United States
ECFMG Certification — the gateway to US graduate medical education for an Indian medical graduate.
Last verified 10 September 2026
- Regulator
- ECFMG, part of Intealth — official site
- Route for an Indian MBBS graduate
- ECFMG Certification is required before entering graduate medical education in the United States. Your medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools with an ECFMG Sponsor Note stating that the school meets eligibility requirements.
- Examinations
- USMLE Step 1
- USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)
- Clinical and communication skills: complete an ECFMG Pathway, which includes a satisfactory score on the Occupational English Test Medicine — or a passing performance on the former Step 2 Clinical Skills
- English requirement
- Satisfied through the Occupational English Test Medicine within the ECFMG Pathways route.
- Credential verification
- ECFMG verifies every applicant's medical school diploma directly with the officials of the school that issued it, and may verify transcripts documenting transferred credits.
- Documents named by the regulator
- Application for ECFMG Certification
- Final medical diploma
- Official medical school transcript
- A minimum of four credit years at a World Directory school carrying an ECFMG Sponsor Note
The Pathways requirements are reissued each year and the year in the URL matters — check the booklet for the year in which you intend to apply, not the one you read first.