUL 30, 2007)
Change in Minimum Passing Requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills (JUN 20, 2007)
2007 and 2008 Step 2 Clinical Skills Schedule for Reporting Results (MAY 14, 2007)
USMLE Elimination of the 60-Day Waiting Period to Retake a Failed Step or Step Component (APR 17, 2007)
Important Information for Step 2 CS Registrants Attempting to Schedule or Reschedule a Testing Appointment (DEC 7, 2006)
Step 2 CS Rescheduling Policy Allows Early Scheduling, Flexibility in Changing Testing Appointments (DEC 7, 2006)
Step 2 CS Scheduling Restrictions (DEC 7, 2006)
Important Information on Your Clinical Skills Examination History and Eligibility for USMLE Step 3 (DEC 20, 2004)
Step 1 - Change in Number of Items / Delay in Scoring
(posted April 22, 2008)
Starting on or around May 15, 2008, a transition period will begin in which the number of items in current forms of the Step 1 examination will change. As a result of this, as well as modifications to the test item pool and the processing load caused by a heavy volume of test takers, there will be a delay in score reporting for most Step 1 examinations administered in the second half of May and June.
View announcement on the USMLE website.
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Step 1 to Include Media Clips Starting in May 2008
(posted April 15, 2008)
A small number of multiple-choice items with associated audio and/or video clips will be introduced into the USMLE Step 1 Examination beginning in May 2008.
View announcement on the USMLE website.
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IMGs Participating in 2009 Match Should Register for Step 2 CS Now
(posted April 7, 2008)
International medical students/graduates, including participants/graduates of Fifth Pathway programs, who need to pass Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) to participate in the 2009 Match (in March 2009) are strongly encouraged to register now for Step 2 CS.
At the time of this writing, the earliest available test date at any test center was in September 2008. As indicated in the 2008 Step 2 Clinical Skills Schedule for Reporting Results, if you do not take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2008, your result will not be available in time to participate in the 2009 Match.
Demand for the Step 2 CS examination is already heavy for test dates in the latter part of 2008. Additionally, test sessions at all test centers may be subject to scheduling restrictions that limit the number of test dates available to you. To maximize your chances of obtaining a 2008 test date,
Apply for Step 2 CS now, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Once registered, schedule your testing appointment immediately.
If you cannot obtain a testing appointment at your preferred test center, check for availability at other test centers.
Registering and scheduling now offer a number of benefits:
Applicants registered for Step 2 CS can schedule immediately if a preferred testing appointment is available.
Applicants who schedule a testing appointment can change the testing appointment without cost, provided they give more than 14 days’ notice. See Rescheduling in the ECFMG Information Booklet.
If you are planning to take Step 2 CS but are not planning to participate in the 2009 Match, please consider scheduling a Step 2 CS testing appointment that is after December 31, 2008. This will maximize the number of testing appointments available for those who must take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2008 in order to obtain their results in time to participate in the 2009 Match.
Updated information on Step 2 CS scheduling will be posted to the ECFMG website as it becomes available. Individuals planning to take Step 2 CS should monitor the ECFMG and USMLE websites for the latest information.
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USMLE Statement on the Fifth Pathway Program and Step 3 Eligibility
(posted March 27, 2008)
Currently, for international medical graduates who wish to take USMLE Step 3, the USMLE program accepts either a valid Standard ECFMG Certificate or a valid Fifth Pathway certificate for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements. In November 2007, the American Medical Association (AMA) determined that it would withdraw its support of the Fifth Pathway program. Per the AMA, the last Fifth Pathway program class to be supported will be the January 2009 entering class, which will be supported until its completion in December 2009.
The governing committee of the USMLE program and the USMLE parent organizations (the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners) have determined that the USMLE program will cease acceptance of Fifth Pathway certificates for the purpose of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements. The effective date for this policy change will be reviewed by USMLE governance over the next few months. It is anticipated that, consistent with the action taken by the AMA, USMLE will not accept Fifth Pathway certificates issued after December 31, 2009.
For valid Fifth Pathway certificates issued through December 31, 2009, the USMLE program has not yet determined whether they will be accepted indefinitely for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility criteria or whether a cut-off date will be imposed. The USMLE program will work closely with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the AMA in an effort to ensure that policies relating to Fifth Pathway certificates issued through December 31, 2009 are consistent among these organizations.
Individuals holding Fifth Pathway certificates that are not accepted by the USMLE program for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility will be required to obtain ECFMG certification in order to be eligible for Step 3.
Information and updates about the Fifth Pathway program and USMLE will be posted to the USMLE and ECFMG websites.
