Pass/fail only since 2022, with no score. It tests foundational science, and you have to pass it to become ECFMG certified.

Still gives a 3-digit score. Since Step 1 went pass/fail, it's the number programs screen on. Also required for certification.

Required for every Pathways applicant, with no exemption for native speakers or English-language schools. Need 350+ on Listening/Reading/Speaking and 300+ on Writing in one sitting; for 2027 the score must be from on or after Jan 1, 2025.

Since Step 2 CS ended, Pathways (six routes) is how you prove your clinical and communication skills. Pick the route that fits you and apply. The 2027 deadline is Jan 31, 2027.

Not a separate task; it's a step inside ECFMG certification. ECFMG confirms your diploma and transcript directly with your school. (EPIC is a different, optional product most applicants never need.)

The umbrella credential that says you're ready for US residency: Step 1 + Step 2 CK + a Pathway with OET + verified credentials. You need it to rank and match.

The single ECFMG/Intealth portal for all of the above: Pathways, credentials, your token, certification. It replaced the old OASIS portal.

A free account to get into MyERAS. If you've used any AAMC service before, reuse it instead of making a second one.

A one-time code to register on MyERAS. For IMGs, ECFMG issues it (ECFMG is your designated dean's office), not your home school. Around $185; 2027 tokens are available June 24, 2026.

The core application: your bio, education, and experiences. One token covers unlimited specialties and programs.

Your essay on why this field and why you. Plain text only (no formatting), and copying examples from online counts as plagiarism.

This replaces a CV: up to 10 experiences, and you flag up to 3 as "most meaningful." Programs lean on those 3 hard, so choose them carefully.

Your letter-writers upload these themselves through the portal, using a Letter ID you hand them, so you never touch the file. Most programs want about 3, and US clinical letters carry real weight; a home-country letter is program-dependent, not a universal rule.

These are the same document. MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation) is just the current name for what people still call the Dean's letter. For IMGs it goes through ECFMG.

A standard headshot so programs can recognize you at interviews. 2.5" × 3.5", under 150 KB.

The Internal Medicine Structured Evaluative Letter, an IM-specific departmental letter (it's "IM SEL," not "IMSEL"). It's uploaded like any other letter. Only matters if you're applying Internal Medicine.

This is separate from ERAS, and people miss it. ERAS is how you apply to programs; the NRMP is the Match that pairs you. 2027 registration opens Sep 15, 2026 and the deadline is Jan 29, 2027 (a late fee kicks in after).

For 2027 you can start submitting Sep 2, 2026, and programs begin reviewing Sep 23, 2026. Aim to be complete before that, because that's when first impressions get made.

Rank your programs in the NRMP and certify the list by Mar 3, 2027. An uncertified list doesn't count.

Match Day is Mar 19, 2027. If you don't fully match, SOAP (Mar 15–18, 2027) is the in-week process to apply for spots that went unfilled.

ECFMG is the J-1 sponsor for IMGs. You'll need certification, a program contract, and a Statement of Need from your home government; your DS-2019 is issued after that's approved.

Sponsored by the program, not ECFMG, and it usually means passing USMLE Step 3 first. The upside: no 2-year home-country requirement the way J-1 has. Your program's GME office handles the details, so ask them early.

The DS-2019 is your J-1 eligibility certificate, and ECFMG issues it; you can't download it yourself. The DS-160 is the US visa application you file before your embassy interview. Both come after you match.