Medical school transcripts come in a variety of sizes and formats. They may also be known as mark sheets, time sheets, or hour sheets. Ideally, they will help the program directors to get an overview of the subjects you studied in medical school, how long you studied each subject, and how well you did on your exams.

To submit a copy of a medical school transcript, you should contact your medical school of graduation as soon as possible to obtain the transcript. Once you receive the transcript, send a copy to ECFMG accompanied by a completed ERAS Document Submission Form. While the medical school transcript is required for ECFMG Certification, you are still required to submit a copy to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG.

The transcripts should not be on "security paper" with a busy background. Busy backgrounds make the scanned image illegible. Ask your school to copy your transcript on plain paper.

If you are unable to provide a medical school transcript, then you must indicate this on Page 12 of your Common Application Form (CAF) - MyERAS Application. A neutral filler letter will be provided in place of a transcript. The filler letter will be provided to all of the programs to which you apply, and will state, "This is in lieu of a Medical School Transcript." This will ensure that your application will appear as complete, for those programs that require a medical school transcript before considering your application.

Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)

Obtaining strong letters of recommendation is an essential part of your medical residency application. Your letters should give the residency program director a clear picture of your skills and clinical ability. It is recommended that your letters of recommendation be written by physicians familiar with you and your work. Previous applicants have found it helpful to provide a copy of their CV and personal statements to each of their letter writers to assist with this process. It is your responsibility to follow up with letter writers to ensure that original LoRs have been sent to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG in time to meet program deadlines. Only four (4) letters can be assigned/sent to any individual program in MyERAS. Please contact each program for their LoR requirements.

Whether to waive your right to see your LoRs is a matter strictly between you and the letter writer. If you already have some LoRs, you obviously did not waive your right to see them. In that case, submit the original and retain a photocopy for your records. However, if you do waive your right to see your LoRs, the letter must be accompanied by the AAMC抯 LOR Cover Sheet / Instructions for International Medical Graduates. Also provide the ERAS Document Submission Form to your letter writer so that he/she can send the LoR directly to us in a sealed envelope from the institution.

ECFMG Status Report

We will transmit your ECFMG Status Report automatically. You do not need to request this, and the cost is included with your ERAS Token fee. The ECFMG Status Report contains the month and year that you passed examinations for ECFMG Certification. It does not include your USMLE scores, which can be reported only as part of an official USMLE Transcript. The only scores listed on the ECFMG Status Report are those for the one-day ECFMG Examination, FMGEMS, VQE, NBME Part exams, or FLEX, if you received your ECFMG Certificate based on any of these former medical science exams. If you passed the former ECFMG CSA, the ECFMG Status Report will list the month and year of your passing performance. The Status Report will not contain any failing scores or other non-passing attempts.

Specifically, it contains the following information:

• USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number
• Applicant Name
• ECFMG-certified: (Yes or No)
• Certificate issue date
• CSA valid through date, if applicable
• Exams passed for ECFMG Certification
• Explanatory Notes

USMLE Transcript

The USMLE transcript contains your entire USMLE history on Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS and, if taken, Step 3. It includes all attempts: passed, failed, incomplete, etc. It is not transmitted automatically. You need to request its transmission, pay $50, and assign it to your programs. For complete information on what is included in the USMLE transcript, refer to Official USMLE Transcripts and Providing Scores to Third Parties in the USMLE Bulletin of Information, available on the USMLE website.

Note:

Please read the directions carefully.

You need to answer two questions.

• The first one asks you to release your USMLE transcript.
• The second question asks whether you want an updated

USMLE transcript sent automatically, should information change. After reading the instructions carefully, choose either YES or NO. If you choose NO to the second question and decide not to have it retransmitted automatically, you need to retransmit it yourself at MyERAS after you have received your scores in the mail.

Photograph

Should you be selected for an interview by a program, the program uses your photograph to identify you when coming to interview, and as a memory aid when creating a rank list.

NOTE: Programs cannot view your photograph during their initial evaluation of your application. Your photograph is only visible at the time the program has selected you for an interview.

Your photograph must:

• show a full front view of your head and shoulders with your full face in the middle of the photograph
• reference your name and AAMC Identification Number on the reverse side of photo, or the photo will be discarded
• have a light-colored background, since dark-colored backgrounds do not scan well
• be wallet-sized or passport-sized

NOTE: USMLE scores may only be reported in an official USMLE transcript. ECFMG is not authorized to include USMLE scores in the ECFMG Status Report. The only method to transmit your USMLE scores is by requesting the USMLE transcript.