Create ECFMG

account

can take 5-7 days

ECFMG certification
($160*)

Form 186

Upload to
NotaryCam

Notarization
(passport + webcam)

can take 15-20 days

Choose triad for Step exam

exam date application ($1195*)

Receive permit
after university can take 15-20 days
approval

Schedule exam

*Applicable for 1 July 2023

Prices are exclusive of any bank fees and government taxes.
These charges may be subjective to your country's state/federal laws.
We strongly recommend that you visit your local bank for any financial advice.

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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ECFMG ID & Certification
4 Form 186

5 Notarization

Version 2: 1s1 July 2023

6 NotaryCam

7 Exam application

8 Application instructions

9 Scheduling permit

10 Scheduling your exam

11 References & Hotline

Note: check if your medical school is registered at ECFMG by visiting

https://search.wdoms.org/
 4
ECFMG ID:
You will need to get your Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
Graduates (ECFMG) identification number.
Visit "ecfmg.org" → click on "On-line Services" → "For Physicians" →
"Interactive Web Applications (IWA)" → sign up for an account → submit a
request for an ECFMG ID number & password.
Click on the following hyperlink to access the interactive web application:
ECFMG interactive web application¹
Note: in the "Your Current/Degree Medical School" section, ensure that you click the "Select" button after choosing your
medical school country. Only then will the list of relevant medical schools show up in the "Medical School" box.

ECFMG certification instructions (USD alert: -$160*):

The form consists of 6 items:
Name of applicant
Date of birth
Gender
Email address
Medical education status
Certification by applicant
Do review these before submitting. A prompt appears if changes are needed.
This is the point where your first ECFMG payment of $160* will be made.
If you have any confusion regarding the addition of any details, you can
access the following:
Application for ECFMG certification instructions²

Certification of identification form (Form 186):

Upon submission of payment and subsequent retrieval of ECFMG certification,
a "Certificate Of Identification Form" (Form 186) will be provided.
The following link gives a detailed overview of the process:
Application overview³
The PDF form has to be downloaded and notarized via NotaryCam.com⁴.
Important points to remember:
Allow approximately 15 minutes to answer all items in the online part of your
application for ECFMG Certification.
You must answer all items and submit the application in one go.
You cannot save your answers and return to your application later.

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 5
Notarization of Certification of Identification Form (Form 186)
Materials required to go through this step:
The PDF file of Form 186 provided to you by ECFMG.
A scanned, color image of the first two pages of your valid passport.
A computer with a webcam.

Instructions:
You are required to upload the PDF file of Form 186 that ECFMG provided to
you after submission of ECFMG certification.
Form 186 has to be completed online during the NotaryCam session.
It has to be submitted within one year of the date it was created.

Passport submission specifics:

Your passport will be used for your identification and verification.
Upload a colored scan of your valid (unexpired) passport.
Scan the page that has your name and photograph.
The size should be that of the actual passport page.
Store the file in JPEG format.
The file size should be less than 2 MB.

Process:
Your name, gender, and date of birth that were submitted as part of the
application for ECFMG certification should match the details on your passport.
Upload Form 186 from the ECFMG website.
Once you submit the form, you will receive an email from NotaryCam saying
that they will verify your document.
Soon after verification, you shall receive another email saying that you can
now proceed with your notarization session with an online notary. They will
also send you a link to the online chatroom in the email.

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 6
Book a date for your online session:
NotaryCam will send you an email with a Calendly link that allows you to book
the NotaryCam appointment.
Pick a date that you find most convenient. However, it is advisable that you
select the earliest possible day as the entirety of the ECFMG registration
process is long and there tend to be some delays.
Along with the date, you may also select the timing. This is especially useful if
you have any classes, clinics, or even scheduled blackouts to work around.
Note that as you are about to book a date for notarization via the Calendly
link, it is quite likely that NotaryCam will conduct the session right there and
then. Therefore, ensure that you are already prepared for a possible session
whilst opening the Calendly link.

The online session - NotaryCam:

Make sure you have dressed appropriately.
Your passport should be with you.
You will be taken to an online chatroom with your document already uploaded.
NotaryCam will be asking for the following few details:
Confirm your personal details
Show your passport on the laptop screen for verification
Place a digital signature on the already uploaded Form 186
Take an oath to confirm that all the details submitted are accurate to your
knowledge.
Once the document has been notarized and submitted to the ECFMG, you will
be given verbal confirmation and will be asked to exit the chatroom.

ECFMG verification:
This may take a few days (15-20).
The ECFMG will notify you once your Form 186 has been accepted.
You will not need any details from your college administration.
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 7
The exam application (USD alert: -$1195*):
This will be your online application for the USMLE Step 1.
It consists of a total of 23 items.
The application has to be completed within 14 days of starting or else it will
have to be refilled all over again.
Select your desired exam, which in this case, would be Step 1 (USD alert:
-$1000*)
Fees Overview⁵
Select eligibility period (three-month eligibility period) - during which you will
take the exam. The following demonstrates some examples of triads:
January, February, March
February, March, April
April, May, June
Select your testing region:
a. You must choose a testing region. There will be an international test
delivery surcharge for regions outside the United States and Canada (USD
alert: -$195*).
b. You cannot choose a particular testing center within this region until you
have scheduled your testing appointment.
c. You have to take the exam in this testing region.
Testing regions⁶
Confirm whether you have a documented disability (defined by the Americans
with Disabilities Act) or not.
Americans with disabilities act⁷
Confirm your name again - the current name on this item will be displayed as
per the ECFMG’s preexisting record. Ensure that your name matches that of
your passport. If there is any discrepancy, then follow the relevant steps to
get it changed before you submit the application.

