Further incompetence on Step II CS

[retroviridae]

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So an update about the step II CS score reporting fiasco has appeared on the USMLE website....

What if I received a passing Step 2 CS score report dated January 12 through March 30?

Our review of the data currently suggests that a dozen or fewer examinees who originally received passing scores will be affected. On May 25, we sent express mail deliveries to ten examinees, notifying them that we could not verify their performance on the Patient Note component of ICE. It will be necessary for them to validate the previously reported passing result by retaking Step 2 CS before December 1, 2005. We will complete the review by June 15 of the small number of additional candidates whose passing classification could conceivably change to “result pending

so botton line is 40 people who were told they failed actually passed, and at least 10 who were told they passed actually failed. How much money did I spend on this abomination again???

 

[coconut lime]

what happended to the rumors that they were going to cancel the piece of **** step II cs???

 

[MD'05]

How does one go about filing a class-action lawsuit?

I am expecting to get an express mail any day now.

 

[retroviridae]

How does one go about filing a class-action lawsuit?

I am expecting to get an express mail any day now.

I was thinking that if they mailed it on the 25th, it should have been here yesterday... so I must not be one of the ones they mailed ... right?

Dreading opening my mailbox today ... even though the odds of being one of those 10 are almost nill. Of course, they won't complete the review of those who passed until June 15th. I can see myself showing up for the first day of internship and being pulled aside ... oh by the way, we just heard from the USMLE .....

 

[MD'05]

I was thinking that if they mailed it on the 25th, it should have been here yesterday... so I must not be one of the ones they mailed ... right?

Dreading opening my mailbox today ... even though the odds of being one of those 10 are almost nill. Of course, they won't complete the review of those who passed until June 15th. I can see myself showing up for the first day of internship and being pulled aside ... oh by the way, we just heard from the USMLE .....

The worst part is that the NBME used us as experimental subjects to perfect the logistics of the exam. We should have been able to take the exam for free.

 

[la gringa]

how on earth could they not verify the patient note? did they lose them?

amen MD05... and those folks should NOT be required to retake the exam, that's just ludicrous.

 

[Obedeli]

You know, every student and I mean every student I have met hates that thing, including me. Does anyone actually welcome this test? At my school, speaking bad about it is looked down upon SERIOUSLY by the faculty. They get very testy when they hear of an upperclassman deriding the exam to another student. It is really like "us" vs "them." Is it like this at other schools.

 

[Smurfette]

You know, every student and I mean every student I have met hates that thing, including me. Does anyone actually welcome this test? At my school, speaking bad about it is looked down upon SERIOUSLY by the faculty. They get very testy when they here of an upperclassman deriding the exam to another student. It is really like "us" vs "them." Is it like this at other schools.

No...my school administration also think it is a ridiculous test and while I think they are sick of hearing us whine about it, they totally and freely tell underclassmen our opinions on it (i.e. waste of money and time).

 

[kas23]

You know, every student and I mean every student I have met hates that thing, including me. Does anyone actually welcome this test? At my school, speaking bad about it is looked down upon SERIOUSLY by the faculty. They get very testy when they here of an upperclassman deriding the exam to another student. It is really like "us" vs "them." Is it like this at other schools.

My school's admin also hates it with a passion. They encourage and embrace the bad mouthing. They do this because they already have their own CS test established that we are required to take. And who is the NBME to say that it is not good enough. In fact, my school's test was a lot harder than the Step 2 CS - we had to come up with a treatment plan.

 

[Pingu]

how on earth could they not verify the patient note? did they lose them?

That is total BS. If something happened to the patient note, then it obviously occurred after it was out of the hands of the test taker. They should not have to retake the exam, as it states above they will have to. If I got a notice saying that they could not validate a portion of my exam, there better be a darn good explanation of why.

 

[Annoyances]

Mine thinks this exam is total BS too. They feel like the clinical skills exams we take should be enough.

 

[WilcoWorld]

I don't think that the exam is total BS. It seems reasonable that the USMLE would want to ensure that licensed physicians have a baseline level of competence in patient encounters and physical exam maneuvers. However, if ensuring this is a part of a medical school's accreditation, then its grads shouldn't have to take this exam as well. I'm guessing that most of you meant this, but I feel it warrants explicit mention.

"who is the NBME to say that it is not good enough?"

Ummm, they're the National Board of Medical Examiners. I guess if they feel our med-schools are remiss in this task they should step in, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. From what I heard, US grads were now being made to take CS, because it was considered unfair that FMG's had to take it while we didn't. That is total BS in my opinion.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Well...many med schools (if not all) probably have some sort of clinical skills exam for the med students who are in the clinical clerkship phase of their education. The NBME thus has two choices:

(1) Certify that the school's exam sufficiently tests clinical, communication, and patient note skills.
(2) Make everyone take an additional NBME administered exam and make $1000 per student.

Many clinical skills exams at many schools are in fact much more difficult than the Step 2 CS. It seems that Step 2 CS tests the bare minimum competency level for med students. I think this is absurd. And students, in addition to taking their own schools' clinical skills exams, are now finding themselves having to spend an extra $1000+ to take a watered-down version of the clinical skills exam (aka Step 2 CS).

Sure, some med schools will have sucky clinical skills exams which pale in comparison to the Step 2 CS. Fine, then make those med students take the Step 2 CS (which is totally unfair)...or (hey check out this brilliant plan!) force those med schools to redesign their clinical skills exams so that it DOES measure up to NBME standards. It's not hard. Med schools charge students up the wazoo in tuition costs. I'm sure they can spend the extra time and money to redesign their clinical skills exams and standardized patient programs.

NBME seems to think that they must standardize things by making all med students take certain exams. That's fine. But the Step 1, Step 2, and for god's sake step 2 CS are NOT standardized. For crying out loud, the Step 1 and Step 2 became so much LESS standardized ever since they were administered on computer in 1997. If the exams were rigorously standardized, all the med students would take the very exact exam at the exact time. The exact same yardstick would be used to evaluate the skills of each and every med student and this would be fair. So the NBME cannot use "standardization" to explain for their actions in making all med students take this stupid Step 2 BS exam.

 

[MD'05]

From what I heard, US grads were now being made to take CS, because it was considered unfair that FMG's had to take it while we didn't. That is total BS in my opinion.

IMHO, this is what it boils down to. FMG's whining that American grads don't have to take the CSA / OSCE / Step II BS. If medical education was standardized in all countries -- ensuring clinical competence and communication skills -- FMGs would not need to be evaluated. However, although many FMGs are excellent, there are some that need further training, fine-tuning, and education in cultural competence. I don't see why American grads have to take this test when our homegrown OSCE is much more rigorous and our medical education is for the most part standardized.

Plus this entire fiasco with some people passing then having to retake the exam is criminal.

OK I will stop complaining since I did not receive the express mail to retake the exam. I must have really passed.

 

[JudoKing01]

I agree with you. I'm a USFMG and although I haven't gone through all 4 years of med school yet, I understand that a US med school's accreditation should ensure that they are up to par with those skills, but foreign schools don't necessarily all meet up to that standard. I think that my school does, but how would the NBME know that? By giving the test. I don't think you guys should have to take it.

 

[retroviridae]

OK I will stop complaining since I did not receive the express mail to retake the exam. I must have really passed.

ahh .... but you won't really know until the 15th of June ... unless the decide to push back that date as they did with the initial score reports (the ones the screwed up anyway).

 

[gtb]

I graduated, or at least I think I graduated on Friday, May 27. I have the diploma in hand that says the words, "Doctor of Medicine," but I took the frigging exam in early March. Yeah, those bast*rds said I passed, but did I? Well, if anybody does file a class action, I'll be more than pleased to include my name as a plaintiff. I'll be watching for the details.

GTB, possibly an MD.

 

[MacGyver]

I cant believe they added the test because of FMG whining. Thats absolutely ridiculous. Are they going to start making US grads take the TOEFL too? FMGs have to take that and we dont.

Actually I think its a combination of things. I bet you bottom dollar that money had something to do with it too. Step 2 CS is a money making scheme. Out of that $1000 test fee, I'd bet at least $400 of that is pure profit. They can use that profit to fund their other activities. Its the same deal with AMCAS. They make a ton of profit off their crap that they funnel towards other activities.

 

[Miklos]

Are they going to start making US grads take the TOEFL too? FMGs have to take that and we dont.

Not true.

From the ECFMG: Effective with the implementation of Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) on June 14, 2004, the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) is no longer a requirement for ECFMG Certification.

 

[neilc]

i am not sure it is "whining" that added the test. i think that the thought process behind it is that by having international students take extra exams, you are discriminating....that is why the flex is gone! you cannot (at least in this country) hold somebody to a higher standard simply because they are international grads. the standards must be the same. and, as folks have said before, all schools in the US are not equal.

i understand that the exam is not designed perfectly, and that it is expensive, etc...it should be improved, certainly. but, claiming that your school teaches this well enough just does not hold water with me. your school also teaches you and examines your basic science skills thoroughly? yet you still sit step 1 without complaint. and, you take the medicine, surg, ob/gyn shelf exams and pass, right? why do you need to take step 2 then?

the NBME has a responsibility to verify a minimum level of competence to practice medicine. that does not mean that they simply must accept your med schools word for it. they test it. and, while this testing method could certainly use some overhaul, i do think there is a place for it.

 

[WilcoWorld]

the NBME has a responsibility to verify a minimum level of competence to practice medicine. that does not mean that they simply must accept your med schools word for it. they test it. and, while this testing method could certainly use some overhaul, i do think there is a place for it.

I certainly agree that NBME must ensure competency. However, US medical schools go to great effort and expense to maintain accredidation. I don't think NBME is expected to "accept [their] word for it", the accredidation process is there to ensure quality. So, my point is this; either accept the med school's accredidation as the CS quality assurance, or do not include CS as part of accredidation AND then make everyone take Step 2 CS. I don't like it that my tuition has to pay for our own CS exams in school, that I'm forced to spend days taking these tests at school, and then NBME makes me pay for/do it all over again.

There is no nationwide policy for US med schools to assure CK competency other than Steps 1 & 2. Some schools have students take shelf exams, some don't. That is why I think this is a separate issue.

 

[neilc]

There is no nationwide policy for US med schools to assure CK competency other than Steps 1 & 2. Some schools have students take shelf exams, some don't. That is why I think this is a separate issue.

there is also no nationwide policy for clinical skills. that is why it is the same issue!

if your school makes you do this, you are fortunate in that you should be better prepared for the exam...

again, the fact that the exam EXISTS is really not the problem. if the basic science and clinical knowledge can be tested via NBME, than certainly the same arguments can be put forth to test clinical skills. the method of testing, the cost, the limited locations, the subjective nature of the test can all be improved, certainly.

but, when people get on here and say that the test should not exist, yet they sit for step 1 and 2 without complaint, or when they say "hey this test sucks, but the IMG's should still take it" or something like that, it simply sounds like sour grapes.

my point is mainly that you will not likely find a lot of support from the public, or the NBME for banning the test simply because your school already tests you. and, by claiming things like this you dilute the REAL problems with the test. the real problems remain the cost, the administration and the subjective nature of the test. lobbying to fix these issues is a great idea, and may actually get you somewhere. crying about how you already passed an exam at school, and how that should be good enough, or claiming that IMG's should be forced to take this exam, immediately after you claim it is a worthless exam are great examples of reactionary statements that really do not logically address the true issues.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

part of it is sour grapes neilc.

think about it...you go through med school and all you hear is about step 1 and step 2 CK. these exams have been around for a long time so it's easier for us to accept having to take them.

but then mid-way through one's education, one finds out that there is this new additional exam. to add more insult to injury, you find out that the test will cost $1000. then to rub salt in the wound, you find out that you need to pay also for traveling and lodging for the exam.

for many folks, this exam was not figured into budgets and financial aid packets. of course, when new licensing exams (which will cost extra money) come into play, you're gonna have people complain...this is natural.

basically what i'm saying is that we have every right to bitch about this.

and let's not turn this into an AMG vs. IMG debate...these debates are ******ed to begin with...everyone has their opinions on the matter and no matter what is said here, these debates will not be resolved and will probably end up like the flame-wars we've seen previously when discussing these issues.

 

[neilc]

i totally agree that all are entitled to some bitching and moaning about this test. at least we IMG's had it for a while before you had to do it...i knew it was coming!

what surprises me is that they had the CSA in place for a while, yet this still turned into a nightmare this year with the addition of the US students. i would have thought they would have been better able to accurately score the exams, and i still cannot see why it has to cost so much!

so, back to the sour grapes, sorry to interrupt! 😆

 

[MacGyver]

Not true.

From the ECFMG: Effective with the implementation of Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) on June 14, 2004, the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) is no longer a requirement for ECFMG Certification.

Great. Next thing you know they are going to start offering Step 1/2/CS in all languages and we'll get even more doctors over here who barely speak english.

 

[MacGyver]

i think that the thought process behind it is that by having international students take extra exams, you are discriminating....that is why the flex is gone! you cannot (at least in this country) hold somebody to a higher standard simply because they are international grads. the standards must be the same. and, as folks have said before, all schools in the US are not equal.

what are you smoking guy? WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO IMPOSE EXTRA/HIGHER STANDARDS ON FOREIGNERS.

 

[mig26x]

so for the price of the usmle CS 2 plus airfare and hotel you can pay the Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3? incredible!!!!

 

[THP]

but, when people get on here and say that the test should not exist, yet they sit for step 1 and 2 without complaint, or when they say "hey this test sucks, but the IMG's should still take it" or something like that, it simply sounds like sour grapes.

.

You also have to consider that step I and at my school step II is used to determine who the more qualified applicants are for the match. It is an important equalizer. My understanding is that the step II cs is more of a pass/fail type of things and residence selection committes don't consider it as part of an applicants qualifications (assuming they pass)

 

[yaah]

Step II CS wasn't added primarily because of profit or desire to improve clinical skills. It was probably added primarily because of this country's litigious nature. And by forcing everyone to pass this test, the licensing boards can pass off responsibility to someone else and not be named in the mammoth lawsuits. Plus, it is also a PR move to make them look as though they are trying to improve medical education. The general public doesn't give a **** if all of this doesn't mean anything in terms of education.

 

[kas23]

Step II CS wasn't added primarily because of profit or desire to improve clinical skills. It was probably added primarily because of this country's litigious nature. And by forcing everyone to pass this test, the licensing boards can pass off responsibility to someone else and not be named in the mammoth lawsuits. Plus, it is also a PR move to make them look as though they are trying to improve medical education. The general public doesn't give a **** if all of this doesn't mean anything in terms of education.

One of my Deans used to be the VP of the AMA, and now she is the AMA's Speaker of the House (do your homework and you can figure out who she is). She is a very "in the know person" and what she has told our class is pretty much taken as gospel.

It is true. You can spin it any other way you want, but the Step 2 CS test is about money/profit. It is not about crying FMGs (what weight do their viewpoints carry??) and it is not about litigation. I'll burn my diploma if this leads to a lessening of litigation. It is not a PR move. The general public doesn't even know we have to take this test. Heck, there are some attendings who don't even know we have to take this test.

It comes down to money. The USMLE and NBME (which are sort of the same in my eyes) concluded in the 90's that their budget was running tight. What they did was invest over 20 MILLION dollars researching the effectiveness of having a CS test that every US graduate should take and pass. What they found was that having a CS test does improve doctors clinical skills and bed-side manner. This is not disputed. Everyone said "great, but my school already has something like in place." And they said, "great, but how do we know it is not standardized?" And the fight began. But the USMLE/NBME said to themselves "it will be a cold day in hell if we are lose the 20 million dollars we invested studying the effectiveness of this test." And the fight ended, they we going to require and administer the test.

 

[MD'05]

Not true.

From the ECFMG: Effective with the implementation of Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) on June 14, 2004, the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®) is no longer a requirement for ECFMG Certification.

Bwahhhaaaa .... methinks it is a big ole FMG conspiracy ....

 

[MD'05]

ahh .... but you won't really know until the 15th of June ... unless the decide to push back that date as they did with the initial score reports (the ones the screwed up anyway).

*gulp*

 

[MD'05]

i understand that the exam is not designed perfectly, and that it is expensive, etc...it should be improved, certainly. but, claiming that your school teaches this well enough just does not hold water with me. your school also teaches you and examines your basic science skills thoroughly? yet you still sit step 1 without complaint. and, you take the medicine, surg, ob/gyn shelf exams and pass, right? why do you need to take step 2 then?

the NBME has a responsibility to verify a minimum level of competence to practice medicine. that does not mean that they simply must accept your med schools word for it. they test it. and, while this testing method could certainly use some overhaul, i do think there is a place for it.

I am curious. Do FMGs sit for the NBME shelf exams also?

 

[kas23]

I am curious. Do FMGs sit for the NBME shelf exams also?

Yes.

 

[MD'05]

so for the price of the usmle CS 2 plus airfare and hotel you can pay the Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3? incredible!!!!

Yup.

$1000 + $350 + $250 = $450 + $450 + $700

 

[mig26x]

Yes.

well. my friends at UNIBE (Dominican Republic), they dont take them.

 

[Miklos]

what are you smoking guy? WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO IMPOSE EXTRA/HIGHER STANDARDS ON FOREIGNERS.

I hate to break it to you, but a number of years ago, with regard to the examinations, a U.S. court ruled otherwise. This was part of the reason the FLEX (and FMGEMS) was discontinued and all allopathic licensure applicants have been taking the same tests since then (with the transient exception of the CSA and TOEFL for IMGs).

As far as additional barriers go; many residency programs and state medical boards (both whether covertly or overtly) seem to be in agreement with your POV.

 

[Miklos]

Great. Next thing you know they are going to start offering Step 1/2/CS in all languages and we'll get even more doctors over here who barely speak english.

In truth, the IMGs who barely speak English will fail the CS.

 

[Miklos]

I am curious. Do FMGs sit for the NBME shelf exams also?

Depends on the school. If it caters primarily to Americans, usually.

 

[kas23]

well. my friends at UNIBE (Dominican Republic), they dont take them.

They do if they want to practice medicine in the U.S.

 

[MacGyver]

I hate to break it to you, but a number of years ago, with regard to the examinations, a U.S. court ruled otherwise.

That doesnt make it right. Sounds like liberal judicial activism at work. I'm sure that same court would rule that we have to open our borders because we cant "discriminate" against foreigners. What a joke

This was part of the reason the FLEX (and FMGEMS) was discontinued and all allopathic licensure applicants have been taking the same tests since then (with the transient exception of the CSA and TOEFL for IMGs).

As far as additional barriers go; many residency programs and state medical boards (both whether covertly or overtly) seem to be in agreement with your POV.

Well if you believe the court was right, then be prepared to have those things stripped away too. Its a load of BS.

 

[MacGyver]

In truth, the IMGs who barely speak English will fail the CS.

Who says the CS can only be done in English in the future? After all, by the court's logic you cant impose "unfair" burdens on foreigners. Next thing you know they'll rule that the CS has to be conducted in whatever language the test taker wants.

If the courts can arbitrarily rule that you cant force foreigners to take extra tests, then they can also arbitrarily rule that you have to accomodate them in terms of language so as not to "discriminate" against non-english speakers.

Its a total ****ing joke

 

[Dramkinola]

Whole buncha points.

1) to MacGyver... not all IMG's have a problem with the English language. and the Step 2 BS requirement is not due to IMG whining. The only whining I hear (read) is yours.

