Issue Seventy-Nine - April 22, 2005
IMGs Participating in the 2006 Match Must Take Step 2 CS as Early as Possible
International medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), or "the Match," must have passed all exams required for ECFMG Certification. If you plan to participate in the 2006 Match and need to pass Step 2 CS, you should know that a specific reporting date for Step 2 CS results cannot be guaranteed, regardless of the date on which Step 2 CS is taken. However, if you take Step 2 CS later than December 31, 2005, you are unlikely to have your results in time to participate in the Match.
If you need to pass Step 2 CS to participate in the 2006 Match, you should consider the following:
- Demand for Step 2 CS is expected to be heavy throughout 2005, especially in the months preceding the Match.
- The scheduling restrictions that are in effect for 2005 test dates may reduce the number of test dates available to you. Additional information on these restrictions is available on the ECFMG website.
- It is unlikely that examinees taking Step 2 CS later than December 31, 2005 will have their results for the Match. However, this is not a guarantee that those who do test by December 31, 2005 will have their results in time to participate in the Match.
You are strongly encouraged to apply for Step 2 CS as soon as you are eligible and to schedule your exam for the earliest possible date. You can apply and schedule by visiting the ECFMG website.
You are also strongly encouraged to monitor the ECFMG website and the USMLE website for further updates on the availability of results.
For complete information on the Match, visit the NRMP website.