Deadline to be "ECFMG certified" before Sept 15, 2016?

[demonray]

Hi guys! Which one is correct?

• A.) You have to wait for the snail mail paper letter containing information that you are "ECFMG certified"? before submitting your applications in ERAS this Sept 15
  
  
• B.) The day that all three (Step 1, 2CS, 2CK) scores are already available and reported (assuming that you passed, and credentials such as transcripts+diploma are already verified), you are already "electronically" ECFMG certified, and can submit to ERAS programs which require ECFMG cerification.

This is related to the delayed reporting of Step 2 CK this year which states: "The target date for reporting Step 2 CK scores for most examinees testing the week of July 10 through late August will be September 14, 2016. For examinees whose circumstances require that they receive Step 2 CK scores before September 14, it is recommended that they take Step 2 CK no later than July 9, 2016.

Is it imperative to take it no later than July 9, to give allowance to the snail mail? Or, if you get your CK score on or before Sept 14 that you're already ECFMG certified (again, assuming credential verification is done, etc).

Info is for my wife. We finished MD/MBA back in 2012.

Thanks in advance for your replies! Any information / anecdotal evidence can help!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Animalcules]

Hi guys! Which one is correct?

• A.) You have to wait for the snail mail paper letter containing information that you are "ECFMG certified"? before submitting your applications in ERAS this Sept 15
  
  
• B.) The day that all three (Step 1, 2CS, 2CK) scores are already available and reported (assuming that you passed, and credentials such as transcripts+diploma are already verified), you are already "electronically" ECFMG certified, and can submit to ERAS programs which require ECFMG cerification.

This is related to the delayed reporting of Step 2 CK this year which states: "The target date for reporting Step 2 CK scores for most examinees testing the week of July 10 through late August will be September 14, 2016. For examinees whose circumstances require that they receive Step 2 CK scores before September 14, it is recommended that they take Step 2 CK no later than July 9, 2016.

Is it imperative to take it no later than July 9, to give allowance to the snail mail? Or, if you get your CK score on or before Sept 14 that you're already ECFMG certified (again, assuming credential verification is done, etc).

Info is for my wife. We finished MD/MBA back in 2012.

Thanks in advance for your replies! Any information / anecdotal evidence can help!

This is not a snail mail issue. Everything happens electronically as well.

The correct strategy is to wait for your scores (at least 1+2CK to be online), hit apply on MyERAS as close to Sept 15 as possible, and update your score report when CS is cleared.

ECFMG certification will happen after 1, CK and CS are cleared, all your med school documents are received by ECFMG. Takes 2-4 weeks. This information will be updated electronically in ERAS.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[rokshana]

actually you need to ECFMG verified, not certified....

verified is passed 1, CK and CS
certified is the above with a diploma...you won't have that til you graduate

you need to be verified by the time the ROL is due to participate in the match (you will be automatically withdrawn a week after the ROL is due if you are not

for interviews however you will ideally want to be verified by the time ERAS opens to optimize your interview potential

 

[demonray]

This is not a snail mail issue. Everything happens electronically as well.

The correct strategy is to wait for your scores (at least 1+2CK to be online), hit apply on MyERAS as close to Sept 15 as possible, and update your score report when CS is cleared.

ECFMG certification will happen after 1, CK and CS are cleared, all your med school documents are received by ECFMG. Takes 2-4 weeks. This information will be updated electronically in ERAS.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

Thanks for the quick reply Animalcules!

The Step 1 and 2CS scored will have been reported a lot earlier already. Our biggest concern is the CK reporting. We have already sent our med school documents (Diploma, Transcripts), a couple of months ago, and I believe they are just about to finish "verification". We've also already initiated MSPE process two weeks ago I believe like what rokshana mentioned above, that we will be immediately verified "electronically" / "online" once all three exams (1, 2CS, 2CK) are reported in the ECFMG (OASIS). Will we have to wait 2-4 weeks for ECFMG certification (not verification) if all our med school documents have been uploaded a long time ago? 🙂

Again, thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

[demonray]

actually you need to ECFMG verified, not certified....

verified is passed 1, CK and CS
certified is the above with a diploma...you won't have that til you graduate

you need to be verified by the time the ROL is due to participate in the match (you will be automatically withdrawn a week after the ROL is due if you are not

for interviews however you will ideally want to be verified by the time ERAS opens to optimize your interview potential

Thank you for the reply rokshana!

