USMLE Exams And Ecfmg Certification

USMLE stands for United States Medical Licensing Exams, and is divided into 3 Steps which test different stages of medical education and training.

Step 1 tests the basic sciences and their clinical correlation, which is equivalent to the first 3 years of medical school.

Step 2 is divided into 2 parts : CK ( Clinical Knowledge ) and CS ( Clinical Skills).

Step 2 CK tests the clinical sciences and the guidelines set for the management of the different medical disorders . It also tests the correlation of these clinical sciences with the basics sciences , although less extensive than in step 1.

If you pass a USMLE exam you cannot re-take it. So you cannot improve a low score. To re-take an exam you have to either fail that exam or 7 years should pass since the date of your exam.

The Step 2CS exam is different from CK and tests the clinical skills , the interpersonal and communication skills as well as the spoken English of candidates. The CS exam has standardized patients (actors) who act out the condition instead of real patients. Step 1 and Step 2 CK can both be taken in Egypt, while Step 2 CS has to be taken in one of 5 cities in the US.

What does ECFMG stand for?
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate

What does it do?
This is the American Commission that assesses the readiness of Graduates of Medical School outside U.S and Canada to enter US residency and Fellowships

What is its website?
www.ecfmg.org

Why would you want to be Certified ?
ECFMG certification is needed for any patient contact in the US, which is needed for training in any residency or fellowship. Research, observerships, externships and Degrees like MPH do not require ECFMG certification. ECFMG certification is like " ro7'set mozawlet el mehna" in Egypt which allows you to start to practice medicine. However in the US you can't just go and work anywhere without doing a residency and or fellowship, you have to be trained after medical school first.

What is the ECFMG certificate?
This is the certificate granted to you by the ECFMG after which you are eligible to enter a U.S medical residency or fellowship. You can’t start your residency or fellowship without the ECFMG certificate

What do I do to become ECFMG certified?
1. The very first step you need to make sure of, is that you are a graduate of an eligible medical school. You cannot proceed to take any USMLE exams without being recognized by the ECFMG as a medical graduate of one of the eligible medical schools listed in IMED (International medical education directory). Here is the link to the list of eligible Schools https://imed.faimer.org/ you will find Egypt under Africa not middle east

2. Now that you made sure your medical school is eligible, start preparing and studying for your USMLE exams. There are 3 USMLE steps but you need only 2 to become ECFMG certified. Those are STEP 1 USMLE, STEP 2 CK and STEP 2 CS. So in reality you will sit 3 exams not 2, however those consume 2 steps of the whole 3 steps of the USMLE exam.

3. You can take step 1 and 2 in any random order, however you will only receive the Certificate after you successfully pass the 2 steps.

4. The ECFMG certificate is not the American Board, it is the certificate that allows you to get into an American medical residency. The American Board is the Certificate you take after you successfully finish your residency training in the United States then sit for the Board exam.

How long does it take to be Certified ?
The time needed to finish the USMLE exams differs from candidate to the other, but usually ranges from 1 to 2 years. The ECFMG certification has to be completed within 7 years, which means that the time difference between 2 exams should not exceed 7 years.

See question 6 for explanation

Step 3 is the final step that tests the ability to practice unsupervised medicine and take management decisions in a logical and accepted manner according to the set guidelines. It is a computer exam and uses MCQs and Computer-based Case Simulations, and must be taken in the US.