Should U be ECFMG certified by September 1st?

I had already posted a reply to this as a comment, but then as I got some more other forum / email queries about this, it's time to make it into a mainstream post.

While ECFMG certification by Sept. 1st is ideal, there is no need to panic if you aren't. Majority of the programs do not require IMGs to have ECFMG certification to be selected for interviews.

You will find the following ECFMG deadline types:

1. Majority programs need ECFMG certification by the time of submitting their ROL (around mid-february of the Match year), which makes sense for them to be on the safer side, otherwise if they match a candidate who does not get certified in time later would mean a empty position. Note that NRMP requires that you complete the exam requirements for certification (Step1, Step 2 CK + CS) before Rank order list submission. And this is the deadline I urge all visa-needing IMGs to keep in mind and honor (but remember - earlier the better)

2. A few need ECFMG certification by the time of their own technical "application deadline" - which is NOT Sept 1, but varies anywhere from December 1st to January 1stidualized. The rush to apply by Sept 1st is to capture early interview slots, and its only natural that first-come-first-serve will work and candidates with complete applications will get the interview calls.

3. While others simply mention that they need ECFMG certification before residency start date - disregard this one coz' NRMP requires that your Step1, Step 2 CK + CS scores are reported BEFORE the Rank order submission deadline.

Lets check out some programs and the different types of ECFMG certification deadlines:

1. Marshfield clinic IM program:
"You do not need to have an ECFMG Certificate to apply. Application Deadline is January 1st, however, as we tend to fill interview openings early I would suggest you have your application submitted by November 1st if not earlier"

2. Duke Family Medicine Prog:
"Must be ECFMG certificated no later than the start date of the program"

3. Morehouse Program:
"ECFMG Certification must be final prior to [or on] Match Day"

4. St. Elizabeth IM program:
"You will not need to have ECFMG certification when applying, but will need it to be qualified for the match."

5. Univ of Kentucky IM Prog:
"We do not have minimum USMLE score requirements, but you must be ECFMG certified by June 30 of the year you are wishing to start residency."

6. McKeesport Family Medicine:
"Must be ECFMG Certified by time of match"

7. Emory Psychiatry
"IMGs applying to our program must be ECFMG certified by the beginning of residency, so ECFMG certification requirements should be in process."

8. Rochester PM&R Residency Program:

"IMGs must have successfully completed USMLE Step 2, and must be ECFMG certified by February 1st."

There are certainly a few programs that will need you to be ECFMG certified by the time you apply, but those too do not mean September 1st.

No ! I am not saying you can slack off on taking your steps ;-) ECFMG certification has 4 components = Passing Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS & medical school diploma verification. You still need to try passing Step1, Step 2 CK and ideally Step 2 CS before you apply on Sept 1st for your application to be competitive! So what this post primary tells you is don't sweat too hard if your medical school diploma vertification is not done by the time you apply, but that you surely try to have it before Rank order List submission deadline (Around mid-feb of the Match year)

So ! Moral of this post:

1. Be on the ideal side ! If you still have the luxury of time depending on the match year you are targeting, get aggressive and get your ECFMG certification done by Sept. 1st.

2. If you cannot make it by Sept 1st, do not wait till certification to apply - many programs will still process your application. But it might be worth saving your money to call up programs in advance to find out if they will process your application based on the number of steps you have completed.