Before you apply
The first thing to do is to create an ECFMG account. The ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) is the commission that manages things related to foreign medical graduates: registration for exams, visas etc. To do this go to the ECFMG website and click on "Obtain a USMLE / ECFMG identification number". You will be redirected to the page to create your account, and once this is done you will have to wait a few days to receive your number. FYI they always respond to emails but it takes 3 to 5 business days.
Once you have created your account, you will need to register to for Step 1 and 2. Two board exams that all American students and Foreign graduates must take. This process takes a little longer. You first have to pay the registration fee then print a form that you must sign and send in an envelope stamped by your school; inquire with the schooling department to find out who takes care of that. And be really nice to that person, you will most likely have to see him/her again several times. So, once the form is sent, it takes about three weeks for it to arrive and to be validated by the ECFMG. Assuming nothing was lost on the way (I had the bad idea to put the two forms, one for each exam, in the same envelope but somehow they only received one) and that all is in order, you will receive an email saying that your request has arrived and that they will send you an electronic authorization to choose a date for your test in about a week. And this is when you can finally register in the test center of your choice. If you want to take the Steps in the US, remember that all students do it too so it may take a little while to obtain a date (test centers like Paris will usually offer dates the following days/week).
You will need to send three of those forms: one for Step 1, one for Step 2 CK (written part) and one for Step 2 CS (practical part). You can register at the same time (but if I were you, I'd send the forms in three different envelopes!) and take the exams in the order you want. You can do it anytime during the year, but you will need your scores back by the time you send your application, on September 15th. And the deadlines for receiving the scores are quite long: generally 3-4 weeks for the theoretical exams, about 2 months for the practical part (see the schedule here). Beware ! There are only 5 centers for Step 2 CS (you have to take it in the US), and all students want to get their score by September 15th. Which means May-July is an extremely busy period, and it can be really hard to get a date. Just to be sure, I'd register at least six months in advance for this exam specifically.
In parallel, at the beginning of the season (usually in May), you can register on ERAS. That's the website that manages your application: you will download all your documents there and then they'll send them to the different programs you apply to. You will need to request an ECFMG token (via OASIS) before being able to register. Once you're there, it's all good! You are ready to start creating your electronic application and choosing your programs. :)
Once you have created your account, you will need to register to for Step 1 and 2. Two board exams that all American students and Foreign graduates must take. This process takes a little longer. You first have to pay the registration fee then print a form that you must sign and send in an envelope stamped by your school; inquire with the schooling department to find out who takes care of that. And be really nice to that person, you will most likely have to see him/her again several times. So, once the form is sent, it takes about three weeks for it to arrive and to be validated by the ECFMG. Assuming nothing was lost on the way (I had the bad idea to put the two forms, one for each exam, in the same envelope but somehow they only received one) and that all is in order, you will receive an email saying that your request has arrived and that they will send you an electronic authorization to choose a date for your test in about a week. And this is when you can finally register in the test center of your choice. If you want to take the Steps in the US, remember that all students do it too so it may take a little while to obtain a date (test centers like Paris will usually offer dates the following days/week).
You will need to send three of those forms: one for Step 1, one for Step 2 CK (written part) and one for Step 2 CS (practical part). You can register at the same time (but if I were you, I'd send the forms in three different envelopes!) and take the exams in the order you want. You can do it anytime during the year, but you will need your scores back by the time you send your application, on September 15th. And the deadlines for receiving the scores are quite long: generally 3-4 weeks for the theoretical exams, about 2 months for the practical part (see the schedule here). Beware ! There are only 5 centers for Step 2 CS (you have to take it in the US), and all students want to get their score by September 15th. Which means May-July is an extremely busy period, and it can be really hard to get a date. Just to be sure, I'd register at least six months in advance for this exam specifically.
In parallel, at the beginning of the season (usually in May), you can register on ERAS. That's the website that manages your application: you will download all your documents there and then they'll send them to the different programs you apply to. You will need to request an ECFMG token (via OASIS) before being able to register. Once you're there, it's all good! You are ready to start creating your electronic application and choosing your programs. :)
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