USMLE application instructions⁸

Payment:
$1000* + $195* (international testing center fees) = $1195*
*This fee does not include taxes and international transaction charges.
Applicable for 1st July 2023

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Note:
8
If the name on your medical diploma is not exactly as it appears on your valid
passport, you must submit legal documentation that verifies that the name on
your diploma is or was your true name. Do not change the name in your
ECFMG record to match the name on your diploma if the name on your
diploma does not match that of your current, unexpired passport.
Provide contact details - for correspondence with the ECFMG.
Date and place of birth - if this is not your correct date of birth, you must
change it on your ECFMG record such that it reflects your true date of birth.
Before proceeding, follow the given instructions to get it changed.
Gender - if this is not your correct gender, you must change the gender on
your ECFMG record. Before proceeding, follow the given instructions to get it
changed.

Native language (optional)

Other languages spoken (optional)
Citizenship - (if you are a green card holder/permanent resident)
Current passport
Ethnicity
Present employment (if applicable)
Postgraduate medical training (if applicable)
Medical education status:
You can either be a medical student still currently studying in a medical
school or be a medical school graduate.
If you have been dismissed or have withdrawn from your medical school -
you are NOT eligible to apply.
If you take a leave of absence from medical school, you should consult
with your administration about whether you are officially enrolled in a
medical school during your leave.

Changing your triad

If you have chosen your triad and have already paid 1195$* fee but the
application is still under approval (can take 2-3 weeks), you can still choose to
change your triad.
To do so, while the application is still under approval, go to "Start a new Step
1/step 2 CK application" and agree to the terms and conditions.

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 A prompt will then appear stating "You already have a USMLE Step 1
9
application in process. To continue, you need to override your existing
application or cancel it"
Select ‘Override’. Your application will then be withdrawn within 24 hours and
your $1195* will be refunded immediately to your ECFMG account. You can
then use this money to submit a new exam application.
Once the override is successful, you will receive a confirmation email, after
which you can proceed with your new Step 1 application.
Note that if your application is already approved, you cannot override it.

For graduates:
Submit a medical diploma that confirms you completed all requirements and
have graduated.
Make sure the name on your diploma matches the one on your ECFMG record.
If it does not, then you must submit documentation that proves the name on
your diploma was indeed YOUR name.

For currently enrolled students:

If your medical school participates in ECFMG Medical School Web Portal
(EMSWP), ECFMG will then request documents from your medical school.
Once you have paid the $1195* fee, follow up with your university student
affairs department and contact the focal person for ECFMG-related queries.
Depending on the medical school, you could either be asked to confirm your
step 1 status or be requested to submit transcripts to the concerned official at
your medical college. Either way, it is best to remain informed on the status of
your application process.

Note: the ECFMG can take an average of 14 business days (excluding

Saturdays and Sundays) to process this step, however, it can take longer (up
to 21 business days) during peak registration season.

Once your university receives the request, they will approve your application
after which you will receive an email from the ECFMG, notifying you of this
approval. Afterward, within 1 - 2 weeks, you will receive another email from
the ECFMG containing your scheduling permit and scheduling number that
you can use to book your exam

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 10
ECFMG scheduling permit:

Save multiple copies of your permit. This can include a PDF version on your
phone and multiple hard copies for good measure. Some have even gotten
their permit laminated as an extra precaution.

Scheduling your exam:

Once your scheduling permit has arrived, you can proceed with scheduling
your exam date through the ProScheduler website:
Schedule exam appointment⁹

Choose your exam sponsor (National Board of Medical Examiners), your

program (STEP1), read the given instructions, read through the Policy Notice
and give consent, and on the next page, fill the given fields with your
Scheduling number and the first 4 characters of your last name.
You are allowed to schedule your exam within the triad of the eligibility period
(e.g., October, November, and December) you had previously selected during
the exam application.

Important points to remember:

Your first scheduling will be free.
You can reschedule your exam for free once, more than 45 days prior to the
exam date.
Rescheduling the exam more than once or doing so less than 45 days prior to
the exam date will cost a fee. For fee details, click on the following hyperlink:

Rescheduling pricing¹⁰

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 Examination centers and their locations:
11
Prometric Testing BRR Tower, I.I Chundrigar Rd, City Railway Colony,
Center, Karachi Karachi, Karachi City, Sindh, Pakistan

Prometric Testing House 5 Street 17, F-6/2 F 6/2 F-6, Islamabad,

Center, Islamabad Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan

Prometric Testing House # 19, F.C. College, Feroz Purr Road، Gulberg III,
Center, Lahore Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

References
¹ https://secure2.ecfmg.org/emain.asp?app=iwa
² https://iwa2.ecfmg.org/appforcert/onlinedocs/afcinstructions.aspx
³ https://iwa2.ecfmg.org/appforcert/onlinedocs/afcoverview.aspx
⁴ https://www.notarycam.com/ecfmg/
⁵ https://www.ecfmg.org/fees/index.html
⁶ https://www.ecfmg.org/fees/usmle-surcharge.html
⁷ https://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm
⁸ https://iwa2.ecfmg.org/instruct.asp
⁹ https://proscheduler.prometric.com/scheduling/scheduleappointment
¹⁰ https://www.usmle.org/reschedule-exam

Hotline
Asad Ali asad@medangle.com
Umer Hayat umer@medangle.com
Syed Saad Ali saad@medangle.com
Manahil Akmal manahil@medangle.com
Shahzeb Ali Memon shahzeb@medangle.com
Muhammad Abdullah abdullah@medangle.com

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