Stage 1:

Prepare Your Documents

A. Passport:

• Your passport name should be identical to your medical school records, if a discrepancy is present: contact your school administration or issue a new passport (issuing a passport or adjusting your name can be a timely process, so plan accordingly. If you are yet to create a passport, avoid using hyphens and spaces in a single name e.g., D Write your name as Abdelrahman, rather than Abd-elrahman or Abd Elrahman. If you already issued your passport in such a format, it would not be a vital issue, and you shouldn’t proceed with editing your documents).
• If you do not have a passport, start issuing one as soon as possible.
  

B. Payment Method:

Your Visa or Mastercard, which should have a suitable online payment limit (Application Price is 160$).

C. For Graduates Only:

Your graduation certificate, and academic transcript.

Stage 2

Create an ECFMG ID

A.

If you are applying for USMLE for the first time, you have to start by obtaining an ECFMG ID. To obtain this ID, you have to visit this website,

B.

From the home page, click on If you have never been issued a USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number and want to request one, click here, as shown in the screenshot

C.

Check the necessary boxes, and press 'next' at the bottom of the page

D.

Choose “No, I have never submitted an Application for ECFMG Certification or an application for examination to ECFMG.” Then “Next”

E.

Submit your Biographic Information:

• Last Name: Write your Last Name Only. E.g., If your name is Mohammed Hassan Khalil Omar Assem, then your last name is Assem [and make sure your name matches your passport and medical school records]
• Rest of the Name: Write Your first name(s) E.g., If your name is Mohammed Hassan Khalil Omar Assem, then your first name(s) is Mohammed Hassan Khalil Omar [and make sure your name matches your passport and medical school records]
• Leave the Generational Suffix Blank
• Choose your Official Date of Birth from the menus.
• Choose your country of birth
• Choose your Gender
• Leave Previously Issued USMLE ID and U.S. Social Security Number Boxes Blank

F.

Submit Your Current/Degree Medical School

• Choose Medical School Country and press Select
• Choose your university from the list

G.

Submit Your Contact Information

• Choose Your Country of Residence
• Write Your address
• Street Address, Line 1: Apartment Number, Building Number, Street (e.g., Apartment 12, Building 43, Maps St.)
• Address, Line 2: District, City (e.g., 5th Settlement, New Cairo)
• Address, Line 3: Governorate (e.g., Cairo)
• Type Your E-mail address and verify it. (Use an e-mail you have full access to)
• Type your telephone number (Country code + Number e.g., +20 01111111111)

H.

Check the “I certify that the information in this ECFMG On-Line Authentication Process is true and accurate and provided solely by me.” Box.

I.

Click Submit

J.

Check your e-mail (also your junk/spam tabs) regularly for two e-mails from ECFMG (one for your issued ID and the other is for your account password), which can take up to a week

K.

If you have not received your ECFMG ID within a week, use the following details to contact the ECFMG

Stage 3

Completion of authentication

A.

Once you receive your ECFMG ID, visit this website. However, choose: 

"If you have a USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number, but you are a first-time user of ECFMG On-line Services, click here to establish an account." as the image bellow

B.

Repeat the identical steps from C to I in stage 2, but this time add your issued USMLE ID, which you received in your mailbox.

C.

Then you will arrive at the page shown in the photo below. Now, wait until you receive a confirmation email from ECFMG to verify your USMLE ID. Sometimes, this process takes a few minutes. 

Stage 4

Application for ECFMG Certification

A.

​Once you check your USMLE ID, prepare your Visa/MasterCard then go to this page here and Login.

B.

Then you will encounter the page below, which is intended for changing your password, so proceed to update your password and then click on "Continue."

C.

Generate security questions that can be used for password recovery in case you forget it. Afterward, click on "Continue." 

D.

Click on Submit an Application for ECMG Certification

E.

Then Click on Begin

F.

A​fter clicking on 'Begin,' you will initiate the process of verifying your personal data. Please confirm this by selecting 'Yes' on each page.

During the verification process of your personal data, you will encounter information regarding your medical education status—whether you are a student or a graduate. Once you make your selection, two questions will appear below your choice, as shown in the image below. These questions are related to your medical school's accreditation status by ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates), so please select 'Yes' if your medical school is accredited.

For Student

For Graduate

G.

Check the necessary boxes, and press 'next' at the bottom of the page, then press 'Continue to Payment'.

H.

Pay the required amount (160$)

I.

Upon successful payment, you will be able to download the “Certification of Identification Form – Form 186”. To do this, click on the 'Certification of Identification Form (Form 186)' and then press on 'Proceed to IWA' to return to your homepage.

Stage 5

Notary Cam

A.

Prepare yourself for the Notarization meeting, make sure you have a stable internet connection, a working webcam, and your passport in hand. then open the NotaryCam website, from here

B.

Click on 'I want a new account'.

C.

Enter your personal details, as previously submitted to the ECFMG website

D.

You will receive an email in your mailbox. Click on the provided link to verify your email address, and you will be directed to the page shown in the image below. Next, click on "Set a Custom Password" to create your personalized password. After setting your password, check the "I Agree" box, and finally, click on "Continue" to proceed.

E.

​Scan your passport in color and ensure that the scanned image is saved as a JPEG file.

F.

You will come across three questions that are related to confirming your compliance with the prescribed pathway. Kindly confirm this by selecting "Yes" for each question, and subsequently proceed by clicking on the "Continue" button.

G.

Proceed to upload the PDF of 'Form 186' that you have downloaded, ensuring it remains unedited. Additionally, please provide the scanned JPEG image of your passport and enter your USMLE ID without including any dashes (-). Furthermore, please confirm your agreement to the NotaryCam Privacy settings by selecting "Yes" for the two questions provided.

H.

You are now required to initiate the Notarization meeting by clicking on 'Begin Tests' and completing the Tech Check. Once the Tech Check is completed, it's advisable to directly enter the meeting. Alternatively, you also have the option to schedule an appointment for a later time.

I.

Within 10 working days, you will receive an e-mail from ECFMG confirming that your documents have been processed.

J.

Your Notary Cam verification is valid for 5 years; however, you can renew it with ease and it will not cause any trouble for candidates who are required to revalidate. Do not delay this step.

Stage 6

Medical School Verification

A.

This step is not required before applying to a USMLE Step but is necessary before an ECFMG certificate is about to be issued (after you have taken USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and an OET)

B.

Kindly note that you should not wait more than 7 years between Step 1 and Step 2 CK

C.

Once this step is due, contact your medical school administration for verification of your medical school credentials

D.

You may not submit the credentials required for ECFMG Certification to ECFMG until you apply for an exam. If you send credentials to ECFMG before you apply for an exam, they will not be processed.