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2008 Match Performance -- Number of IMGs Matching Increases
(posted March 24, 2008)
For the sixth consecutive year, the number of first-year (PGY-1) residency positions offered through the Match increased. A total of 22,240 first-year positions were offered in the 2008 Match, held earlier this month. This represents an increase of 395 positions compared to last year and an increase of 1,638 positions since 2002.
The number of IMGs who matched to first-year positions increased by 122 compared to 2007. Of the 10,304 IMGs who participated in the 2008 Match, 4,649* (45.1%) matched. In the 2007 Match, 4,527 (46.7%) IMG participants were matched to first-year positions.
There was a decrease in the number of matches for non-U.S. citizen IMGs and an increase in the number of matches for U.S. citizen IMGs.
Of the 7,335 IMG participants who were not U.S. citizens, 3,108 (42.4%) obtained first-year positions. The number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs who obtained positions in 2008 decreased by 72 compared to last year. This is the first year that there has been a decrease in the number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs matching to first-year positions since 2001.
Of the 2,969 U.S. citizen IMG participants, 1,541 (51.9%) were matched to first-year positions, an increase of 194 over last year. This is the fifth consecutive year that there has been an increase in the number of U.S. citizen IMGs matching to first-year positions.
*Note: The total number of IMGs who will fill PGY-1 positions for the 2008-2009 academic year will be higher than this number, since a significant number of IMGs obtain PGY-1 positions outside of the Match.
About the Match
The annual NRMP Match is the system by which applicants are matched with available residency positions in U.S. programs of graduate medical education (GME). Participants submit to the NRMP a list of residency programs, in order of preference. Ranked lists of preferred residency candidates are likewise submitted by U.S. GME programs with available positions. The matching of applicants to available positions is performed by computer algorithm. The Match results announced in March of each year are typically for GME programs beginning the following July.
Additional Resources on the Match and Match Results
The preceding data are taken from the Advance Data Tables for the 2008 Main Residency Match compiled by the NRMP. These tables provide detailed information on the positions offered and filled by the Match in 2008 and prior years. To access these tables, or to obtain further information on the NRMP, visit www.nrmp.org.
The June issue of Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, usually offers an analysis of Match results from the preceding March. For more information, visit your medical school's library or www.academicmedicine.org.
The September issue of JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association traditionally provides an in-depth analysis of graduate medical education in the United States. This analysis includes the number of IMGs entering and continuing in U.S. GME programs and a breakdown of IMG resident physicians by specialty and subspecialty. Visit your medical school's library or http://jama.ama-assn.org.
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New ECFMG Acculturation Program Section of ECFMG Website Launches
(posted March 5, 2008)
ECFMG is pleased to announce that it has launched a new section of its website dedicated to the ECFMG Acculturation Program. This section can be accessed through the ECFMG homepage or directly at www.ecfmg.org/acculturation. Building on its tradition of identifying and meeting the acculturation needs of international medical graduates (IMGs), ECFMG launched the Acculturation Program in 2006 with the goal of assisting newly arriving IMGs with the transition to working and living in the United States. The Acculturation Program is developing a spectrum of resources designed to help IMGs as they learn about the U.S. medical system in which they will be training during their graduate medical education (GME). Several of these resources are now available through this new section of the ECFMG website, including:
The IMG Advisors Network (IAN), a free service currently in its second year of operation that allows IMGs applying to ECFMG for initial J-1 visa sponsorship to connect with advisors who can answer questions about working and living in the United States. Detailed information and instructions on how to participate as either an advisor or an advisee are provided on the website.
The One Dozen Most Important Things You May Not Have Known, Understood, or Realized About American Medicine, a series of modules designed to introduce IMGs to such topics as the doctor-patient relationship, the role of the patient’s family, the U.S. health care team, U.S. GME system, and confidentiality. Each module includes an overview of the topic, a video, commentary on the video, discussion questions regarding the video, and a transcript of the video.
A glossary of U.S. “Medicalese,” which includes terms, phrases, and abbreviations that are particular to U.S. medicine. Many of these terms may be new and initially confusing to IMGs, even those who come from countries where the language of instruction is English and who speak and comprehend English quite well. It is our hope that this glossary will facilitate understanding of these terms when they are used by others.
Resources developed by the Acculturation Program can be used by IMGs at any time while planning for or after entry into U.S. GME programs. They can also be used by staff of GME training programs, hospitals, and other health care institutions who are responsible for orienting new IMG residents and introducing them to U.S. medical culture.
These resources represent just the first of the Acculturation Program’s anticipated offerings. It is intended that the new Acculturation Program section of the ECFMG website will continue to grow and become a clearinghouse for a range of materials, programs, and resources that may be useful to IMGs and those with whom they work and interact. Consistent with the program’s objectives, ECFMG will make these resources widely available by posting them to the ECFMG website.
Feedback, comments, and suggestions on these resources and on other materials you feel would be helpful are welcome and can be e-mailed to the Acculturation Program at acculturation@ecfmg.org.
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ECFMG Introduces Medical School Web Portal
(posted February 13, 2008)
ECFMG is pleased to announce the introduction of the ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP), a significant addition to ECFMG’s on-line offerings and the first exclusively for international medical schools. Through EMSWP, international medical schools have access to a free, web-based program that enables them to verify the status of their students and graduates who have applied to ECFMG for the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™).
ECFMG requires that international medical schools verify the status of their students who apply to ECFMG for USMLE examinations. Prior to the launch of EMSWP, ECFMG verified student status through a paper Certification Statement, completed by the student and his/her medical school for each USMLE application. Now, for a student whose medical school participates in EMSWP, a paper Certification Statement is no longer required for each exam application; instead, the student and his/her medical school will complete a paper Certification of Identification Form. Once it is accepted by ECFMG, the Certification of Identification Form remains valid for all exam applications submitted during the following five-year period. During this period, the student will be able to complete the exam application process entirely on-line using ECFMG’s Interactive Web Application (IWA), and the medical school will verify the student’s status on-line using EMSWP in response to each exam application. For students from non-participating schools, ECFMG will continue to require a completed Certification Statement for each exam application. Students will be able to determine if their medical school participates in EMSWP and obtain the appropriate form (Certification of Identification Form or Certification Statement) after completing the on-line part of the exam application using IWA.
Following a year of development, EMSWP represents a major investment by ECFMG to increase use of the Internet to benefit international medical students/graduates and international medical schools who use ECFMG’s services. To educate medical schools about the portal, ECFMG held a number of web-based seminars featuring a demonstration of the EMSWP prototype and the verification program. More than 140 medical school representatives took part in the seminars and provided ECFMG with feedback and suggestions. Participants were enthusiastic about the program and indicated it will significantly streamline the amount of work required of them in the verification process. To date, more than 400 international medical schools have begun the process of establishing EMSWP accounts. These schools represent more than 80% of the students registered for USMLE by ECFMG in 2007.
Verification of the student/graduate status of USMLE applicants is the first of a series of web-based services that ECFMG plans to make available through EMSWP. This year, ECFMG will begin development of EMSWP functionality that will allow for web-based primary-source verification of the medical education credentials required for ECFMG Certification.
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Important Notice for USMLE Applicants Regarding the Interactive Web Application (IWA)
(posted February 4, 2008)
In preparation for enhancements to its on-line services, ECFMG will be making changes to some of its computer systems, including the Interactive Web Application (IWA), on February 11, 2008. To make these changes, it will be necessary to delete incomplete IWA exam applications and requests to extend Step 1/Step 2 CK eligibility periods (EPEx). Specifically, if you have begun but not yet finished the on-line part of an IWA exam application or EPEx request when these changes are made on February 11, this incomplete on-line part of the application/request will be deleted.
To ensure that your exam application or EPEx request will not be deleted, you must finish the on-line part of the application/request, including payment, no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, on February 11, 2008. If your exam application or EPEx request is deleted, you will be required to begin a new application/request in order to apply for examination or request an eligibility period extension. It is anticipated that you will be able to begin a new exam application or EPEx request no later than 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States, on February 11, 2008.
Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to enhance our on-line services.
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ECFMG’s IMG Advisors Network Seeking New Advisors
(posted December 20, 2007)
ECFMG is pleased to announce the continuation of the IMG Advisors Network (IAN) for international medical graduates (IMGs). Introduced on a pilot basis in December 2006, IAN is a free service that connects qualified IMGs entering U.S. graduate medical education (GME) with advisors who may be able to answer many of their questions about living and working in the United States. ECFMG is currently seeking IMGs to serve on a voluntary basis as advisors for this unique resource.
To qualify as an advisor, you must:
be certified by ECFMG,
either be in or have completed training in an ACGME-accredited program in the United States,
be licensed to practice medicine (training or permanent license) in at least one state or jurisdiction in the United States,
have ready access to e-mail, and
be willing to reply to inquiries from advisees in an honest and timely manner.
Advisors who are selected will be listed in the on-line IAN database by name, medical specialty, U.S. GME program, location in the United States, country of origin, medical school, and other demographics. Incoming IMGs who meet certain criteria and register with the IAN program will be able to search the IAN database for the advisors most likely to be helpful in providing information and advice about relocating to the United States. Ideal advisors might be those in the same residency program or from the same country or medical school, but even less specific matches could be of great help. Advisors are provided with the e-mail addresses of the advisees who have selected them so they can begin communicating directly with the advisees via e-mail; these communications are not visible to or monitored by ECFMG unless the advisor or advisee so chooses.
Eligible advisees are certified by ECFMG and should have a contract for a U.S. residency position, among other requirements. Therefore, questions about ECFMG Certification and applying to residency programs should be limited. Additionally, since the start of the IAN program in early 2007, most advisors have had only one or two advisees and exchanged only a few e-mails, so the advisor role has not placed excessive demand on advisors' time. Although it is not possible to estimate from how many advisees an advisor might receive inquiries, how often they might correspond, or how much time it would take on an ongoing basis, advisors are able to limit the number of advisees they accept and have the option of declining to serve as an advisor for an individual advisee. Advisors can have their names removed from the IAN database if they so choose.
As IAN moves into its second year, the database of qualified advisors will consist of: advisors from last year’s pilot program who wish to continue; advisees who participated in the pilot program who have been recruited to serve in an advisory capacity; and newly recruited IMGs who meet the advisor qualifications.
If you are interested in becoming an IAN advisor or would like to learn if you are eligible to participate in IAN as an advisee, you can obtain more information by visiting the IMG Advisors Network homepage.
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IMGs Participating in 2009 Match Should Take Step 2 CS by August 2008
(posted December 3, 2007)
International medical students/graduates, including participants/graduates of Fifth Pathway programs, who need to pass Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) to participate in the 2009 Match (in March 2009) are strongly encouraged to take Step 2 CS by August 2008.
Traditionally, there has been high demand for testing appointments in the period from September through December. For 2008, demand for testing appointments in the period from September through December is expected to be even higher than in past years.
At the time of this writing, the earliest available test date at any test center was in May 2008. Additionally, test sessions at all test centers may be subject to scheduling restrictions that may limit the number of test dates available to you.
To maximize your chances of obtaining a 2008 test date,
Apply for Step 2 CS now, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Once registered, schedule your testing appointment as soon as possible for a date before September 2008. Scheduling conditions are expected to be most favorable from May through July.
If you do not register early and schedule as soon as possible for a test date before September 2008, it is possible that you will not be able to obtain a test date in 2008. As published in the 2008 Step 2 Clinical Skills Schedule for Reporting Results, if you do not take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2008, your result will not be available in time to participate in the 2009 Match.
Early registration and scheduling may offer a number of benefits. If you plan to apply for Step 2 CS, you should consider the following:
Applicants registered for Step 2 CS can schedule and take the exam during the 12-month eligibility period that follows their registration. By registering early, applicants can schedule immediately if a preferred testing appointment becomes available.
Applicants registered for Step 2 CS can use the E-mail Notification feature of on-line Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling. The E-mail Notification feature allows registered applicants to indicate their preferred test dates/centers and receive e-mail notification when testing appointments that match their preferences become available.
Applicants who schedule a testing appointment can change the testing appointment without cost, provided they give more than 14 days' notice. See Rescheduling in the ECFMG Information Booklet.
Applicants who take Step 2 CS early in the year and receive a failing result are more likely to have the opportunity to retake the exam in 2008 and receive their result in time to participate in the 2009 Match.
Updated information on Step 2 CS scheduling will be posted to the ECFMG website as it becomes available. Individuals planning to take Step 2 CS should monitor the ECFMG and USMLE websites for the latest information.
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All watches to be prohibited during Step 2 CS testing – starting January 1, 2008
(posted November 30, 2007)
View announcement on the USMLE website.
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NBME Test Delivery Software Field Trial
(posted November 5, 2007)
The National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) is developing new software for delivery of its examination programs, including the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™). A field trial of this software is planned for February 11 to March 1, 2008, at selected Prometric™ test centers. This trial is primarily a test of software functionality, but will resemble USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and USMLE Step 3 in content and format.
Those who anticipate taking USMLE Step 2 CK or Step 3 may find this field trial useful. The NBME intends to provide performance feedback to each participant approximately 8 weeks after the field trial window ends. The field trial resembling Step 2 CK will be offered at both domestic and international sites. The field trial resembling Step 3 will be offered in the United States only.
