1. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and
Entry into U.S. Graduate Medical Education (GME)
Webinar Hosted by Fulbright/Education/USA Portugal
November 17, 2016
Copyright © 2016 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.

2. U.S. Graduate Medical Education (GME)
Credentials Accreditation
Board Certification
Licensure
etc.
National Board
of Medical Examiners (NBME)
USMLE
Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical
Education
(ACGME)
American
Board of Medical
Specialties
(ABMS)
National Resident
Matching Program
(NRMP)
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Electronic Residency Application Service
(ERAS)
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

3. Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.
Private, Non-profit Organization
Founded in 1956
Organizational Members
American Board of Medical Specialties
American Medical Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association for Hospital Medical Education
Federation of State Medical Boards
National Medical Association
Areas of Expertise
Evaluating the qualifications of International Medical Graduates (IMGs)
International medical schools
Physician credentials related to medical education, training, registration/licensure
Assessing clinical skills
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4. Typical IMG Entry into U.S. GME
Process
Timeframe
Pass United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)
Step 1, Step 2 (CK), Step 2 (CS)
During medical school
or after graduation
Complete medical school and ECFMG Certification
June
Complete residency application process
ERAS
Interviews etc.
NRMP – “The Match”
July - February
October - February
March
Program issues GME contract/letter of offer
If foreign national, secure appropriate visa status
March - July
Commencement of residency training
July
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

5. Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.
Today’s Discussion
ECFMG Programs and Services for IMGs
ECFMG Certification
Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP)
ECFMG Certificate Holders Office (ECHO)
Free resources
Q & A
See for
additional information on ECFMG’s programs and services.
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

6. ECFMG TEAM Registration and Certification Services
Caroline Alesiani
Jessica Yarrison
ERAS Support Services
Sean McCunney
Thai Donatto
Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program
Eleanor Fitzpatrick
ECFMG Certificate Holders Office & Communications
Elizabeth Ingraham
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

7. Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.
ECFMG Certification
ECFMG Certification assures residency program directors and the U.S. public that an IMG has met minimum standards of eligibility to enter U.S. residency training.
ECFMG Certification is required for:
IMG entry into ACGME-accredited GME
USMLE Step 3
U.S. medical licensure
J-1 visa sponsorship by ECFMG
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

8. ECFMG Certification Requirements
USMLE Exams - IMGs register through ECFMG
Computer based testing at Prometric Centers worldwide
Step 1 Basic Science
Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)
In-person exam at CSEC centers in five cities in the U.S. only
Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS)
Medical Education Credentials
Completion of medical school curriculum of at least 4 years
School and graduation year listed in the Sponsor Notes tab of the WDMS*
Primary-source verification of medical diploma and transcript(s) by ECFMG
*World Directory of Medical Schools (World Directory)
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

9. IMGs and Application to U.S. Residency
AAMC ERAS
ECFMG
ERAS Support
Services
NRMP
In Coordination with GME Programs
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10. Association of American Medical Colleges AAMC
Developed and operates Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
Maintains MyERAS website where you register with ERAS, complete residency applications, track status of applications
Publishes list of ERAS participating specialties and programs
Provides technical support for MyERAS
residency-positions/applying-residencies-eras/
Publication - Roadmap to Residency: Understanding the Process of Getting into Residency
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

11. ECFMG ERAS Support Services
Serves as designated Dean’s office for IMGs using ERAS
Issues ERAS Tokens and tracks receipt of certain supporting documents
Collects, uploads, transmits supporting documents to ERAS application
Transmits ECFMG Status Report to ERAS application
Transmits USMLE transcript, if requested by applicant, to ERAS application
Provides support through , phone, online chat
Provides educational outreach to international medical schools and their students/graduates
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

12. National Resident Matching Program NRMP
Collects preferences of applicants and program directors for available residency positions
Matches applicants with available positions
You must register directly with NRMP to participate in the Match. (Applying at AAMC MyERAS and submitting supporting documents to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG do not register you with the NRMP Match.)
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

13. Non-immigrant Visas for U.S. GME
All foreign national physicians need an appropriate U.S. visa / visa status to participate in GME residency or fellowship training
Most Common Visas for U.S. GME
J-1 Exchange Visitor Physician (ECFMG)
H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker (Employer)
Less Common Visas for U.S. GME
F-1 Student with “Optional Practical Training”
J-2 Dependent with EAD
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

14. Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program EVSP
Designated by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to serves as the visa sponsor for all J-1 physicians in clinical training 22CFR§62.27(b)
Cooperates with DOS and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in tracking J-1 physicians in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database
Collaborates with the U.S. academic medicine community on J-1 GME policies
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

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J-1 Physician Category
J-1 visa
Temporary, non-immigrant visa
Full-time training contract / GME (not employment)
Requires evidence of strong ties to the home country
Statement of Need from Ministry of Health
Imposes two-year home physical presence requirement
Duration = 7 years maximum for progressive training
Mandatory health insurance requirements for J-1s and J-2s
Tracked in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

16. ECFMG J-1 Visa Sponsorship: Roles and Responsibilities
U.S. Department of State (DOS) U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
ECFMG
EVSP
Regional Advisor
Teaching Hospital
Training Program Liaison (TPL)
Program Director
J-1 Physician
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

17. ECFMG Certificate Holders Office ECHO
Provides free resources for IMGs pursuing ECFMG Certification
Applying to residencies
Orientation to U.S. health care system
Immigration and U.S. GME
Importance of research
Practical information for relocating to the U.S.
IMG Advisors Network (IAN)
newsletter
50,000+ subscribers
Subscription at the time of ECFMG Certification or anytime at
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

18. ECFMG Certificate Holders Office ECHO
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

19. Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.
Free Resources
The ECFMG Reporter e-newsletter – 200,000+ subscribers, news on ECFMG Certification and entry to U.S. GME
ECFMG Facebook page – 16,000+ followers
MyECFMG mobile app – available from the App Store (iPhone users) and Google Play (Android users)
ECFMG Fact Card – Data on IMGs pursuing ECFMG Certification and obtaining U.S. GME positions
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QUESTIONS?
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ECFMG Contact Information
Applicant Information Services (ECFMG Certification) Telephone: Website: ERAS Support Services at ECFMG Telephone: Website: Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP) Telephone: Website:
Copyright © 2016 by ECFMG. All rights reserved.

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Thank You!
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