Thanks for clarifying ECFMG verified vs. certified. I believe this is very helpful because the information that is going around is that we should be "certified", not "verified". Although we are US IMG who finished medical school back 4 years ago, our diploma and transcripts have been available and have been sent to them a couple of months ago. That being said, all we will be waiting for are the scores.

1 and CS scores will definitely be available and reported by July, 2016. What is concerning is the timing of CK. If the CK score is reported electronically on or before September 14 (1 day before the opening of applications in ERAS), will we be instantly "verified / certified"? We are going for the optimized interview potential on Sept 15th. We're figuring out when to take Step2CK at the latest. According to the CK reporting announcement, even if we take it August, they are insuring or targeting "on or before Sept 14". I was wondering if we're still safe if they report the score on Sept 14, and will be "verified/certified" on the day itself.

Thank you for your time and patience with our question! 🙂

 

[gutonc]

In your case, verified and certified are synonymous. For IMGs who are M4 however, there is a difference.

 

[Animalcules]

Thank you for the reply rokshana!

Thanks for clarifying ECFMG verified vs. certified. I believe this is very helpful because the information that is going around is that we should be "certified", not "verified". Although we are US IMG who finished medical school back 4 years ago, our diploma and transcripts have been available and have been sent to them a couple of months ago. That being said, all we will be waiting for are the scores.

1 and CS scores will definitely be available and reported by July, 2016. What is concerning is the timing of CK. If the CK score is reported electronically on or before September 14 (1 day before the opening of applications in ERAS), will we be instantly "verified / certified"? We are going for the optimized interview potential on Sept 15th. We're figuring out when to take Step2CK at the latest. According to the CK reporting announcement, even if we take it August, they are insuring or targeting "on or before Sept 14". I was wondering if we're still safe if they report the score on Sept 14, and will be "verified/certified" on the day itself.

Thank you for your time and patience with our question! 🙂

If September 14 is the targeted report date, this is usually spot on. You will have all your scores before ERAS opens. Just hit apply and assign your score report to the programs. No need to wait for anything.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Childs88]

I am also petrified by this. I am graduating this year in May as an non-US IMG from an Irish Medical School and I will have my medical school credentials verified before the deadline. I also have my Step 1 and CS done. I intend to write my CK in late July. If I get my score in Sept 14, I realize that I will have all my scores before the deadline, but alot of IM and FM programs say that they require a ECFMG certificate before applying. Is there some automatic update on the ECFMG status report once my CK comes out that I am certified? I know we have to wait at least 2 weeks for the paper copy to be sent to my house, but do you recommend applying with all my scores present without a certificate? Or should I wait until I receive the copy? I apologize if this question has been done to death, but I really do need some advice for this. I just keep hearing different things.

 

[Animalcules]

I am also petrified by this. I am graduating this year in May as an non-US IMG from an Irish Medical School and I will have my medical school credentials verified before the deadline. I also have my Step 1 and CS done. I intend to write my CK in late July. If I get my score in Sept 14, I realize that I will have all my scores before the deadline, but alot of IM and FM programs say that they require a ECFMG certificate before applying. Is there some automatic update on the ECFMG status report once my CK comes out that I am certified? I know we have to wait at least 2 weeks for the paper copy to be sent to my house, but do you recommend applying with all my scores present without a certificate? Or should I wait until I receive the copy? I apologize if this question has been done to death, but I really do need some advice for this. I just keep hearing different things.

Apply with all your scores on September 15. Once you are certified by Ecfmg, this will be updated in your ERAS app. Programs can see these changes, but you can also email them directly to update them, if you can't sleep.

Very few programs require certification before granting interviews, you may miss out on these few, but honestly you will be certified before most invites are sent out anyway, so don't worry too much.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app