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The application for the USMLE exams can be made once we have applied for the ECFMG Certification. Therefore, if we have not done it yet, it is very important to do it before continuing. Please, for more information about the application for the ECFMG Certification, go to the following link:
Application For ECFMG Certification
Once ready for the application, we will need to log into our ECFMG account by using the following link:
Then select Online Services and IWA – Interactive Web Application. We enter our USMLE / ECFMG ID number and password, and we will be on our ECFMG account.
Steps for the application to the USMLE exams:
Let us review the application step by step. We will use Step 1 as an example (the process is similar to other exams except Step 3):
- Under “Begin a new application,” we will select “USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK.”
- A page with policies and instructions will appear. Please read them carefully and then select the box that indicates that you have read and accepted all the aforementioned rules. Then click Next.
- Now we will begin to review each of the necessary items:
1. Item 1: Select “NO” unless you have been granted a medical license in the United States in the past (usually not the case).
2. Item 2: Choose the exam you would like to apply for. In our example: Step 1.
3. Item 3: Choose your eligibility period, which is the approximate time you believe you can take our test. It is important to plan this time appropriately to avoid making changes that cost you more money. The period is three months long, and if you cannot take the exam in that timeframe for any reason, you can request an extension that adds three months to the initial period requested by paying a fee (approximately 100 dollars).
4. Item 4: Select the region where you wish to take the test (including places outside the United States). To review the places in the world where the exams are available, please, visit the following page: https://securereg3.prometric.com/Dispatch.aspx
5. Item 5: Disabilities if applicable.
6. Item 6: Names: we must check that our name is correctly written according to our official ID, for example, such as a passport.
7. Item 7: Contact information: Review or enter your address, telephone, and email.
8. Item 8: Enter your social security number if available. Otherwise, leave it blank.
9. Item 9: Date of birth, city, province or state, country.
10. Item 10-14: Gender, your native language, citizenship, passport, and ethnicity data (not mandatory).
11. Item 15: Current work or post-graduation training (postgraduate) if applicable. Usually, it is not mandatory to fill in this information. Choosing “Not currently employed” is the most usual option.
12. Item 16: The ECFMG reporter, which means we can receive emails about the latest news from ECFMG. It is very important and convenient. Thus, it is advisable to choose yes.
13. Item 17: Medical education status. Select it properly depending on our position. Fundamentally we can pick an option, student or graduate.
14. Item 18: Medical school information: Usually, we will only need to confirm that the information is correct. Otherwise, choose from the list.
- Dates of attendance: Dates of attendance to medical school. The dates must be accurate. Write the graduation date and the date on which your medical diploma was issued (Usually, they are the same).
- Title of the medical certificate (degree): If we are not sure about it, we can refer to the instructions from ECFMG about the title given depending on each country and University: http://www.ecfmg.org/certification/reference-guide.html. In my medical school, the degree granted is “Physician.”
- Internship: Enter the dates only if the internship was held before graduation. In my case, I was required to do an internship year before graduation. Therefore, it was appropriate to enter the respective dates on the application.
- Social service / Government: Rural, community year, or other nomenclature it may have in your country. It should be chosen and described only if it was done before the graduation date or medical certificate delivery. In my case, I did one year of community service to get a license and practice medicine in my country. But I did it after my graduation date, and the “Not required” option was the better option.
- Item 19: Other medical school attended: only if you attended another medical school before the school in which you currently study or graduated from.
15. Item 20: Other institutions: It is not necessary to describe it. Please, properly review the ECFMG instructions. In my case, you may leave it blank, but do it at your discretion.
16. Item 21: Clinical clerkships: In my opinion, they are unnecessary to describe, but again, you decide to fill them with pertinent information. In my application, I did not fill out this data.
17. Item 22: Medical diploma: The most important aspect here is to select our current condition properly, having 3 options:
- I have graduated from medical school and have previously submitted to ECFMG photocopies of my medical diploma. (Graduated and have previously sent copies of your medical diploma to ECFMG).
- I have graduated from medical school, and I am enclosing, with my Certification of Identification Form (Form 186), two photocopies of the Medical School Release Request (Form 345); two photocopies of my medical diploma with an English translation (if required); and a photograph. If my Form 186 is signed by an authorized official of my medical school, the envelope that contains the above-listed documents will be sent to ECFMG directly from the office of that official. (Graduated, and you have not yet sent any paper to ECFMG, usually the most common option).
- I have graduated from medical school, but my medical diploma has not been issued. With my Certification of Identification Form (Form 186), I am enclosing two photocopies of the Medical School Release Request (Form 345), a letter from my medical school that confirms that I have graduated and have met all requirements to receive my medical diploma, and states the date my medical diploma will be issued; and English translation of the letter (if required); and a photograph. If my Form 186 is signed by an authorized official of my medical school, the envelope containing the above-listed documents will be sent to ECFMG directly from the office of that official. (Graduated but have not yet received your medical certificate).
