ECFMG

What ECFMG does

ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) is a nonprofit organization, operating as a division of Intealth, that certifies and credentials international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking entry into U.S. graduate medical education and healthcare practice. Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Philadelphia, ECFMG provides a suite of interconnected services: ECFMG Certification (required by ACGME for residency/fellowship entry and by state medical boards for licensure), EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) for primary-source verification of physician credentials, ERAS Support Services (serving as the designated Dean's office for IMGs applying to U.S. residency programs via AAMC's Electronic Residency Application Service since 1996), CVS (Certification Verification Service), and the Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program (EVSP), in which ECFMG acts as the sole BridgeUSA sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State for J-1 exchange visitor physicians in clinical training. These services are unified under the MyIntealth online platform, which integrates identity verification through NotaryCam and processes approximately 11,000 J-1 sponsorship applications annually.

ECFMG generates revenue through a fee-for-service model across multiple transaction types: certification applications ($580), pathway applications ($945), credential verification ($220), ERAS tokens ($185), J-1 visa sponsorship applications ($370 plus $220 SEVIS pass-through), CVS reports ($70, free to residency/fellowship programs), EPIC portfolio establishment ($35) and per-credential verification ($110), and ancillary services including translation ($52/page). The organization's customer base spans individual IMGs, U.S. state medical boards, hospitals, residency and fellowship programs, medical regulatory authorities worldwide, and the AAMC—collectively served through a network spanning 3,000+ medical schools and institutions where credentials can be verified electronically. ECFMG has verified over 1,000,000 credentials in its 35+ years of primary-source verification experience and has investigated more than 400 cases of physician and medical school irregular behavior in the past 20 years.

Distribution occurs primarily through the MyIntealth self-service portal and the AAMC MyERAS platform, with supplemental direct telephone and email support and an EPIC Organization Network for institutional partners. ECFMG also maintains core strategic alliances with FAIMER (its sibling division under Intealth), WFME (co-developing the World Directory of Medical Schools), the U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA Program, ACGME, NRMP, and the Coalition for Physician Accountability. Marketing channels include the Journeys in Medicine blog, The ECFMG Reporter and ECFMG Focus e-newsletters, social media via Linktree/Instagram/Threads, the Exchange Visitor Physician Alumni Program, and participation in events such as the NYC Marathon volunteer program. ECFMG operates as a nonprofit under the Intealth umbrella with no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership; the Intealth Board of Trustees provides governance oversight.

Name

ECFMG

Legal name

Intealth

Website

https://ecfmg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ECFMG, a division of Intealth, certifies international medical graduates and provides primary-source credential verification, J-1 visa sponsorship (as sole U.S. BridgeUSA sponsor), and ERAS residency application support for IMGs entering U.S. graduate medical education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Credentials Verification

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ), Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Medical credential verification
• International medical certification
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• Residency application services
• Physician credential evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. ECFMG Certification Services: Fees for ECFMG certification application ($580), credential verification ($220), and pathway applications ($945). These are one-time fees for the certification process.
2. ERAS Support Services: Fees for ERAS tokens ($185) enabling international medical graduates to apply for residency positions through the Electronic Residency Application Service.
3. EVSP J-1 Visa Sponsorship: Application fees ($370) for J-1 exchange visitor visa sponsorship for foreign national physicians in graduate medical education programs. Additional $220 SEVIS fee required.
4. CVS (Certification Verification Service): Verification report fees ($70) for medical licensing authorities, state boards, hospitals, and other entities to verify IMG certification status. Free to residency/fellowship programs.
5. EPIC Credential Verification: Account establishment ($110), portfolio establishment ($35), and per-credential verification fees ($110) for physicians to have credentials primary-source verified and reports sent to organizations.
6. MyIntealth Account Services: Account establishment fee ($110) including identity verification through NotaryCam.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ECFMG evaluates the qualifications of international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking to enter U.S. graduate medical education and the U.S. healthcare system. It provides ECFMG Certification, primary-source verification of physician credentials through EPIC, J-1 visa sponsorship via EVSP, ERAS residency application support, and the CVS certification verification service for licensing authorities and hospitals.

Product overview

ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) offers a suite of interconnected services for international medical graduates (IMGs) seeking to enter U.S. graduate medical education and healthcare. The core platform is MyIntealth, an online portal required to access all services. Key products include: ECFMG Certification (the standard for evaluating IMG qualifications), EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials for primary-source verification of physician credentials), ERAS Support Services (assisting with residency applications), CVS (Certification Verification Service), and EVSP (Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program for J-1 visa sponsorship). Additional offerings include Pathways for clinical/communication skills assessment, Translation Services, and access to the World Directory of Medical Schools. These services work together to support physicians throughout their journey from medical school verification through residency training and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials): Primary-source verification service for physician credentials
• ERAS Support Services
• EVSP (Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program)
• CVS (Certification Verification Service)
• MyIntealth

