Applying for US Residency & Board Certification

Download a brochure with more USMLE & Residency Information

To become a Board Certified Doctor in the US, International Medical Graduates need to go through the following process:

ECFMG Certification

All International Medical Graduates need to get ECFMG Certification to work or train as a Doctor in the US. The ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) is the body that assesses your qualifications and tells Program Directors and employees that you have the necessary qualifications to work or train in the US.

Due to the vast range of Medical Schools internationally, with different standards and reputations, this says that you have the same skills as a US Graduate.

To gain ECFMG Certification, you must have the following:

• Medical School Diploma & Transcripts
• USMLE Step 1 Passing Score
• USMLE Step 2CK Passing Score
• USMLE Step 2CS Pass

Note: The ECFMG requires that all three exams have been passed in a 7 year period. Scores older than 7 years are invalid.

To take any of your USMLE exams you will need to have registered with the ECFMG. You can do this online at www.ecfmg.org. To register you'll need to complete a Form 186 (Identification Form) which must be notarized by a Dean or Notary Service.

Residency & National Residency Matching Program Application

Residency Training Programs are initial specialized training, required for Board Certification. Even if you are fully trained outside the US in a particular area, you will still be required to complete Residency Training to gain Board Certification. Residency Training Programs will last between 3-6 years depending on your Specialty.

To apply for Residency you'll enter one of the Matching Programs:

• NRMP: National Residency Matching Program
• San Francisco Match (Child Neurology, Neurotology, Ophthalmology & Plastic Surgery
• Urology Match

The most popular matching program, and the most likely for International Graduates to apply to is the National Residency Matching Program or NRMP.

The "Match"

"Matching" takes place in the March of every year. Applicants are "Matched" to programs based on rankings from both the applicant and program. The rank order lists are entered into a computer system and a complex algorithm assigns programs to applicants.

Application for Residency opens in the July before the Match in the March of the next year. At this point applicants can start to complete an ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) Application.

From the 1st September, applicants can send completed applications to their selected programs. To be competitive International Graduates should send their application at this time. Remember, your USMLE Step 1 & 2 Scores will work to get your application seen - high scores are vital for gaining Interview.

About the USMLE Exams

Based on your application, you may be called to Interview between the October and November. You will be ranked by programs based on this interview. It is vital you do research beforehand so you can be sure to impress.

In February, you and the programs you've interviewed with will be asked to rank each other and in March the results are released.

If you have not Matched to any program, you can enter the Post Match Scramble.

ERAS Application

The Electronic Residency Application Service allows you to compile all of the information for your Residency Application. You can apply to up to four different Specialties and up to 40 programs (International Graduates will struggle to apply for more as some programs do not take International Medical Graduates

You will charged based on the number of programs you apply to:

Useful Websites

• ECFMG: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates www.ecfmg.org

• ERAS: Electronic Residency Application Service www.aamc.org/students/eras

• AAMC: Association of American Medical Colleges www.aamc.org

• NRMP: National Residency Matching Program www.nrmp.org

• SF (San Francisco) Matchwww.sfmatch.org

• Urology Matchwww.urologymatch.com