The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) assesses the readiness of IMGs to enter US residency or fellowship programs that are accredited by the ACGME. ECFMG certification is one of the eligibility requirements to take Step 3 of the USMLE, as well as to obtain a license to practice medicine in the U.S. Applicants wishing to be certified by ECFMG must meet medical education credential requirements and examination requirements, including USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (CS and CK).

Only the clinical J-1 visa sponsored by ECFMG is acceptable when applying to an ACGME accredited training program at UCLA.  H1B visas will be considered if the applicant is a graduate from an LCME-accredited US or Canadian Medical School, or from a college of osteopathic medicine in the US, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOACOCA). 

For More Information: 

ECFMG Certification & J-1 Visa Sponsorship
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 386-5900 

USMLE
3750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3190
Telephone: (215) 590-9700

California Medical Board
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200 
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 263-2382 phone

Osteopathic Medical Board of California
1300 National Drive, Suite #150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1991
(916) 928-8390 Office
E-mail: Osteopathic@dca.ca.gov

NBOME
101 West Elm Street, Suite 150
Conshohocken, PA 19428
https://www.nbome.org/

Full text of the GMEC Policy on International Medical Graduates available here.

Programs are required to obtain DIO review of applicant qualifications prior to ranking using the IMG Applicant Request Form