2) the patient note correction mistakes occurred because of the way it is corrected. the three parts of the patient note are scanned and sent to separate doctors for correction. some students' sections were sent marked as someone else's section. meaning: if everyone had 12 cases, some guy had only 9 of his history sections corrected, with the other 3 of his being marked in the computer as someone else's. so some other guy got corrected for 15 histories. so his point total would be higher than the first student. understand?

3) to kas23... IMG's do NOT have to take Shelf exams. how would we? where would they be administered? that made no sense.

4) as for the calls for higher/different standards for IMG's... many programs require American experience. with some claiming that Observership does not count as experience. Now what kind of experience would be available to an IMG that hasn't entered a residency? legally we cannot do much patient contact wise. I heard (during the scramble):
a: 6 mos. US experience,
b: observerships/research do not count,
c: must be in a teaching hospital with an accredited hospital,
d: must have graduated within the last two years,
e: (swear I heard this from a program in Mississippi) "we are a private hospital that takes no money from the government, so are not required to accept foreign students, so we don't" I thanked the lady for being honest unlike the other above excuse makers.

And if programs add all of these criteria... what is the value of being ECFMG certified, then?
The ECFMG certificate's purpose is to say that you are comparable to an American graduate, and are eligible to start a GME program. Now, what is the purpose of requirements above and beyond this process? Are hospitals saying that ECFMG holds NO legitimacy for them? wierd.

 

[kas23]

3) to kas23... IMG's do NOT have to take Shelf exams. how would we? where would they be administered? that made no sense.

Yes, you are right. I misread the original post. I thought it read "STEP exams" when it says "SHELF exams." No, shelf exams are not required.

 

[MacGyver]

And if programs add all of these criteria... what is the value of being ECFMG certified, then?
The ECFMG certificate's purpose is to say that you are comparable to an American graduate, and are eligible to start a GME program. Now, what is the purpose of requirements above and beyond this process? Are hospitals saying that ECFMG holds NO legitimacy for them? wierd.

Thats a load of crap. The ECFMG has NOTHING TO DO with determining whether you are "comparable" to an american grad. They leave that solely up to the residency program to determine qualifications.

ECFMG is a paper/bureaucratic process only. The only thing they care about is organizing application materials and presenting them in a unified manner to ERAS/NRMP and residency programs in general.

ECFMG means nothing other than you have completed the necessary paperwork. It has NOTHING to do with how qualified you may or may not be.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Noving to USMLE Forum...

 

[Dramkinola]

Thats a load of crap. The ECFMG has NOTHING TO DO with determining whether you are "comparable" to an american grad. They leave that solely up to the residency program to determine qualifications.

ECFMG is a paper/bureaucratic process only. The only thing they care about is organizing application materials and presenting them in a unified manner to ERAS/NRMP and residency programs in general.

ECFMG means nothing other than you have completed the necessary paperwork. It has NOTHING to do with how qualified you may or may not be.

From www.ECFMG.org:

Through its program of certification, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG®) assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to enter residency or fellowship programs in the United States that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

and also:

The charge of ECFMG is expressed in its mission statement:
"The ECFMG promotes quality health care for the public by certifying international medical graduates for entry into U.S. graduate medical education, and by participating in the evaluation and certification of other physicians and health care professionals.

The purposes (goals) that actuate and accomplish ECFMG's mission are to:

* Certify the readiness of international medical graduates for entry to graduate medical education and health care systems in the United States through an evaluation of their qualifications.

ECFMG's organizational members are:

* American Board of Medical Specialties
* American Medical Association
* Association of American Medical Colleges
* Association for Hospital Medical Education
* Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc.
* National Medical Association

 

[MacGyver]

From www.ECFMG.org:

and also:

thats all semantic bull****.

the fact of the matter is, ECFMG does NOT make judgments on credentials. they dont screen applicants and they dont apply thresholds. The individual residency programs do that.

Like I said, ECFMG is just a paper/bureaucratic process. They dont analyze applicants to determine who is "qualified." As long as you submit all the relevant materials and paperwork, then you are "qualified" according to ECFMG.

Dont believe me? Here it is, straight from the horse's mouth: http://www.ecfmg.org/cert/certfact.html

Eligibility & Requirements
To apply for ECFMG Certification, you must be an international medical student or graduate. This means that your medical school is located outside the United States and Canada. U.S. citizens who graduate from such schools are considered IMGs and are eligible to apply for ECFMG Certification. Non-U.S. citizens who graduate from schools in the United States and Canada are not considered IMGs and are not eligible for ECFMG Certification.

Additionally, your medical school must be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER®). If you are a medical school graduate, your graduation year must be included in your school's IMED listing. If you are a student, the "Graduation Years" in IMED for your medical school must be listed as "Current." You can access IMED on the ECFMG website.

To be eligible for certification, you must graduate from a medical school that meets the requirements described above, and fulfill the following additional medical education credential requirements:

You must have had at least four credit years (academic years for which credit has been given toward completion of the medical curriculum) at a medical school listed in IMED.


You must supply ECFMG with copies of your medical education credentials. These medical education credentials are listed in ECFMG's Reference Guide for Medical Education Credentials, available in the ECFMG Information Booklet on the ECFMG website. ECFMG sends medical education credentials to the medical school that issued them and must receive verification of these documents directly from the medical school.
Applicants for ECFMG Certification must also satisfy the following examination requirements:

Medical Science Examination. USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) are the exams currently administered that satisfy this requirement. Applicants register for these exams with ECFMG and take these exams worldwide at test centers of Prometric, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. ECFMG also accepts certain former medical science exams to fulfill this requirement. Refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet for more information.


Clinical Skills Requirement. USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (Step 2 CS) is the exam currently administered that satisfies this requirement. Applicants register for Step 2 CS with ECFMG and take the exam at one of several regional Clinical Skills Evaluation Centers in the United States. Applicants who have both passed the former ECFMG Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA®) and achieved a score acceptable to ECFMG on an English language proficiency test (such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ [TOEFL®] or the former ECFMG English test) can use these passing performances to fulfill this requirement. Refer to the ECFMG Information Booklet for more information.
Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS are the same exams taken by graduates of U.S. and Canadian medical schools. Detailed information on the USMLE is available on the USMLE website.

Refer to the ECFMG website for information on exam eligibility, fees, application, scheduling, test centers, preparation, and sample test materials.

In other words, to be "certified" by the ECFMG, the ONLY things you have to do are:

1) graduate from a med school on thier list
2) pass step 1/2/CS
3) submit your credentials/paperwork to them.

There is NO ANALYSIS OF QUALIFICATIONS OTHER THAN BASELINE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MATCH PARTICIPANTS. So please stop alluding to this crap about "comparable to US graduates" because thats a total lie. Its up to the residency programs to determine that, ECFMG has NOTHING TO SAY REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS OTHER THAN BARE MINIMUMS REQUIRED OF EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THE MATCH

 

[Dramkinola]

There is NO ANALYSIS OF QUALIFICATIONS OTHER THAN BASELINE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MATCH PARTICIPANTS. So please stop alluding to this crap about "comparable to US graduates" because thats a total lie. Its up to the residency programs to determine that, ECFMG has NOTHING TO SAY REGARDING QUALIFICATIONS OTHER THAN BARE MINIMUMS REQUIRED OF EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THE MATCH

The bold is my point exactly. thanks. the baseline means eligible for a residency.
OR IN OTHER WORDS, at least equal to the worst American graduate.
😀

 

[nicetongue]

Please I have been contacting class action lawfirms. They want to see people in favor of a class action law suit (Step 2 CS) please manifest your interest ... exam is ridiculous and costly.... not to say that some people have experience major profiling by the actors.. 🙂

The worst part is that the NBME used us as experimental subjects to perfect the logistics of the exam. We should have been able to take the exam for free.