If you are a medical student or a Vietnamese doctor who wants to become a doctor in the US, you need an ECFMG Certification.
SO WHAT IS ECFMG CERTIFICATION?
ECFMG Certification is a mandatory certificate for any international doctor who wants to become a doctor in the US. United States.
The purpose of this certificate is to demonstrate to residency training programs in the United States that you are capable of continuing your training in their programs, to become a full-fledged physician in the United States.
1. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO GET ECFMG CERTIFICATION?
Step 1: Check validity
For international students (like in Vietnam), you need a diploma from a medical school accredited by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Programs (ECFMG).
Detailed video instructions on how to check if the medical school you attend is recognized by the US or not. You can watch it here.
Step 2: Start profile
Once you are sure that you are qualified to register for this certificate, you can start registering immediately. You can do this step right from Y1 without waiting.
So after registering, do you need to take Step 1 right away?
This is the worry of many people when I guide them to register. And fortunately, you can register right away but only take Step 1 when you are ready, without any specific deadline.
How to start applying for ECFMG Certification APPLICATION:
This application includes (1) registering for ECFMG ID online + (2) completing form 186 with notarization.
I have a detailed article about this step, you can refer to here.
Step 3: Demonstrate theoretical and clinical knowledge
To pass this step, you need to complete the STEP 1 and STEP 2 CK (clinical knowledge) exams.
To take the STEP 1 exam, you need to at least complete the basic training program at medical school because most of the knowledge asked in this exam is basic medical knowledge. facility.
To take the STEP 2 CK exam, you should complete the clinical internship at medical school to get the best results, because this exam requires more application of medical knowledge to clinical examination and treatment.
Step 4: Demonstrate clinical and medical communication skills
In this step, you first need to pass the OET exam, which proves your patient communication skills in English. Compared to Step 1 and Step 2 CK, this exam is much lighter, so you can register for the exam in the stage after passing the above 2 exams.
Next, you need certification from 1 of 6 ECFMG pathways.
The 6 pathways may sound a bit confusing at first, but there are only 2 pathways for Vietnamese doctors:
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- Vietnamese doctors have a practicing certificate in Vietnam and have never failed Step 2 CS exam once You will follow pathway 1
- If you have just graduated and do not have a practicing certificate in Vietnam or have taken Step 2 CS but were not successful, you will follow pathway 6.
This path will require certification from 3 American doctors on your communication skills with patients and clinical skills for 6 cases (maximum 2 cases per doctor).
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This assessment is graded according to the following standards: History taking, examination skills, communication ability, professional behavior, and ability to reason and evaluate. your clinical situation.
Once you have completed all 4 steps, you only need to gather the necessary documents and papers to upload to ECFMG’s system and within about 5 days you will receive this certificate. You can now apply to residency programs in the US.
2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET ECFMG CERTIFICATION?
Document preparation time will vary greatly depending on each individual. It can take 2-3 years or more depending on how quickly you review the STEP exams and prepare the components of your application.
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According to ECFMG requirements, you have a MAXIMUM of 7 years to complete the steps. The time is calculated from the date you take STEP 1 and exactly 7 years later.
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So the question is: For medical students, what is the right time to start preparing for the US residency application?
The answer is: You should prepare as soon as possible, especially while ECFMG’s new recognition policy is not yet complete.
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In the next article, I will share things that you can prepare for your journey to become a doctor in the US, if you are interested, please Comment “interested” so I can continue writing.
3. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET AN ECFMG CERTIFICATION?
In addition to expenses for travel, books, review materials, service fees for exams, and other incidental expenses, you need to pay $925 service fee to apply for one of the two pathways above.
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Do you still have any questions or concerns about ECFMG Certification? Please comment and let me know.
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If you are a Vietnamese doctor with the dream of becoming a doctor in the US but don’t know where to start and want guidance, please refer to our program here.
Comment “yes” if the article is useful to you.
Wish you a happy new day.
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Dr. Christina Nguyen
Phoenix Medical Academy
