Important Changes to Standard ECFMG® Certificate
Graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada, international medical graduates (IMGs), must have a valid Standard ECFMG Certificate as one of the prerequisites to enter U.S. programs of graduate medical education (GME) that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). On June 14, 2004, policy changes affecting the validity of the Standard ECFMG Certificate for entry into GME will take effect. This announcement contains important information on these changes to ECFMG's policy for revalidating and permanently validating the Standard ECFMG Certificate for entry into GME. ECFMG has communicated these changes to directors of GME programs and state medical licensing boards in the United States.
NEW POLICY EFFECTIVE JUNE 14, 2004
Two changes to ECFMG policy concerning revalidation and permanent validation will take effect on June 14, 2004. The two changes are:
- Effective June 14, 2004, IMGs who have passed an English test will not be required to revalidate expired English test dates in order to enter GME; an IMG's most recent passing performance on the English test will be valid for the purpose of entry into GME, regardless of the length of time that has passed between the passing performance and the program start date.
(Until June 14, 2004, the English test date is valid for 2 years from the most recent date of passing performance. This means that an IMG must enter an ACGME-accredited program on or before the English test "valid through" date listed on the Certificate.)
- Effective June 14, 2004, IMGs who passed the ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA®) during the 3-year period before the implementation of USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) on June 14, 2004 will not be required to revalidate expired CSA dates before entering GME. These individuals may enter GME regardless of the length of time that has passed between their passing performance and the program start date.
(Until June 14, 2004, the CSA test date is valid for 3 years from the most recent date of passing performance. This means that an IMG must enter an ACGME-accredited program on or before the CSA "valid through" date listed on the Certificate.)
Therefore, effective June 14, 2004, the English test "valid through" date on the Standard ECFMG Certificate can be disregarded for IMGs who are entering GME on or after June 14, 2004, the effective date of the changes. Additionally, the CSA "valid through" date can be disregarded for IMGs who passed the CSA on or after June 14, 2001.
Beginning June 14, 2004, these IMGs can request stickers, to be affixed to the Standard ECFMG Certificate. The permanent validation sticker will indicate that the English test date (and CSA date, if applicable) is no longer subject to expiration. See How to Request Permanent Validation Stickers below.
WHO CAN REQUEST PERMANENT VALIDATION STICKERS?
IMGs Who Are ECFMG Certified With:
- Both English Test and CSA "Valid Through" Dates on Standard ECFMG Certificate
IMGs who were issued a Standard ECFMG Certificate before June 14, 2004 and whose most recent CSA pass date is on or after June 14, 2001 can request permanent validation stickers for both the English test and the CSA. These IMGs can make one request for both stickers. See How to Request Permanent Validation Stickers below.IMGs who were issued a Standard ECFMG Certificate before June 14, 2004 and whose most recent CSA pass date is before June 14, 2001 can request a permanent validation sticker for the English test. For these IMGs, the CSA pass date remains subject to expiration for entry into GME. See IMGS Whose CSA Pass Date Is Before June 14, 2001 below.
- Only English Test "Valid Through" Date on Standard ECFMG Certificate
IMGs who were issued a Standard ECFMG Certificate before June 14, 2004 and did not pass the CSA for ECFMG Certification can request a permanent validation sticker for the English test.
IMGs Who Are Not ECFMG Certified
IMGs who were not issued a Standard ECFMG Certificate before June 14, 2004 will not need to and cannot request permanent validation stickers. IMGs who meet ECFMG certification requirements under the provisions of the new policy described above will not have "valid through" (expiration) date(s) on their Standard ECFMG Certificates, when their Certificates are issued.
IMGs Whose CSA Pass Date Is Before June 14, 2001
Under the provisions of the new policy, passing performances on the CSA taken before June 14, 2001 remain subject to expiration for the purpose of entry into GME (regardless of when the Standard ECFMG Certificate is issued). IMGs who passed the CSA before June 14, 2001 may request permanent validation of the CSA date only if they entered an ACGME-accredited program on or before the CSA "valid through" date on their Standard ECFMG Certificate. After entering the program, the IMG and program director must complete the Request for Permanent Validation of Standard ECFMG Certificate (Form 246) and submit it to ECFMG. After ECFMG receives and verifies the information on the Form 246, ECFMG will send a sticker, indicating valid indefinitely status, to eligible IMGs.
IMGs who passed the CSA before June 14, 2001 and did not enter an ACGME-accredited program on or before the CSA "valid through" date on their Standard ECFMG Certificate must pass USMLE™ Step 2 CS to revalidate their Certificates before entering GME. Passing performance on Step 2 CS does not expire for the purpose of entry into GME. IMGs who revalidate their Certificates by passing Step 2 CS will be sent a permanent validation sticker after passing Step 2 CS. These IMGs may request a permanent validation sticker for the English test beginning June 14, 2004. See How to Request Permanent Validation Stickers below.
Summary of Who Can Request Stickers
The table below will help IMGs to determine if they are eligible to request a permanent validation sticker beginning June 14, 2004 under the provisions of the new policies. ECFMG issues separate stickers to permanently validate the English test and CSA dates. A physician may, therefore, be eligible to request a permanent validation sticker for the English test, but not for the CSA.
| ECFMG Certification Status and Examinations on Standard ECFMG Certificate | Exam(s) for which physician is eligible to request a Permanent Validation Sticker |
|---|---|
| Physician is Certified by ECFMG and | |
| 1. CSA not required for certification and English test pass date is any date | English test |
| 2. CSA pass date is June 14, 2001 or later | CSA and English test |
| 3. CSA pass date is June 13, 2001 or earlier | English test* |
| Physician is not Certified by ECFMG | None** |
* See IMGs Whose CSA Pass Date is Before June 14, 2001 above
** See IMGS Who Are Not ECFMG Certified above
HOW TO REQUEST PERMANENT VALIDATION STICKERS
IMGs who are eligible for the permanent validation sticker(s), based on the policy changes described above, can request the sticker(s) beginning June 14, 2004. Applicants who are eligible for a sticker under #1 and #2 above, may make a request for the sticker by accessing ECFMG's Online Applicant Status and Information System (OASIS). IMGs who are eligible for an English test and a CSA permanent validation sticker can make one request for both stickers. Applicants who are eligible for a sticker based on #3 may not request a sticker via OASIS. These requests must be made by submitting a Special Request for Permanent Validation Sticker (Form 295). Beginning June 14, 2004, IMGs can obtain a copy of Form 295 by visiting the Forms and Publications page of the ECFMG website or by writing to ECFMG.
To access OASIS, you must have both your USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number and password. If you do not already have a password, you can obtain one by accessing OASIS.
IMGs who are eligible for the permanent validation sticker(s) who cannot access OASIS may submit a "Special Request for Permanent Validation Sticker" (Form 295). This form can be obtained beginning June 14, 2004 by visiting the Forms and Publications page of the ECFMG website or by writing to ECFMG.