Demystifying the California Letter - PTAL

[AaryaStark]

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Hey folks,

I am an IMG working as a researcher in San Francisco and would like to focus on applying for residency programs in Cali. I am quite confused about the PTAL application process and its timeline. Do I need to be ECFMG certified (which needs Step 1, 2CK and 2CS pass) to apply for PTAL? Official website mentions 60-90 days but I have heard horror stories! Also, by when do I need it - before sep 7th, before interviews, before the ranking list or before Match day?

Thanks!

 

[Animalcules]

You won't get interviews without it.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hey folks,

I am an IMG working as a researcher in San Francisco and would like to focus on applying for residency programs in Cali. I am quite confused about the PTAL application process and its timeline. Do I need to be ECFMG certified (which needs Step 1, 2CK and 2CS pass) to apply for PTAL? Official website mentions 60-90 days but I have heard horror stories! Also, by when do I need it - before sep 7th, before interviews, before the ranking list or before Match day?

Thanks!

http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Forms/Applicants/application_ptal.pdf Clear discussion of what's required.

As noted above, you won't get interviews without it.

 

[GoSpursGo]

So to be clear, you need the PTAL letter in hand before you submit your application, or very shortly thereafter.

 

[Raryn]

And in fact you must be ECFMG verified (with step 1, CK, and CS passed) to have a decent chance of an interview in any state, so if that is your holdup, it's a bigger problem than just California.

 

[AaryaStark]

And in fact you must be ECFMG verified (with step 1, CK, and CS passed) to have a decent chance of an interview in any state, so if that is your holdup, it's a bigger problem than just California.

Thank you all! I took step 2CS in May, will be taking Step 1 in June and Step 2CK in August. Do you think that will give enough time to get ECFMG before the application deadline? Definitely, sounds like I have to kiss Cali programs goodbye if want to apply this year!

 

[Animalcules]

Thank you all! I took step 2CS in May, will be taking Step 1 in June and Step 2CK in August. Do you think that will give enough time to get ECFMG before the application deadline? Definitely, sounds like I have to kiss Cali programs goodbye if want to apply this year!

I doubt it’ll work out. Depends on how long it takes to get the letter. I think it can take some time even if you were ECFMG certified in time. Common problem.

 

[Raryn]

Thank you all! I took step 2CS in May, will be taking Step 1 in June and Step 2CK in August. Do you think that will give enough time to get ECFMG before the application deadline? Definitely, sounds like I have to kiss Cali programs goodbye if want to apply this year!

I have no personal experience with the ECFMG but as I understand it the certification is fairly quick. Probably depends on when in august you're taking CK, but you'll likely be OK with getting interviews outside CA - having the passed scores is typically sufficient. (That is, you want all CK back before Sept 15, so as long as you're taking it by August 22 or so, you're probably fine)

 

[splik]

it takes about a week to get your ECFMG certificate once you have met all the requirements.

 

[EC168]

For the ECFMG certificate-it will take 3-4 wks to be mailed to you after they receive all Medical school diploma and your Step 1, 2CK and 2CS are released.

For the PTAL you could still apply after paying the fee and filling out the L1 form and L6 forms from your clinical rotation sites w/o the ECFMG certificate, and it may take at least 4 wks to send you the temporary PTAL letter , which you could upload to ERAS as a prove for having the PTAL in process.

But the PTAL will not be certified after the california medical board receive all the forms (L1 to L6), step 1, 2ck and cs score transcript from the FSMB, and the ECFMG certificate hard copy, which needs to be mailed from the ECFMG office.

Some california programs may required both ECFMG and PTAL to be certified before applying at ERAS, some will still offer you interview as long as your have the temporary PTAL letter and on your way to complete ECFMG certification, some programs will require you to have both PTAL and ECFMG certification before the deadline of the list ranking in February, and some will need you to have the PTAL and ECFMG certificate before the starting of residency in June/July and still will rank you on the list.

Good Luck!!!

 

[Raryn]

For the ECFMG certificate-it will take 3-4 wks to be mailed to you after they receive all Medical school diploma and your Step 1, 2CK and 2CS are released.

For the PTAL you could still apply after paying the fee and filling out the L1 form and L6 forms from your clinical rotation sites w/o the ECFMG certificate, and it may take at least 4 wks to send you the temporary PTAL letter , which you could upload to ERAS as a prove for having the PTAL in process.

But the PTAL will not be certified after the california medical board receive all the forms (L1 to L6), step 1, 2ck and cs score transcript from the FSMB, and the ECFMG certificate hard copy, which needs to be mailed from the ECFMG office.

Some california programs may required both ECFMG and PTAL to be certified before applying at ERAS, some will still offer you interview as long as your have the temporary PTAL letter and on your way to complete ECFMG certification, some programs will require you to have both PTAL and ECFMG certification before the deadline of the list ranking in February, and some will need you to have the PTAL and ECFMG certificate before the starting of residency in June/July and still will rank you on the list.

Good Luck!!!

Note, you don't need the ECFMG certificate to match, just to start. You need ECFMG *verification* to interview/match, which just means passing the first 3 tests.

 

[Animalcules]

Note, you don't need the ECFMG certificate to match, just to start. You need ECFMG *verification* to interview/match, which just means passing the first 3 tests.

This is true for most, but not all programs. Some programs will not grant you an interview unless you are ECFMG certified.

 

[Orientalsore]

Are you sure that ecfmg certification is not required for starting the process for ptal?
On the breeze application for California medical board it says that I’m not allowed to proceed unless ecfmg certified

 

[Animalcules]

Are you sure that ecfmg certification is not required for starting the process for ptal?
On the breeze application for California medical board it says that I’m not allowed to proceed unless ecfmg certified

You need to be certified

 

[EC168]

Are you sure that ecfmg certification is not required for starting the process for ptal?
On the breeze application for California medical board it says that I’m not allowed to proceed unless ecfmg certified

Hi Orientalsore,

you dont need ecfmg certificate to start your ptal application process..once they cash your check they will send your an email regarding your application of ptal is in process or incomplete and you will need which other documents to send to the california medical board in order to complete your profile and be PTAL certified... That initial email you receive from your analyst will be your PTAL verification letter for you to upload to ERAS to prove that you already started the PTAL application process and on your way to complete it and get certified... You are always update the program coordinator regarding your PTAL status since different program has different requirement regarding PTAL status in terms of interview invitation...

Once you are ecfmg certified, which only happens after you graduate from medical school and the ECFMG receives the your diploma from your school, then you need to pay ECFMG to mail your ECFMG certificate to CMB to complete your PTAL profile and get your PTAL certified...

Good luck !!!!

 

[CrvSH]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me roughly how long it took from the PTAL Board receiving their PTAL application and when your check was cashed by PTAL? Sent application last week, it was received on Monday, and they still haven't cashed the check. Just hoping there aren't any holdups with my application.