Important Update: Change in Process for Requesting USMLE Transcripts

Effective August 21, 2024, the processing of all United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) transcript requests from international medical students and graduates (IMGs) will transition from ECFMG®, a division of Intealth™, to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), a co-sponsor of the USMLE program. ECFMG will process complete transcript requests received through August 20, 2024. IMGs who wish to request USMLE transcripts after this date must submit their requests and payment to FSMB following the instructions on FSMB's website.

This change does not affect transcripts requested and sent via ERAS. IMGs participating in ERAS 2025 should continue to follow instructions from ERAS for sending their USMLE transcripts to U.S. training programs.  

This change streamlines the transcript request process by centralizing all transcript requests (except for ERAS transcripts) with FSMB, which already processes transcript requests from U.S. and Canadian medical school students and graduates and from certain IMGs (for example, IMGs who want to send a transcript to a U.S. state medical licensing authority).  

For more information, please refer to the Important Dates or common questions below.

Important Dates:

August 20, 2024: Deadline for receipt of IMG transcript requests by ECFMG.

August 21, 2024: FSMB begins processing transcript requests for IMGs.

 

FAQs:

  • What's the deadline for an IMG to request a transcript from ECFMG?
    • To help ensure that ECFMG can process your transcript request, the request form and payment must be received by ECFMG no later than August 20, 2024 (U.S. Eastern Time). 
       
  • What’s the first date to submit a transcript request to FSMB?
    • FSMB will begin accepting transcript requests on August 21, 2024. Please visit FSMB’s website and follow the instructions to submit your request and payment.
       
  • I'm an IMG participating in ERAS 2025. Does this change affect electronic transcripts sent to programs via ERAS?
    • No. Electronic transcripts sent to programs for ERAS 2025 are not affected by this change.
       
  • I just submitted a transcript request to ECFMG. Will my transcript be sent? Or do I need to submit a new request?
    • If ECFMG receives your completed transcript request and payment on or before August 20, 2024, your request will be processed, and your transcript will be sent. Please allow several business days for ECFMG to process your request.
    • If your request is received by ECFMG after August 20, 2024, it will not be processed, and you will need to submit a new request and payment to FSMB. To request a refund of transcript fees sent to ECFMG, please contact finance@ecfmg.org
       
  • How can international medical schools make an institutional request for transcripts for their students and graduates after this change?
    • Institutional requests for transcripts will no longer be offered after August 20, 2024. However, medical students and graduates can still request and pay for their transcripts to be sent directly to their medical school. 
       
  • I'm an IMG and will need to request a transcript in September. Where can I find more info on how to do that?
    • To request a transcript after August 20, please visit FSMB’s website and follow the instructions to submit your request and payment.
       
  • What is the reason for this change?
    • Currently, multiple organizations receive and process paper transcripts for the USMLE program. This change streamlines the transcript request process by centralizing all transcript requests, except for residency application transcripts (including ERAS), with USMLE co-sponsor FSMB. This change will also allow recipients to receive transcripts more quickly because transcripts will now be delivered electronically via email instead of by mail in paper format.
       
  • Will transcripts still be delivered by mail in paper format?
    • No, after August 20, all transcripts will be delivered electronically via email.