The NBME is seeking both international medical students/graduates and students/graduates of U.S./Canadian medical schools to participate. Individuals who have already passed USMLE Step 2 CK are not eligible to participate in the field trial resembling Step 2 CK. Similarly, individuals who have already passed USMLE Step 3 are not eligible to participate in the field trial resembling Step 3. Individuals who participated in the July 2007 NBME Test Delivery Software Field Trial are eligible to participate, but should be advised that the exam material will be very similar.
For detailed information and to apply to participate, refer to the full announcement on the USMLE website at www.usmle.org/softwaretrial.
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Important Notice for Step 2 CK Examinees Regarding Message Prompts When Media Exhibits Are Being Played
(posted August 22, 2007)
USMLE recently introduced test items with associated media exhibits into the Step 2 CK examination. Under certain circumstances while viewing test items with media exhibits, the examination can appear to “freeze” (i.e., examinees cannot close the media exhibit, answer the associated item, or move to another item). If this should happen, the examinee should simply press the Enter key to continue with the exam.
View full announcement.
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Upcoming Changes to Candidate Identification Number Screen Prompt
(posted August 20, 2007)
Beginning in late August, the examinee’s name, as well as the digital photograph of the examinee taken at the Prometric test center, will appear on this screen.
View full announcement.
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Change in Limit on Attempts for Computer-based Steps
(posted August 13, 2007)
As stated in the 2007 USMLE Bulletin of Information, the USMLE program has allowed no more than three attempts at the same Step or Step Component within any 12-month period.
Effective immediately, the limit on attempts for computer-based examinations has been increased. Examinees are now permitted up to four attempts at the same computer-based examination (Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3) in any 12-month period.
For Step 2 CS only, the limit on attempts will remain at no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.
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Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits
(posted August 3, 2007)
One of the medical education credential requirements for ECFMG Certification is that an international medical graduate must have had at least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given toward completion of the medical curriculum) in attendance at a medical school that is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). A change to ECFMG’s medical education credentials policy will restrict transfer credits that may be used to meet this requirement. This change will affect credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, that are transferred to the medical school that issued or will issue an applicant’s medical degree.
For the purpose of ECFMG Certification, transferred academic credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, are restricted to:
Credits transferred from one IMED-listed medical school to another IMED-listed medical school.
Credits for courses taken at one medical school within seven years of the date of graduation at the medical school that accepts the transferred courses.
Credits for courses that were passed at the medical school at which the course was taken.
Applicants who have transferred credits to the medical school that issued or will issue their medical degree will be required to document these credits when they apply to ECFMG for examination. This documentation must be in the form of a transcript issued by the school at which the course was taken; failure to provide appropriate documentation of transfer credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, will prevent exam registration. Further instructions will be provided at the time of application.
Applicants whose transferred credits do not meet all the criteria listed above will not meet the requirements to be registered by ECFMG for examination or the requirements for ECFMG Certification.
An international medical student/graduate whose transferred credits do not meet all the criteria listed above may request an exception from the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee.
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Change from Paper to Electronic Score Reports
(posted July 30, 2007)
ECFMG, in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners® and the Federation of State Medical Boards, is pleased to announce a significant enhancement to the process of reporting the results of United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) and Step 3. Currently, examinees receive the results of these exams as paper documents sent to them via postal mail. Beginning in August 2007, USMLE examinees will obtain their score reports by logging into OASIS. This means that examinees will be able to view, download, and print exam results as soon as they are available in OASIS.
Paper USMLE score reports will be phased out during August 2007. During August some examinees will receive paper score reports and some will receive electronic score reports. If you are scheduled to receive an electronic score report, ECFMG will send a notification to the e-mail address in your ECFMG record when your score is available on-line. Instructions for viewing, downloading, and printing the score report will be available in OASIS. If you are scheduled to receive a paper score report, you will not be provided with the electronic score option.
Electronic results will be available in OASIS for approximately 120 days. After this time, examination results will be made available only in the form of an official paper USMLE transcript.
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An Announcement Regarding Fraudulent Letters of Recommendation
(posted July 18, 2007)
International medical students/graduates, including Fifth Pathway participants, who participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) are reminded that the submission of fraudulent letters of recommendation to ECFMG constitutes irregular behavior, as defined by ECFMG.
View full announcement.
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Change in Minimum Passing Requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills
(posted March 23, 2007; updated June 20, 2007)
The USMLE Step 2 Committee has decided to raise the minimum passing requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS).
View full announcement.
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Step 2 CK Examination to include Items with Associated Audio and Video beginning in August 2007
(posted September 5, 2006; updated January 10, 2007, May 31, 2007)
A small number of multiple-choice items with associated audio and/or video clips will be introduced into the USMLE Step 2 CK Examination beginning in early August 2007.
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