Expansion of ECFMG Alternative Pathways Leads to Increased Eligibility for IMGs

Per its October 12, 2020 newsletter, ECFMG has expanded the eligibility requirements for certain pathways used to meet the Requirements for ECFMG Certification for 2021 Match, and additional international medical graduates (IMGs) may be eligible to apply to the pathways.

ECFMG is strongly encouraging all applicants who believed they are eligible based upon expanded eligibility criteria to apply to ERAS now.

The new, expanded pathways are listed below.  If you believe that your particular circumstances merit an exception to current, expanded eligibility criteria, our firm can assist you in petitioning ECFMG for such an exception.  

From ECFMG:

Eligibility requirements have been expanded for Pathways 1, 2, and 4, and the changes are highlighted below. Other eligibility requirements apply to specific pathways, and all applicants who apply to a pathway must meet all other requirements for ECFMG Certification.

Pathway 1:

The types of licenses that satisfy the requirements for Pathway 1 have been expanded. The following has been added as acceptable:

• Applicant has held a license/registration to participate in postgraduate medical education (i.e., a provisional or training license/registration for postgraduate training) in any country at any time on or after January 1, 2015.
  • The license does not need to permit unsupervised practice.
  • A provisional or training license/registration for the purpose of participating in pregraduate clinical training does not meet the requirements for Pathway 1.

Pathway 2:

There is now an additional option for satisfying the requirements for Pathway 2. The new option is:

• Applicant attends or has graduated from a medical school in a country where the medical regulatory authority requires an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for licensure of IMGs but does not mandate that same licensure requirement for graduates of domestic medical schools.
  • Students/graduates of medical schools in Malaysia will satisfy the requirements for this new option. These schools will be added to the list of schools eligible for Pathway 2 as soon as possible.

Pathway 4:

The requirements for Pathway 4 have been expanded to include the following:

• Applicant attends or has graduated from a medical school that is accredited by an agency that has received a determination of comparability by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA).
  • Schools that are accredited by the following agencies meet the new requirements:
    • Czech Republic – National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education
    • Dominican Republic – Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology
    • Hungary – Hungarian Accreditation Committee
    • Israel – Council for Higher Education
    • Poland – Polish Accreditation Committee
    • United Kingdom – General Medical Council
  • The schools that meet the new requirements will be added to the list of schools eligible for Pathway 4 as soon as possible. If you are unsure if your school is accredited by an agency listed above, please contact your school or the accrediting agency.

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