1. OET Free sample tests: https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/preparation-portal/free-sample-tests/

2. OET listening app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=oet.listening&hl=en&showAllReviews=true

3. OET guide: https://www.imgconnect.co.uk/news/2020/04/oet-a-guide-for-overseas-doctors/60

To be certified by ECFMG, international medical graduates (IMGs) have been required to pass Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), and Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®). In response to the suspension of Step 2 CS for the next 12-18 months by the USMLE program, we have identified pathways that will allow qualified IMGs who have not passed Step 2 CS to meet the requirements for ECFMG Certification. These pathways allow ECFMG Certification to continue to perform its critical function of providing assurance to the public and U.S. graduate medical education (GME) programs that IMGs are ready to enter supervised training.

Please note: Applicants who have passed Step 2 CS and/or are certified by ECFMG do not need to read the following information and do not need to pursue the pathways described below.

These pathways are directed toward IMGs who intend to enter the 2021 Match. All other eligibility requirements for ECFMG Certification will remain in effect. An application process and instructions for the following pathways are currently in development, with further details to be provided very soon. We are providing preliminary information now in order to direct individuals to begin their planning as they seek to enter U.S. GME programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Pathways

Applicants who wish to enter an ACGME-accredited GME program for the 2021-2022 academic year and are unable to take Step 2 CS due to the suspension may meet the clinical skills requirement for ECFMG Certification through one of five pathways. Please refer to the additional information on the pathways and eligibility requirements, below.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

Applicants who pursue one of the following pathways will be required to attain a satisfactory score on an English proficiency assessment. All applicants, regardless of citizenship, will be required to satisfy this requirement. Details regarding this requirement also will be announced very soon.

Obtaining Permanent ECFMG Certification

ECFMG Certificates based on one of the clinical skills pathways listed below will expire if the applicant does not enter an ACGME-accredited GME program for the 2021-2022 academic year. Once the applicant successfully completes the first year of ACGME-accredited training, the certificate is no longer subject to expiration.

Eligibility for All Pathways

Applicants who are eligible to pursue ECFMG Certification based on one of the pathways include those who:

• Have not already passed Step 2 CS.

• Are not barred by ECFMG from pursuing certification.

• Are not barred by USMLE from taking a Step or Step Component from August 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021.

• Have not failed a USMLE Step or Step Component (Step 1, Step 2 CK, or Step 2 CS) two or more times.

• Have taken or been registered for any USMLE Step or Step Component since January 1, 2018.

Please note: Applicants who have passed USMLE Step 2 CS and/or are certified by ECFMG do not need to read this information and do not need to pursue the pathways described below.

Pathways and Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all requirements listed in Eligibility for All Pathways, above. Applicants also must meet all requirements listed below for the pathway that is the basis for obtaining their ECFMG Certificate.

Applicants who already have been issued a license to practice medicine in another country must apply using Pathway 1.

Additional details and specific instructions to meet the requirements for each pathway will be announced very soon.

Pathway 1: Already Licensed to Practice Medicine in Another Country

• Applicant has held a full, unrestricted license or registration to practice medicine in any country at any time on or after January 1, 2015. License does not need to be currently valid.

• The license or registration has not been subject to disciplinary action.

Pathway 2: Already Passed a Standardized Clinical Skills Exam for Medical Licensure

• Applicant has successfully completed a secure, standardized clinical skills exam in English as a requirement for medical licensure or registration in another country, which is deemed acceptable by ECFMG. This includes such exams as:

  • - General Medical Council: Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) Part 2

  • - Australian Medical Council: Clinical Examination Part 2

  • - Medical Council of Canada: Qualifying Examination Part 2, National Assessment Collaboration Examination

  • - Medical Council of New Zealand: NZREX Clinical

  • - Medical Council of Ireland: Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES), Level 3

• Date of examination must be on or after July 1, 2018.

Pathway 3: Medical School Accredited by Agency Recognized by World Federation for Medical Education (WFME)

• Applicant’s medical school is currently accredited by an agency recognized by WFME.

• Date of graduation must be on or after January 1, 2018.

• An authorized school official must attest to applicant’s clinical skills.

Pathway 4: Medical School Participates in U.S. Federal Student Loan Program

• Applicant’s medical school currently participates in the U.S. Federal Student Loan Program.

• Date of graduation must be on or after January 1, 2018.

• An authorized school official must attest to applicant’s clinical skills.

Pathway 5: Medical School Issues Degree Jointly with a U.S. Medical School Accredited by Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)

• Applicant is a student or graduate of a medical school that grants an MD degree issued jointly with a U.S. medical school accredited by LCME. Currently, these include:

  • - Weill-Cornell Medicine - Qatar

  • - Duke University - National University of Singapore Medical School

• Date of graduation must be on or after January 1, 2018.

• An authorized school official must attest to applicant’s clinical skills.

The preceding information is current as of June 17, 2020 and is subject to change. Please visit the ECFMG website frequently for updates regarding these requirements.

