ECFMG On-line Application

Application Instructions for Students

Item 1. Select an Exam
Select the exam you wish to take. After you complete Item # 22 of this application, you will have the option to apply for other exams using the same application, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the other exams.

Item 2. Medical Education Status
Indicate whether you are currently a medical school student or graduate. For more information on eligibility, please see Eligibility for Examination in the ECFMG Information Booklet.

Item 3. Eligibility Period (Step 1 and Step 2 CK only)
Select a three-month eligibility period during which you want to take the exam. Please note that USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK are not offered during the first two weeks of January or on major local holidays.

Your application does not need to be received in advance of an eligibility period to obtain that eligibility period. To select and obtain an eligibility period, ECFMG must receive both the on-line part of your application and the Certification Statement (Form 183) by the 24th day of that eligibility period and your application must be processed by ECFMG by the 25th day of that eligibility period. This means that, although you can select an eligibility period as late as the 24th day of that eligibility period, there is no guarantee that you will be assigned that eligibility period, since your application may not be processed by the 25th day of the eligibility period. If your application is not processed in time to assign the eligibility period you select, you will be assigned the next eligibility period. Your assigned eligibility period will not be adjusted to compensate for days that have already passed. The eligibility period assigned to you will be listed on your scheduling permit.

Item 3. Eligibility Period, Test Center, and Registration Documents (Step 2 CS only)
For additional information on Step 2 CS eligibility periods, test centers, and registration documents, refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet.

3.1 Eligibility Period (Step 2 CS only): Applicants registered for Step 2 CS are assigned a twelve-month eligibility period during which they must take the exam. Your eligibility period typically begins on the date that you are registered for Step 2 CS. Your eligibility period will be listed on your Step 2 CS scheduling permit.

3.2 Test Centers (Step 2 CS only): Test Centers for Step 2 CS are located in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. Applicants registered for Step 2 CS select their test center, subject to availability, when they schedule their testing appointment. Travel information for each test center is available on the USMLE website.

3.3 Visa Letter (Step 2 CS only): Applicants traveling to the United States to take Step 2 CS who are neither U.S. citizens nor U.S. lawful permanent residents are responsible for obtaining required travel documents. These documents may include a visa to enter the United States. Upon request, ECFMG provides applicants with a letter that may assist during the the process of applying for a visa. The letter indicates that the applicant is registered for Step 2 CS, one of the exams required for ECFMG Certification. The letter also indicates that the applicant is required to travel to the United States to take the exam and provides the date by which the applicant must complete the exam. To request this letter, check the box in Item 3.3. The letter is sent via postal mail after completion of the registration process. You should also review current requirements prior to applying for a visa by visiting the websites of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at www.dhs.gov and the Department of State at www.travel.state.gov/visa/index.html.

3.4 Scheduling Permit (Step 2 CS only): Once you are registered for Step 2 CS, ECFMG will e-mail your Step 2 CS scheduling permit to the e-mail address in your ECFMG record. The scheduling permit includes instructions for scheduling your testing appointment. You should enter the e-mail address at which you would like to receive your scheduling permit in Item 9. Contact Information.

Item 4. Testing Region and International Test Delivery Surcharge (Step 1 and Step 2 CK only)
Select a Testing Region from the list. You should refer to the Prometric website for information on test centers in specific testing regions. Additionally, if you plan to test in Egypt, Hong Kong, India, or Israel, refer to the special information below. After you submit the on-line part of your application, you cannot change the Testing Region you selected.

Special Information About Testing in Egypt:
Egypt is in Prometric's Middle East testing region. If you would like to take the exam in Egypt, select Middle East.

Special Information About Testing in Hong Kong:
Hong Kong is in Prometric's Asia testing region. If you would like to take the exam in Hong Kong, select Asia.

Special Information About Testing in India:
India is in Prometric's India testing region. If you would like to take the exam in India, select India.

Special Information About Testing in Israel:
Israel is in Prometric's Europe testing region. If you would like to take the exam in Israel, select Europe.