18. Name on the medical diploma: Your name on your diploma or medical certificate: Your name must match exactly your passport or ID. Write it exactly as it is on the diploma.
19. Item 23: Certification by the applicant: Fundamentally, after reading and understanding all the indications, we accept the terms and conditions.
Then we will enter the payment area, where we must pay the exam fees. Currently (2022), these are the values to pay for the exams:
- Step 1: 985 USD.
- Step 2 CK: 985 USD.
- Step 3: 895 USD.
20. Paperwork forms: Moving on to the perhaps more tedious part of the application for our first exam, which are the paper forms we need to send to ECFMG. Please, we must read the information presented here about the necessary documents to send. It is very detailed and clearly explains what is required. We have two options, certification by a medical school official or by notary public and medical school official. In both cases, a medical school official will need to sign the forms. However, to be able to do the first option below (certification by medical school official), we will need to be physically with them to sign the forms. The other option for people who cannot go in person to their medical school for signatures is to sign the certification form in front of a notary public in the United States so that they can certify that is you who signs the form. Then, the form is sent to the medical school for signature by an authorized official so that it can be then sent to ECFMG. Some schools participate in a program called EMSWP (ECFMG Medical School Web Portal), an electronic portal where the medical school can upload your information. Following this process is faster than sending paper forms. As we mentioned, this form and any other necessary information need to be sent directly from your medical school to ECFMG. The two options we mentioned before are the following:
- Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) – Certification by Medical School Official: This option may be chosen if we are in the same country as our medical school since the signatures need to be signed at the same time by the student or graduate and the school official. Please make sure that ECFMG authorizes the official signature. Otherwise, the signature will not be valid, and you will need to send the documents again, wasting valuable time and money. Your medical school should know who is an ECFMG-authorized official (usually the Dean, a secretary, etc.).
- Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) – Certification by Notary Public and Medical School Official: We must understand clearly what this option means since it is probably the one that most IMGs who are in the United States already (or not in your medical school area) will use. The process is not difficult, many people are afraid about this part because it seems complicated. It should be straightforward to follow this process with the following considerations:
- First, it is important to understand that ECFMG needs to confirm that you sign the forms properly and in person. Since we are far from our medical school, it is not possible for a school official to be present when we sign the form. Therefore, if you are in the United States or another place, you can go to a notary public (usually located in loan houses such as cash loans or credit agencies), take your ID (passport) and the printed form so that we can sign it in front of that notary or official. Hence our signature and identity will be confirmed by them. After doing this, we can send the forms to our medical school by mail (regular mail or any other company like FedEx, or DHL) for validation and signature by an authorized official. With the school official’s signature, the papers are ready to be sent to ECFMG directly from the medical school (this is extremely important, the medical school should send the papers to ECFMG). Communicate with them if they participate in the EMSWP program so that the form is sent online or if mailing the form is necessary.
- After choosing our appropriate option, as stated in item 22, “Medical Diploma, ” we can print our Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) that will be brought with us to the school or notary public to be signed.
In summary, the required paperwork to provide to our medical school and then to ECFMG includes:
- Certification of Identification Form (Form 186). Original form with our photo attached as explained in the form, filled and signed on the two required parts: A: student, and B: school.
- Medical diploma: Two copies of our medical diploma with its respective English translation if it is in another language.
- Photo: A current color photograph, passport-sized, full-faced (apart from the one we attached on Form 186).
- Form 345 (we have not mentioned it yet). It is a form that confirms your acceptance for ECFMG to obtain information from our medical school. It is very simple to fill out. You will need a photo, just like for Form 186. We can download and print form 345 using this link.
- Medical school transcript: Two copies of our “medical school transcript.” Please, do not forget to send the translation to English. Otherwise, ECFMG will charge you 200 dollars for translating it.
In total, we will need three photos. These requirements are all that we need for the medical school credential verification and ECFMG certification application. Once your medical school sends all this documentation and is adequate, ECFMG will accept our credentials. Remember to keep track of the status of your ECFMG account since problems may appear on the way.
ECFMG will always contact us to inform us how the process is going on and if there is any irregularity. When the school sends Form 186 to ECFMG, we will receive an email saying that it has been received, and the validation process can take up to three weeks. The message we receive will be similar to this:
Dear Doctor:
We are pleased to confirm that your Certification of Identification Form (Form 186) has been received by ECFMG. Your USMLE / ECFMG Identification Number is listed in the Subject line of this message. You must use this number in all communications with ECFMG.
ECFMG typically processes on-line USMLE applications within 3 weeks of receipt of both the on-line part and the Certification of Identification Form (Form 186). You can track the status of your application by using ECFMG’s On-line Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS).
Please do not submit inquiries to this mailbox. Messages sent to this e-mail address will not receive responses.
Sincerely,
Examination and Certification Services
Confirmation of Acceptance of Form 186: You should receive a message similar to this one that will confirm the acceptance of your Form 186.
