Issue Forty-Two - January 30, 2004
Final Medical School Transcript Becomes Additional Requirement to Receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate
As previously published in The ECFMG Reporter (Issues 19 and 20) and in the ECFMG 2004 Information Booklet, effective February 1, 2004, there will be an additional medical education credential requirement for a medical school graduate to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate. In addition to submitting the final medical diploma, which is a current requirement to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate, medical school graduates will be required to submit copies of their final medical school transcript. As with the medical diploma, ECFMG will verify the final medical school transcript with the medical school that issued the transcript. If the final medical school transcript and/or final medical diploma are not in English, the document(s) must be accompanied by an official English translation. For a complete description of ECFMG's medical education credential requirements, including English translations, refer to Medical Education Credentials in the ECFMG 2004 Information Booklet.
When this additional requirement becomes effective on February 1, 2004, a graduate's medical education credentials will not be considered complete, and the graduate will not be eligible to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate, until ECFMG has received and verified both the final medical diploma and final medical school transcript with the medical school that issued these documents.
This additional medical education credential requirement applies to:
- All ECFMG applicants who, as of January 31, 2004, have not met all examination and medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate.
- Medical school graduates only. Medical school students can not submit a final medical school transcript until after they have graduated from medical school.
The following table summarizes the medical education credential requirements to receive a Standard ECFMG Certificate both before and effective February 1, 2004.
| CREDENTIALS REQUIRED FOR A GRADUATE TO RECEIVE A STANDARD ECFMG CERTIFICATE | |
|---|---|
| Through January 31, 2004 | Effective February 1, 2004 |
| Complete medical school curriculum of at least 4 years' duration | Complete medical school curriculum of at least 4 years' duration |
| Medical school and graduation year listed in International Medical Education Directory | Medical school and graduation year listed in International Medical Education Directory |
| Submit final medical diploma | Submit final medical diploma and final medical school transcript |
| ECFMG verifies final medical diploma directly with medical school | ECFMG verifies final medical diploma and final medical school transcript directly with medical school |
About the Final Medical School Transcript
The final medical school transcript is an official document that is the record of the graduate's medical education, issued by the medical school or university, on or after graduation.
The format of the final medical school transcript may vary among institutions. The final medical school transcript contains the name of the medical school or university and the name of the graduate. Other items that may be contained in the final medical school transcript include, but are not limited to, the dates of attendance, courses taken, credits for each course, grade in each course, summary of transfer credit accepted and the name of the institution from which the credit was accepted, title of the degree awarded, date degree was awarded, program of study (i.e., medicine), and date the transcript was issued.
Graduates should contact their medical school to inquire what document the medical school issues as a final medical school transcript.
When to Submit the Final Medical School Transcript
Since ECFMG policy requires the final medical school transcript, you can not send the transcript until after you graduate. Graduates may submit the transcript to ECFMG at any time. Although the final medical school transcript is not required at the time of application, you may include the transcript with any exam application.
This differs from ECFMG's requirement for when to submit the final medical diploma. ECFMG will continue to require that graduates submit the final medical diploma with their application for examination, if they have not submitted the diploma previously. If you have graduated from medical school and do not submit your diploma with your application, and this documentation has not been received previously by ECFMG, your exam application will be rejected. Refer to Credentials for Exam Registration in the ECFMG 2004 Information Booklet.
Questions
If you have questions concerning ECFMG medical education credential requirements, you may send e-mail to ECFMG at credentials@ecfmg.org.