USMLE REGISTRATION
This USMLE information section is mainly for the benefit of foreign medical graduates who are wondering what to do first to get the USMLE process started.
The first step in the process is to go to this website www.secure2.ecfmg.org/emain.asp?app=iwa and obtain an ECFMG number. Click the link at the bottom of the page that says 'establish an account'. In order to do this, you will need a working permanent email address and you will need a government issued identification such as your passport. When you enter your information make sure that your name matches exactly what is given on your passport.
You will be issued an ECFMG identification number which will be emailed to you within a week or so. Now you can go back to the ecfmg website and log in using your identification number and password. If you already have an ID and a password and they are missing, contact ECFMG Applicant Information Services at (215) 386-5900 for help.
Once you have the ECFMG identification number and password , log into the IWA part of the ECFMG website and file your 'application for ECFMG certification.' Once this is completed and processed, you are ready to file an application for the USMLE examination itself, again on the same website.
The USMLE exam application has an online part, which when completed will take you to the certification of identification form, which will need to be sealed and stamped by the authorized person at your medical school after you fill it out. This form will need to be 'directly mailed' from your medical school to the ECFMG, and not mailed by you. It is no secret that this does not really work at many overseas medical colleges, you probably will need to get that bored and unmotivated guy at your medical school office to put his signature and imperial stamp on your little form (while giving you glances loaded with 'what is in it for me?' ) and then you probably will need to run to the post office and buy stamps and run to the corner store and buy an envelope, and finally it is ready to be 'mailed directly' to the ECFMG.
Remember, you need a printer attached to your computer throughout this process :) and you need a working credit card or a US bank account.
