Once known as foreign medical graduates, international medical graduates are those doctors who have received their basic medical degree or qualification outside the US, Puerto Rico and Canada.

This includes me.

IMGs are required to take Step I and II of the USMLE through the ECFMG. The ECFMG also validates the IMGs credentials and after both Step I and II have been passed, provides the doctor with ECFMG certification. This is necessary to join a residency program in the US.

The USMLE includes an english test for all doctors trained outside the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. This is usually given with Step II but may be given separately . This test is also administered by the ECFMG.

The term IMG has nothing to do with nationality. A US citizen who graduated abroad is an IMG while a non-US citizen graduating in North America is not considered an IMG.

The latest information on IMGs can be found at the official ECFMG web site at http://www.ecfmg.org/