ECFMG Announces USMLE Service Transition for IMGs Effective January 2026
Posted January 1st, 2026 by Dennis Abramson.
Categories: ABIM, ECFMG, Medical Licensing, NBME, NRMP, USMLE.
ECFMG has announced that, beginning January 12, 2026, responsibility for most United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) services for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) will transition from ECFMG to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). This change marks Phase One of a broader restructuring of USMLE services scheduled to occur in January 2026.
Under this transition, FSMB will assume responsibility for USMLE Step exam registration, scheduling, score reporting, and customer service for IMGs. ECFMG will continue to provide USMLE services for Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) only through January 7, 2026. As of January 8, 2026, IMGs will no longer be able to access USMLE services through ECFMG’s MyIntealth™ portal.
Critically, both FSMB’s USMLE portal and ECFMG’s MyIntealth portal will be temporarily unavailable beginning January 8, 2026, while the transition is implemented. Examinees scheduled to test during this outage period must download their scheduling permits by January 7, 2026. Examinees are not permitted to sit for a USMLE examination without a valid permit.
ECFMG Still Plays an Important Role for All IMGs
Although administrative responsibility for USMLE services is shifting, the requirements for ECFMG Certification remain unchanged. ECFMG will continue to determine IMG eligibility for certification and will continue to require passage of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK. FSMB will confirm certification eligibility directly with ECFMG as part of the new registration process, and USMLE scores will continue to be transmitted to ECFMG as they are released.
For IMGs, this transition underscores the importance of careful planning and close attention to deadlines. Administrative disruptions, missed permits, or misunderstandings regarding portal access could result in avoidable delays in examination or certification timelines.
If you have questions about how this transition may affect your USMLE examinations, ECFMG Certification, or broader licensure plans—or if you encounter difficulties with ECFMG, FSMB, or the USMLE program—our office has extensive experience advising and representing IMGs in these matters. We encourage you to contact us to discuss your situation.