Dear Doctor:
Your Certification of Identification Form submitted (date) has been accepted. This form will remain on file and be valid for a period of five years. The validity dates are as follows: (dates).
The Certification of Identification Form is independently of the on-line application. Acceptance of the Certification of Identification Form does not automatically guarantee the acceptance of the application. Once your application has been reviewed, ECFMG will notify you of the outcome of your application.ECFMG typically processes on-line applications within three weeks of the receipt of both the on-line part and the Certification of Identification Form. Processing will now continue on the line part of your application.
Sincerely,
Examination and Certification Services
USMLE Exam application confirmation: Finally, we will receive an email confirming our acceptance to take the Step 1 test:
Dear Doctor:
The processing of your USMLE Step 1 application is complete. You have been registered for the (specific dates that we chose) eligibility period in the United States and Canada testing region. ** Please see BELOW for details on the option to submit a request to have the exam results for this Step 1 withheld from your medical school**.
The eligibility period assigned to you for this exam may be different from the one you selected on your application. If you selected an eligibility period that has already begun and your application was not processed in time to assign the eligibility period you selected, you have been assigned the next eligibility period.
The National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) will issue your permit, which contains information on contacting Prometric to schedule a testing appointment. (If your assigned eligibility period begins more than six months from now, your permit will be issued approximately six months before the beginning of your assigned eligibility period.) Only electronic permits will be generated for Step 1/Step 2 CK; applicants will access their electronic permits using ECFMG’s Interactive Web Application (IWA). You will not receive a paper permit by postal mail. In about one week you will receive another email from ECFMG to notify you that your permit is available. This message will include instructions for accessing the electronic permit using IWA. Although your permit will be issued by NBME, you should contact ECFMG by email at info@ecfmg.org or by phone or fax if you have questions or concerns about this document. You must bring your scheduling permit to the test center on your exam date. If you do not bring your scheduling permit, you will not be allowed to take the exam. Upon accessing your permit, you should check that your name as it appears on the permit is spelled correctly. If the name on your permit is incorrect, you must contact ECFMG immediately. Name changes or corrections to your name must be received and processed by ECFMG no later than seven business days prior to your scheduled testing appointment.
If you cannot take a Step during your assigned three-month eligibility period, you may request an extension. There is a fee for this service. You may request an extension on-line using ECFMG’s Interactive Web Applications (IWA). For information, access IWA on the ECFMG website.
For current information on test centers in your testing region, visit the Prometric website at www.prometric.com or contact Prometric. Practice materials for all Steps and Step Components are available on the USMLE website at www.usmle.org
Please refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet and USMLE Bulletin of Information for detailed information on scheduling your testing appointment and taking the exam. Both publications are available on the ECFMG website.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO WITHHOLD YOUR EXAM RESULTS FROM YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL:
ACCESS the IWA home page at www.ecfmg.org under On-line Services. SELECT the exam administration for which you want to withhold your exam results from your medical school under “Request to Withhold Exam Results”. Be sure you read and understand the conditions before you authorize ECFMG to withhold your exam results.
Sincerely,
Registration and Certification Services
Please, track the progress and be sure to receive this email. If you don’t after a while, contact ECFMG to check what has occurred. In about a week after receiving the acceptance for the USMLE exam application, we will receive the email that indicates that our “Scheduling permit” is available on our ECFMG page. With it, we can go to Prometric (which is the company that USMLE uses to administer the tests) and schedule our exam. The email that you should receive is similar to this one:
Name: Your name.
USMLE ID: Your ID number.
Your STEP 1 SCHEDULING PERMIT IS NOW AVAILABLE on the ECFMG Interactive Web Applications (IWA) website.
YOU MUST PRINT YOUR SCHEDULING PERMIT AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE TEST CENTER ON YOUR SCHEDULED DATE. You will not be able to take the test if you do not bring your Scheduling Permit to the test center. Note: You will NOT receive an orange Scheduling Permit for this exam in the mail.
To access your Scheduling Permit, go to IWA at https://iwa2.ecfmg.org, login, and select “Print / Reprint your USMLE Step 1 Scheduling Permit.” Your permission will open in a new browser window. Use your browser’s “Print” function to print the permit.
If you have any questions, contact ECFMG Applicant Information Services at info@ecfmg.org or call (215) 386-5900.
Sincerely,
ECFMG
Once you have received your “Scheduling Permit,” you have officially finished the application part in ECFMG for the ECFMG exams. The next thing to do is to schedule your exam using the Prometric.com website. In the next publication, We will describe how to schedule your USMLE exam in detail. We would like to emphasize that our Form 186 – Certification of Identification Form, will be valid for the next five years. Therefore, when we apply for the next USMLE examinations, this procedure will no longer need to be repeated since this form will remain valid for that period.
Thank you very much for your attention. We understand that the application to USMLE exams can be difficult and long. However, it is possible to do. Please, familiarize yourself with the application processes and review the official ECFMG and UMSLE instructions.
Please, do not hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.
Good luck!
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