Issue 118 - August 3, 2007
Important Notice on New Restrictions for Transferred Academic Credits
One of the medical education credential requirements for ECFMG Certification is that an international medical graduate must have had at least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given toward completion of the medical curriculum) in attendance at a medical school that is listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). A change to ECFMG’s medical education credentials policy will restrict transfer credits that may be used to meet this requirement. This change will affect credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, that are transferred to the medical school that issued or will issue an applicant’s medical degree.
For the purpose of ECFMG Certification, transferred academic credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, are restricted to:
- Credits transferred from one IMED-listed medical school to another IMED-listed medical school.
- Credits for courses taken at one medical school within seven years of the date of graduation at the medical school that accepts the transferred courses.
- Credits for courses that were passed at the medical school at which the course was taken.
Applicants who have transferred credits to the medical school that issued or will issue their medical degree will be required to document these credits when they apply to ECFMG for examination. This documentation must be in the form of a transcript issued by the school at which the course was taken; failure to provide appropriate documentation of transfer credits earned on or after January 1, 2008, will prevent exam registration. Further instructions will be provided at the time of application.
Applicants whose transferred credits do not meet all the criteria listed above will not meet the requirements to be registered by ECFMG for examination or the requirements for ECFMG Certification.
An international medical student/graduate whose transferred credits do not meet all the criteria listed above may request an exception from the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee.