Issue Twenty-Four - May 1, 2003
Special Announcement Regarding SARS for Applicants Scheduled to Take the Clinical Skills Assessment
The current epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) raises concerns regarding public health and travel to and from affected areas, as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Individuals from affected areas who are scheduled to come to a Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) Center in either Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States may want to consider postponing their assessments until the public health concerns have resolved. It has always been ECFMG policy to consider requests for rescheduling of CSA in cases where there has been documentation of medical problems. When documentation has been adequate, rescheduling has been permitted.
However, given the current situation, ECFMG is prepared to accept requests for rescheduling from candidates traveling from affected areas who are scheduled to take CSA over the next several months, even in the absence of any documented illness. There will be no additional fee involved, and the requirement to select a test date within four months of registration will be waived. However, it will be necessary to complete testing within one year of the original registration date.
Persons who wish to choose this option should submit a CSA Scheduling Exceptions Appeal Form, which may be downloaded from the ECFMG website. In response to question number seven, which asks why you are unable to attend a CSA session for which you are scheduled, simply enter "SARS Precaution Exception." After receipt of this request and verification that you would be traveling from one of the affected areas, you will be unscheduled and notified that you may select another test date at your convenience.