ECFMG Certification cheat sheet

The medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDMS) at the time of graduation and at the time of application.

The WDMS listing must include an ECFMG Sponsor Note that explicitly covers the year of graduation; a note that covers only other years does not satisfy the requirement.

The Sponsor Note is added by ECFMG to indicate that the school meets ECFMG's eligibility criteria for that graduation year.

If the Sponsor Note does not cover the graduation year, the applicant is ineligible for ECFMG certification via that school, even if the school is otherwise listed.

Schools that lose WDMS listing or Sponsor Note coverage after graduation may still qualify if the note covered the graduation year at the time of graduation.

Applicants should verify the exact graduation year stated on the final medical diploma matches the year covered by the Sponsor Note.

The WDMS is maintained by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) and FAIMER; ECFMG uses it as the authoritative source for school recognition.

A school may be listed in WDMS without a Sponsor Note; listing alone is insufficient for ECFMG certification.

All applications for ECFMG Certification are submitted through the MyIntealth Applicant Portal (formerly IWA).

Applicants must create a MyIntealth account and complete identity verification before submitting the application.

The application requires selection of the pathway (OET Medicine or former Step 2 CS) and payment of the applicable fee.

Supporting documents (medical diploma, transcript, translations) are uploaded to the portal; originals may be requested later.

The portal tracks application status; applicants must monitor for requests for additional information.

ECFMG Certification is not granted until all requirements (exams, pathway, credentials) are verified.

The portal is also used to request USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK exams and to view score reports.

Applicants must keep contact information current in the portal to receive important notifications.

ECFMG Certification requires passing USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK).

Step 1 and Step 2 CK must be passed within the USMLE eligibility period; scores are valid indefinitely for ECFMG certification.

The ECFMG Pathway requires either passing OET Medicine (with minimum scores) or having passed the former USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS).

OET Medicine minimum scores: at least 350 in Listening, Reading, and Speaking, and at least 350 in Writing (or equivalent as set by ECFMG).

The OET Medicine test must be taken within the validity period specified by ECFMG (typically within 2 years of application).

Former Step 2 CS passes are accepted indefinitely if passed before the exam was discontinued.

The Pathway application is separate from the USMLE exam applications and requires an additional fee.

All examination results must be reported to ECFMG through the MyIntealth portal; applicants do not submit score reports manually.

The medical education must include at least four credit years (full-time equivalent) at a medical school listed in WDMS with Sponsor Note covering the graduation year.

The four credit years must include the final medical diploma year; transfer credits may count if documented and verified.

The final medical diploma must be verified by ECFMG through primary-source verification with the issuing school.

Applicants must provide a complete academic transcript showing all courses and credits for the four years.

Documents not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.

ECFMG may require additional documentation (e.g., clerkship records, rotation logs) to confirm the four credit years.

The verified final medical diploma is the diploma that qualifies the applicant to practice medicine in the country of graduation.

Credentials verification is a prerequisite for ECFMG Certification and must be completed before the certificate is issued.