ECFMG Announces New Requirements for ECFMG Certification
Posted February 17th, 2021 by Dennis Abramson.
Almost immediately after the USMLE Program permanently discontinued the Step 2 CS exam, ECFMG announced that it would develop modifications to the five (5) alternative pathways it developed to permit IMGs to obtain temporary ECFMG Certification for purposes of the 2022 Match.
On February 16, 2021, ECFMG published additional information on these new, “2022 Pathways”, which can be found on ECFMG’s website (or by clicking here). The update includes:
- eligibility requirements for all pathways
- availability of the online application; and
- information affecting 2021 pathway applicants.
Most importantly, the information includes preliminary information on the new sixth pathway, which reads:
Pathway 6: Evaluation of Clinical Patient Encounters by Licensed Physicians
Pathway 6 is intended for applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements for Pathway 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and/or have failed Step 2 CS one or more times. To meet the requirements for Pathway 6, the applicant’s clinical skills must be evaluated by licensed physicians using ECFMG’s Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX). Additional details and instructions for meeting the requirements for Pathway 6 will be provided as soon as they are available.
ECFMG has not yet published detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions, which it advises will be published as soon as it is available. ECFMG has encouraged all applicants to regularly monitor its website.
If you find yourself in need legal assistance when navigating the new pathways, or with any ECFMG, USMLE, or NRMP related matter, our experienced attorneys stand ready to assist.