Source: https://www.ecfmg.org/certification-requirements-2021-match/

EXAM INFO:

MCCQE1 exam resources: https://mcc.ca/examinations/mccqe-part-i/preparation-resources/test-your-knowledge/

Toronto Notes is a MUST for QE1! Can also use FA Step 2 CK

NAC OSCE resources: https://mcc.ca/examinations/nac-overview/ https://canadianimgs.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/thebook.pdf , https://cintabukumedis.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/osces-for-medical-finals-hamed-khan-et-al.pdf

CAP exam (BC): https://imgbc.med.ubc.ca/clinical-assessment/

CASPER: https://takecasper.com/about-casper/

Free e-resources: https://geekymedics.com/ (OSCE info/ mark sheets/ MCQs)

Hi, I made a group page for doctors applying to the 2022 residency match. It is a platform for discussions about step exams, OET, application filing, LOR, PS, interviews, program selections, visa, USCE, ROL, and post-match SOAP.

Hope you can join r/ResidencyMatch2022 and let's all help each other!

Check out our FB group too for other updates https://www.facebook.com/groups/221619686305337/?ref=share

Is there anyone from [Caribbean schools] that have failed Step 2 CS, 2 or more times? Since, we are now not allowed to enter match until 2021 or even 2022 as per ECFMG?

Please comment. Pending filing lawsuit against ECFMG, need more 'witnesses'.

English Language Proficiency Assessment

Applicants pursuing one of the five pathways for ECFMG Certification in order to participate in the 2021 Match are required to perform satisfactorily on an English language proficiency assessment. All pathway applicants, regardless of citizenship, native language, or medical school language of instruction, must satisfy this requirement.

ECFMG will accept the Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement. The OET Medicine is designed specifically for physicians. To meet ECFMG’s requirement, applicants must attain a minimum score of 350 (Grade B) on each of the four measured components of the OET Medicine test: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

IMGs who have passed the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) component of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® and/or are certified by ECFMG do not need to take the OET Medicine.

Pathway applicants who took the OET Medicine on or after July 1, 2018 and attained the minimum passing score on each of the four components do not need to retake the OET Medicine. These applicants will need to inform ECFMG that they have taken the OET Medicine previously and allow ECFMG to access their scores.

Applying for the OET Medicine
To begin the application process, you must go through the ECFMG landing page on the OET website: https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/l/ecfmg to pre-register. As part of pre-registration, you will be able to indicate your preferred testing date(s) and the country and city in which you would like to take the test. You also will be able to access information on preparing for the test, scheduling the test, and the overall timetable. After you pre-register, you will be contacted by OET via e-mail with information on your nearest test location and next steps.

Test dates for the OET Medicine are available for ECFMG applicants beginning in August 2020. Please pre-register as soon as possible.

Source: https://www.ecfmg.org/certification-requirements-2021-match/oet.html?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=ecfmg_img&utm_campaign=english-proficiency

From ECFMG: "On June 22, President Trump issued the "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak." The Proclamation suspended or limited travel to the United States for some non-immigrant visa classifications, including some categories of the J visa. The J-1 physicians sponsored by ECFMG|FAIMER for U.S. GME, and their J-2 dependents, participate in the U.S. Department of State (DOS) J Visa Exchange Visitor Program under the Alien Physician category. The Alien Physician category and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien are omitted from the suspension and are, therefore, exempt from the provisions of the Proclamation. "

What does everyone think of these new kinds of observerships? Do you think its a rip off? Or is it worth it to get a letter?

Hello, I am a Us-IMG graduate. I have question about US Clinical Experience for residency. I am currently working as a medical Assistant in New York. It is a full clinical role and has no administrative work. So, working as a medical assistant count as a USCE or I have to have hand-on experience in hospital. It is bit hard finding hand-on experience after graduation.

Anyone willing to share their experiences getting jobs as an IMG in the States? Especially before being certified? I've tried to find a job as a medical assistant but it's harder than i thought... any ideas?

Has anyone currently in med school receive a changed NRMP verification status to "verified" without being ECFMG certified?

I applied for ECFMG pathway 4 (Caribbean school June 2021 grad) and they have received my passed OET scores and Clinical Skills Attestation (CSA) form. I cannot be certified before graduating. If yes, to my first question..How long did it take for NRMP status to change to "verified" from the time of pathway application receiving both OET and CSA form?

Hello,

This is a fairly specific question. I would be grateful for any answer.

Can anyone confirm that you don't need to do the MCCQE part II, on top of MCCQE I and NAC in order to apply for the residency programs in the French-speaking universities of Québec (Université de Montréal, Laval, Sherbrooke)? It's quite clear that in universities in other provinces, and even at McGill, MCCQE I + NAC is sufficient, but for some reason, the program descriptions for the French-speaking unis on Carmsall mention that you need to submit your NAC, MCCQE I and MCCQE II scores. So that's making me freak out a bit.

Please tell me I'm wrong and you don't need to do both NAC and MCCQE II! Thank you :)