Item 5. Examinees with Documented Disabilities
Check "Yes" only if you have a documented disability, are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and are requesting test accommodations for the exam you selected. Checking "Yes" does not constitute an official request. If you are requesting test accommodations, you must refer to the Test Accommodations information on the USMLE website at www.usmle.org and follow the instructions before you submit your application. Note: Evaluation of a request for test accommodations will delay the release of your scheduling permit up to six weeks.
Step 1 and Step 2 CK: Following a review of a request for test accommodations, the eligibility period you selected in Item 3 will be adjusted, as required, to allow a full three-month eligibility period in which to schedule the exam.
Step 2 CS: You will be assigned a full twelve-month eligibility period that begins on the date your request for accommodations is approved.

Item 6. Other Examination History and Applicant Numbers
If you have previously submitted an application to the National Board of Medical Examiners^® (NBME^®) for a Step or Part examination or to a U.S. State Licensing Authority for the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) and you know the Identification Number that was issued to you, enter the Identification Number(s) in the spaces provided. You should enter this information even if you did not actually take the exam. If you have not submitted an application to either of these organizations, you may skip this item and proceed to Item 7.

Item 7. The ECFMG^® Reporter
Applicants who supply their e-mail addresses to us as part of the application process will automatically receive our electronic newsletter, The ECFMG^® Reporter. The ECFMG^® Reporter provides important information regarding the ECFMG certification process and entry into graduate medical education in the United States. The ECFMG^® Reporter may also advise you of services and programs offered by other organizations in connection with the certification process or graduate medical education in the United States.

The ECFMG^® Reporter is a free publication. ECFMG will not share The ECFMG^® Reporter subscriber database with third parties. Interested individuals can join or leave The ECFMG^® Reporter subscriber list or update their e-mail addresses at any time by visiting the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/reporter/subscribe.html or by writing to: Director of Communications, ECFMG, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-2685, USA.

If you do not wish to receive The ECFMG^® Reporter, check the box in Item 7.

Please note that ECFMG may share certain information contained in your application with other organizations under specific circumstances. For further information regarding ECFMG's data collection and privacy practices, please refer to our Privacy available on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org/annc/privacy.html.

Item 8. Name of Applicant
The name shown in Item 8 is your name of ECFMG record. If this name is no longer your correct and current legal name, you must change your name in your ECFMG record. Follow the instructions on-screen in Item 8 for instructions on how to have your ECFMG record changed to reflect your current, legal name.

When you arrive at the test center on the date of your exam, you must present an unexpired form of government-issued identification that includes your name in the latin alphabet, signature, and recent photograph (no more than 10 years earlier) (see Acceptable Identification). If the name on the form of identification you present does not match exactly the name in your ECFMG record, you will not be allowed to take the exam.

Note: If the name on your medical diploma is not your current and correct legal name, you must submit documentation that verifies that this name is or was your name. Do not request your name to be changed in your ECFMG record to the name on your diploma if the name on your diploma is not your correct and current legal name.

Item 9. Contact Information
Enter your mailing address, telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail address. You should use proper case when entering your address. This means you must capitalize the first letter only of each of the words in the address and use lower case for the remainder of the letters. Do not use all capitalization or all lower case.

You should enter the mailing address at which you would like to receive ECFMG correspondence, including your score report and your Standard ECFMG Certificate. The 3 lines for street address and the line for city are case-sensitive. Take care. If any of your contact information (including e-mail address) has changed, you can make the necessary changes in this item. This new contact information will be reflected in your ECFMG record after you submit the on-line part of your application and it is processed by ECFMG.

You must provide an e-mail address in this section. ECFMG will use this address to communicate important information, such as confirmation of receipt of your Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) and notification of your USMLE/ECFMG Identification number for new applicants. If you do not have an e-mail address, you cannot apply on-line.

Item 10. U.S. Social Security Number and/or National Identification Number
If you have a U.S. Social Security Number, enter it in the space provided. If you have been issued a national identification number from a country other than the United States, enter it in the space provided and specify the country that issued it.

Item 11. Date and Place of Birth
Enter your date of birth (day, month, and year), the name of the city where you were born, the state/province where you were born (if applicable), and the country where you were born.

Item 12. Gender
Indicate whether you are male or female.

Item 13. Native Language
Indicate whether your native language is English or a language other than English. If your native language is not English, enter the name of your native language.

Item 14. Other Languages Spoken
If you speak a language or languages other than English at home, indicate the language(s) spoken. Check all that apply. Although you are encouraged to complete this item, providing this information is voluntary. This information will be used for research purposes and will be kept confidential. Choosing a particular answer or answers, or choosing not to answer this question, will not affect the outcome of your application.

Item 15. Citizenship
Select the country of your citizenship at birth, upon entering medical school, and now.

Item 16. Ethnicity
Select the option(s) that best describe(s) your ethnicity. Select all that apply. Although you are encouraged to complete this item, providing this information is voluntary. This information will be used for research purposes and will be kept confidential. Choosing a particular answer or answers, or choosing not to answer this question, will not affect the outcome of your application.

Item 17. Medical School Information
Enter the exact name and complete address of the medical school from which you expect to graduate. Also enter your dates of attendance and number of years attended at this school, your graduation date, the date your medical diploma will be issued and the exact title of your medical degree. For a list of the degree titles acceptable to ECFMG, refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet. If you are required to complete an internship prior to receiving your medical diploma, enter the start and end dates of your internship.

Item 18. Other Medical School(s) Attended
If you attended medical school(s) other than the medical school you entered in Item 17, enter the exact name(s) and complete address(es) of the other medical school(s). Also enter your dates of attendance and number of years attended for each medical school.

To add a medical school, click "Add." To edit or delete a medical school, select the medical school from the list and click "Edit" or "Delete." When you have entered all your medical schools, click "Next" to continue.

Item 18 A. Add Other Medical School
For all other medical schools, enter the official name of the medical school, the address, dates of attendance, and number of years attended.

Item 19. Transfer Credits
Indicate whether you transferred academic credits from any school to the medical school that will confer your medical degree.

To add a course, click "Add." To edit or delete a course, select the course from the list and click "Edit" or "Delete." When you have entered all your transfer credits, click "Next" to continue.

Item 19 A. Transfer Credits
For all transferred credits, enter the name of the school from which the credits were transferred, course titles, and number of credits transferred and click the "Add" button.

Item 20. Clinical Clerkships
The term clinical clerkships refers to that period in your medical education in the clinical disciplines during which, as a medical student, you gained practical experience in hospitals or clinics through rotations, pregraduate internships, etc.

To add a clinical clerkship, click "Add." To edit or delete a clinical clerkship, select the clinical clerkship from the list and click "Edit" or "Delete." When you have entered all your clinical clerkships, click "Next" to continue.

Item 20 A. Add Clinical Clerkships
For all clinical clerkships, enter the clinical discipline, name of the hospital/clinic, the hospital/clinic address, and the name of the physician who supervised the clinical clerkship. You must also provide the dates of the clinical clerkship.

Item 21. Present Employment
Indicate whether you are currently employed. If you answer "Yes," enter the name of the institution/company where you are employed, the institution/company address, your position, and the date you started employment at that institution/company.

Item 22. Status of Medical School Student
Answer "Yes" or "No" to each question concerning your status as a medical school student. If you answer "No" to either question, you are not eligible for examination.

The minimum eligibility requirements for medical school students are:

To be eligible for Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 2 CS, you must be officially enrolled in a medical school located outside the United States and Canada that is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER^®), both at the time that you apply and at the time you take the exam. In addition, the "Graduation Years" in IMED for your medical school must be listed as "Current" at the time you apply and at the time you take the exam. Your Medical School Dean, Vice Dean, or Registrar must certify your current enrollment status on the application. This certification must be current; the official must have signed the application within four months of its receipt at ECFMG. As soon as you graduate and receive your medical diploma, you must send two photocopies of your medical diploma and one full-face color photograph to ECFMG (see Provision of Credentials and Translations). The photograph you send must be current; it must have been taken within six months of the date that you send it. A photocopy of a photograph is not acceptable.

In addition to being currently enrolled as described above, to be eligible for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS, you must have completed at least two years of medical school. This eligibility requirement means that you must have completed the basic medical science component of the medical school curriculum by the beginning of your eligibility period.

ECFMG reserves the right to re-verify with the medical school the eligibility of medical school students who are registered for an exam. If ECFMG requests re-verification of your student status with your medical school, ECFMG will release your score report only after re-verification of your status has been received by ECFMG.

Application Summary and Method of Payment
This is a summary of the information you provided on the on-line part of your application. This is not a substitute for your application. This is for your records only. Do not mail the application summary to ECFMG. ECFMG will not accept the application summary as an exam application.

Read this Application Summary carefully. This is your last opportunity to make changes or corrections before making payment and submitting the on-line part of your application to ECFMG.

Payment for an on-line application may be made by Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) or by Electronic Check (U.S. bank accounts only). First, indicate whether you are making payment by credit card or by check. Once you enter the payment information as outlined below, you will receive a notification of whether your payment is approved or rejected. If your payment attempt is unsuccessful, you will be able to select another payment option and try again. Once your payment is approved, you will be able to proceed to the final step of the application process, the Certification Statement (Form 183).

Payments by Credit Card
Before you proceed, make sure you have the credit card information ready. You will be entering our secured payment website and will have a limited amount of time to enter the required information. You must provide the following:

Credit Card account number
Credit Card expiration date
Cardholder’s name
Cardholder's U.S. street address or country of residence if cardholder resides outside the U.S.
Cardholder’s U.S. zip code (if applicable)

Payments by Electronic Check
Before you proceed, make sure you have the checking account information ready. You should have a check in hand from the account you wish to use. The checking account information you will be required to provide must be from a U.S. banking institution. You will be entering our secured payment website and will have a limited amount of time to enter the required information. You must provide the following:

Account holder's name
Check number
Account holder’s e-mail address
Account holder’s U.S. address (street, city, state, and zip code)
American Bankers Association (ABA) routing number, bank account number, and check number (all of the numbers along the bottom of your check)
Account holder’s U.S. Social Security Number or U.S. Driver’s License Number

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT (FORM 183)
The on-line part of your application will be transmitted to ECFMG only when you click "Proceed to Certification Statement (Form 183)."

Your next step is to print the Certification Statement (Form 183). After you print the Certification Statement (Form 183), you must complete it and mail it to ECFMG as soon as possible. ECFMG must receive both the on-line part of your application, the part you submit electronically, and the Certification Statement (Form 183), the part you mail, to process your application.

USMLE Step 1/Step 2 CK only: Your application does not need to be received in advance of an eligibility period to obtain that eligibility period. To select and obtain an eligibility period, ECFMG must receive both the on-line part of your application and the Certification Statement (Form 183) by the 24th day of that eligibility period and your application must be processed by ECFMG by the 25th day of that eligibility period. This means that, although you can select an eligibility period as late as the 24th day of that eligibility period, there is no guarantee that you will be assigned that eligibility period, since your application may not be processed by the 25th day of the eligibility period. If your application is not processed in time to assign the eligibility period you select, you will be assigned the next eligibility period. Your assigned eligibility period will not be adjusted to compensate for days that have already passed. The eligibility period assigned to you will be listed on your scheduling permit.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CERTIFICATION STATEMENT (FORM 183)

Print a copy of the Certification Statement (Form 183) by clicking your web browser's "Print" button. If a portion of the Certification Statement is cut off on the copy that you print, you will need to adjust the margins under "Page Setup" in your browser. Generally, if you set all margins in your browser to .25 inches or 2.5 millimeters, the copy of the Certification Statement you print will be complete.
Attach a current, full-face color photograph to the Certification Statement (Form 183) in the space provided. Use tape or glue. Do not use staples or paper clips. The photograph that you use must be current; it must have been taken within six months of the date that you mail the Certification Statement (Form 183).
Sign and date the Certification Statement (Form 183) in the presence of your Medical School Dean, Vice Dean, or Registrar. The medical school official must sign and date the Certification Statement (Form 183) and provide his/her name, official title, and the institution name. The signature of the medical school official must be current; the official must have signed the Certification Statement (Form 183) within four months of the date that it is received at ECFMG.
Make a copy of the Certification Statement (Form 183) for your records.
The following must be mailed to ECFMG from the office of the official who certified the Certification Statement (Form 183):
1. Original signed Certification Statement (Form 183)
2. Legal documentation of name change (if requested by you in Item 8)
  
  Mail To:
  
  IWA
  ECFMG
  3624 Market Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
  USA