Do IMGs need to take the TOEFL for Residency ?

No ! They Don't :-)

Since the June of 2004 - the TOEFL [Test Of English as a Foreign Language] is no longer needed for IMGs entering Residency Programs. This is because, June 2004 was the month when the old ' ECFMG CSA format' was replaced by the new 'USMLE Step 2 CS'. The Step 2 CS grading format includes the SEP [Spoken English Proficiency] component besides the CIS and the ICE Components. [If these terms are making you scratch your head - Read about ICE, SEP and CIS components of CS here before you lose it completely ]

Hmmmm...This is one area where I must applaud the USMLE-NBME-ECFMG axis ! Specifically, this is what the ECFMG site says on this issue:

"From June 2004, the TOEFL exam will no longer be a requirement for ECFMG Certification. Additionally, when Step 2 CS is implemented, applicants who have passed an English test will no longer be required to revalidate expired English test dates in order to enter GME"

But note that TOEFL will still be required for Admission in Masters / PhD programs in the USA. Thus TOEFL is needed for IMGs planning the GRE route to Residency. IMGs cannot use their Step 2 CS passing scores as a TOEFL-waiver for graduate programs.


Having said that - For those with a decent grammatical command over spoken English, studying for TOEFL will not take more than a week - for others, maybe its a good idea to take 3-4 weeks and do a lot of self-assessing tests (will not be boring, coz' it's such a fun and low-tension exam !).


Hmmmm...contemplating a bit ....It is interesting to note that scores for while TOEFL scores are valid only for 2 years, GRE scores are valid only for 5 years while USMLE Scores are valid for 7 years - what does that tell us ? To me it sounds like the authorities believe our knowledge of English becomes untrustworthy after 2 years, that of logical reasoning cannot be trusted after 5 years while Medical knowledge can be trusted for like 7 long years without a residency. When I think about it, I go like - I am more likely to have good English and reasoning skills persistent for like ALL my life, while the USMLE test stuff seems unbelievable volatile...lol - or well, maybe that's just me.




- Official Guide to the New TOEFL IBT