top of page
Search

The ECFMG transition to MyIntealth - what this means for IMGs in 2025

As of August 14, 2025, the ECFMG is officially transitioning all USMLE-related services to the MyIntealth portal, marking the end of an era—and the beginning of a more structured, less forgiving system.


While MyIntealth promises clarity and efficiency, it also removes the flexibility that many relied on, particularly when juggling complex timelines across Step 1, Step 2, and medical credentialing.


Let’s break it down.


Old USMLE system by ECFMG: the multitasker


This was a system that allowed parallel processing. You could do multiple things at once: study, apply, verify documents, and even register for your exam—all in motion.


Outline of old process flow:

  1. Create USMLE/ECFMG ID

  2. Apply for ECFMG Certification (Form 186/CIF)

  3. Register for USMLE Step 1

  4. Medical School Verification & Credential Verification happen in the background (Form 183)

  5. Receive permit & schedule Step 1

  6. Repeat steps 3-5 for Step 2


Key advantages:

  • You could register for Step 1/2 even while verification was ongoing.

  • Exam registration and credential verification could occur simultaneously, creating room for faster exam booking.

  • Redundant—but manageable: You had to redo credential verification when applying for Step 2.


🔒 New USMLE system by MyIntealth: the gatekeeper

The new process introduces strict sequential processing, removing all flexibility.


New Process Flow (Starting August 14):

  1. Create MyIntealth ID

  2. Apply for ECFMG Certification (via IIF) – includes Form 186/CIF + complete all verifications (Form 183)

  3. Wait for full verification to be completed

  4. Only then: Register for USMLE Step 1

  5. Receive permit & schedule exam

  6. For USMLE Step 2: repeat only exam registration (as long as credentials don’t change)


Key differences:

  • No exam registration allowed until ALL credential verification is complete.

  • Less redundancy: Medical school verification and credentials are now reused for Step 2 (unless updates occur).

  • Slower upfront, but possibly smoother later—if your documents are perfect.


100,000+ IMGs will be affected: why this matters

If you’re an IMG planning to sit the USMLE soon, this new process may slow you down significantly, especially if:

  • Your med school is slow to respond to verification requests.

  • You're on a tight Step 1/Step 2 timeline.

  • You were relying on submitting now, verifying later.


The bottom line

The ECFMG is moving from flexible to systematic.

This change will eliminate:

  • Incomplete or partial submissions

  • Exam scheduling before verification

  • The “submit now, fix later” mindset

But it also means:

  • Longer waits for exam eligibility

  • Higher pressure to get credentialing right the first time

  • Less control over your exam timeline


Absolutely — here's a deeper dive into why ECFMG has implemented this new MyIntealth process and moved away from the older, more flexible system:


So why do I think this new process has been introduced?


Tighter Data Integrity and Compliance

  • The old system allowed applicants to register for exams even if their medical credentials were incomplete, outdated, or unverified.

  • This exposed ECFMG and USMLE to regulatory risks — including allowing candidates to sit exams who later turned out to be ineligible.

  • With global scrutiny on credential fraud and degree mills, MyIntealth is designed to verify identity, credentials, and eligibility before any exam access is granted.

  • This aligns with global calls for more secure and transparent medical licensing systems.


Building a centralised platform

  • ECFMG is modernising its infrastructure to centralise everything: applications, credentials, school communications, exam scheduling, etc.

  • A sequential system is easier to automate, track, and troubleshoot. Parallel processing may have been faster for candidates, but harder to manage behind the scenes.


Reducing application errors & administrative burden (especially given the surge in IMG applications)

  • Now more than ever before, IMGs across the world, especially from the UK, are applying to the US more than ever before.

  • Under the old system, thousands of applicants submitted incomplete forms, used outdated credentials, or applied for exams without knowing their verification status.

  • This led to application rejections, delays, and manual reviews by ECFMG staff.

  • MyIntealth aims to reduce this workload by only allowing progression after prerequisites are completed—like a locked level in a game.


Final advice

Plan ahead.Get your documents in early. Communicate with your medical school.

MyIntealth is more of a gatekeeper. And starting August 14, you’ll need to play by its rules.


References:


ree

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page