Issue Seven - April 9, 2002
New On-line Applications: CSA® and Requests to Extend USMLE™ Eligibility Periods
ECFMG's Interactive Web Application (IWA) was introduced in October 2001 to allow on-line application for the exams required for ECFMG certification and other services, beginning with Step 1 and Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE). ECFMG is pleased to announce that you can now use IWA to apply on-line for the ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA). Additionally, if you are already registered for USMLE Step 1 / Step 2, you can use IWA to make an on-line request to extend your USMLE eligibility period.
When you apply on-line, you complete most application items and send your payment to ECFMG via the Internet. You can complete the on-line part of the application in one session, or you can save a partially-completed application and return to it later. Instructions are available throughout the process, and on-line validation helps to prevent common errors. If you apply on-line, ECFMG will send you e-mail updates throughout the processing of your application.
IWA is available 24 hours / day, 7 days / week, is easy to use and is available to both new and existing applicants. If you have submitted a prior application to ECFMG, you may be able to access some of the information that you submitted previously, eliminating the need to re-enter some information.
For more information or to submit an on-line application, access IWA on the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org
IMG Performance in the 2002 National Resident Matching Program ("The Match")
The results of the 2002 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), also known as "the Match," were announced last month. In the 2002 Match (for residency positions beginning in July 2002), there were 6,585 eligible international medical graduates (IMGs) who submitted ranked lists of their preferences for residency programs, compared to 7,115 for the previous year. Although there were fewer IMGs participating this year, the actual number of IMGs who matched to first-year residency positions was higher. Last year, 3,342 or 47% of participating IMGs matched. For 2002, this number was 3,427 or 52% of all IMG participants.
Of the 6,585 IMG participants in this year's Match, 2,029 were U.S. citizens. Of this number, 1,092 or 53.8% matched. Of the 4,556 IMG participants who were citizens of other countries, 2,335 or 51.3% were matched to residency positions. In both categories, the number and percentage of those matching were up slightly compared to the previous year.
The NRMP matches applicants with available positions in U.S. programs of graduate medical education (GME). Applicants submit to the NRMP a list of residency programs in order of preference. Directors of U.S. GME programs also submit to the NRMP ranked lists of the applicants they prefer for positions in their programs. Once the NRMP has collected all of this information, applicants and available positions are matched by a computer algorithm. The matches are announced in March for programs that begin in July.
The preceding data were compiled by the NRMP. For more information on the NRMP, visit the NRMP website at www.nrmp.org.