Products and services

• ECFMG Certification The standard for evaluating the qualifications of international medical graduates (IMGs) entering the U.S. health care system. Required by ACGME for residency/fellowship programs and by medical licensing authorities for unrestricted licensure.
• EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) Primary-source verification service for physician credentials at no cost to organizations. Enables physicians to build an electronic portfolio of credentials and request verification reports for medical regulatory authorities, training programs, hospitals, and other entities.
• ERAS Support Services ECFMG serves as the designated Dean's office for students and graduates of international medical schools, assisting with the MyERAS application process for first- and second-year (PGY-1 and PGY-2) residency positions in accredited U.S. programs.
• CVS (Certification Verification Service) Provides prompt, primary-source confirmation of the ECFMG certification status of international medical graduates (IMGs). Recognized by The Joint Commission and NCQA as a designated equivalent source for verification.
• EVSP (Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program) ECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs.
• MyIntealth The online environment/platform for accessing all ECFMG services. A MyIntealth account is required to request and use any of ECFMG's services including certification, ERAS, EVSP, EPIC, and CVS.
• Pathways for ECFMG Certification Evaluating clinical and communication skills for ECFMG Certification. Includes multiple pathways and requires satisfactory score on the Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine.
• Exchange Visitor Physician Alumni Program Initiative of EVSP aimed at staying connected to physicians who completed U.S. training under ECFMG sponsorship. Includes alumni newsletter, networking group, and Journeys in Medicine blog contributions.
• World Directory of Medical Schools Comprehensive directory of medical schools worldwide developed through a partnership between FAIMER and WFME. Contains ECFMG Sponsor Notes indicating eligibility for ECFMG Certification.
• Translation Service Translation service for medical school documents provided to ECFMG that are not in English. ECFMG uses an independent translation service (Straker Translations) for credential translations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 credentials have been primary-source verified
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECFMG serves as the designated Dean's office for students and graduates of international medical schools for the AAMC's Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). This partnership enables IMGs to apply electronically for residency positions in accredited U.S. programs of graduate medical education. ERAS was established in 1996 and ECFMG has served in this role since inception.
• U.S. Department of State - BridgeUSA ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs. BridgeUSA is a critical program within the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) that creates a network of global leaders.
• FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAIMER is a division of Intealth, the parent organization of ECFMG. FAIMER developed the World Directory of Medical Schools in partnership with WFME. ECFMG utilizes FAIMER resources and data for medical education evaluation and accreditation services.
• WFME (World Federation for Medical Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Directory of Medical Schools was developed through a partnership between FAIMER and WFME, offering comprehensive information on medical schools worldwide to help prospective students and medical regulatory authorities make informed decisions.
• NRMP (National Resident Matching Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECFMG works with NRMP which collects preferences of applicants and program directors for available residency positions and matches applicants with available positions. ECFMG encourages applicants to read the biennial NRMP Program Director Survey and Match results data.
• ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACGME requires IMGs who enter ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programs to be certified by ECFMG. ECFMG collaborated with ACGME and other organizations on the UME to GME Toolkit for supporting learners in the transition to graduate medical education.
• AACOM (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECFMG partnered with AACOM, AAMC, and ACGME on the 'Transition in a Time of Disruption' toolkit to support incoming residents and their U.S. residency programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Coalition for Physician AccountabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECFMG is a member of the Coalition for Physician Accountability, a cross-organizational group of national medical education organizations. ECFMG participated in the UGRC recommendations for comprehensive improvement of the UME-GME transition.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME): Administers the USMLE, which ECFMG Certification gates IMG access to. NBME and ECFMG jointly serve as the foundational medical assessment and certification bodies for physician entry into U.S. practice.
• Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB): Coordinates state medical licensing boards and operates the physician data center used alongside ECFMG's CVS for IMG licensure verification. Closely intertwined with ECFMG in the IMG licensing pipeline.
• AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges): Operates MyERAS, the residency application system for which ECFMG serves as designated Dean's office for IMGs. Strategic partner since 1996 and deeply coupled with ECFMG's ERAS Support Services.
• ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education): Requires ECFMG Certification for IMG entry into accredited residency programs. Direct counterparty in the U.S. GME accreditation framework and collaborator on the UME-to-GME transition toolkit.
• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP): Operates The Match residency placement process for which ECFMG prepares and certifies IMG applicants. Sequentially integrated with ECFMG's certification and ERAS services in the IMG residency journey.
• FAIMER (Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research): Sister division under Intealth, focused on international medical education research and the World Directory of Medical Schools. Operates adjacent IMG and medical school accreditation services.
• World Federation for Medical Education (WFME): Global medical education accreditation body that co-developed the World Directory with FAIMER. Partners with ECFMG's parent to establish international medical school recognition standards.

Broad incumbents

• Educational Testing Service (ETS): Major nonprofit assessment organization offering standardized testing and credentialing services at scale. Comparable in operational model and credentialing infrastructure to ECFMG but with broader educational focus.
• Prometric: Global computer-based testing and certification delivery provider. Comparable technology infrastructure and assessment delivery model as ECFMG's Pathways and certification testing operations.

Regional players

• Medical Council of Canada: Operates physician credentialing and licensing examination services in Canada. Functions as a national analog to ECFMG's role for IMGs entering the Canadian medical system rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ECFMG_IMG
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXyB5N9E9uJ9_5-q-zN1PZQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecfmg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/intealthofficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECFMG