Thank you for your interest in the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at the University of California, San Francisco.

Minimum USMLE Score Requirements

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) may be at a disadvantage in competing for residencies in the U.S., partly because of large variation in the formal training and clinical experiences offered by foreign medical schools, when compared to the relatively uniform curriculum and clinical requirements offered by U.S. medical schools. Our residency program is concerned with any International Medical Graduate's educational, clinical, and cultural preparedness for the American medical system, so as to lead to successful completion of our program. Although we have no minimum USMLE score requirements, strong scores (>230) would help document an applicant's educational readiness for our program, and strengthen an application. Please note, UCSF now requires applicants to have passed both the clinical knowledge and clinical skills sections of Step 2 by February 15th in order to be ranked by our program.

Prior U.S. Clinical Experience

Since clinical and cultural preparedness are also keys to success here, prior clinical experience in the United States is helpful. Letters of recommendation from these experiences will further strengthen an IMG applicant's documentation of overall readiness to begin residency training in the U.S.

Visas

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will sponsor a J-1 visa for candidates. Please refer to their website at: http://www.ecfmg.org. Our program, on a limited basis sponsors H1B visas.

Other Policies Regarding IMGs

We have no additional policies regarding the selection of IMGs for our residency training program. Once minimum application requirements have been met, we consider every applicant's merits and weigh them accordingly. Each year, we are able to consider a few highly qualified IMG applicants for matching in our program.

Before you may apply to our clinical training program, however, it will be necessary for you to accomplish the following:

1. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)

   You must hold a current, valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This is mandatory for appointment at this institution as well as for medical licensure in the State of California. You will need to contact the ECFMG directly and arrange to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). After you pass the examination, including the English test, you will be issued an ECFMG certificate.

   If you are not a citizen of the United States and do not hold Permanent Resident status, you will be required to secure the ECFMG-J1 or an H1B visa to enter this institution for medical training.

   The following is the address of the ECFMG:

   Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
   3624 Market Street
   Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
   U.S.A.
   Telephone: 215-386-5900
   Web Address: http://www.ecfmg.org

2. "Applicant Evaluation Status Letter" from the California Medical Board

   After you receive your ECFMG certificate, and prior to applying for training at UCSF, you must contact the California Medical Board (CMB). The CMB will require that you complete their application form and submit various documents and records along with a processing fee. Upon the successful review of your application credentials, education, and USMLE scores, the CMB will issue an "Applicant Evaluation Status Letter." This letter enables you to make application for training at UCSF. A copy of this letter should be submitted with your UCSF application.

   The following is the address of the California Medical Board:

   The Medical Board of California
   2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
   Sacramento, CA 95815
   USA
   (916) 263-2382
   California Toll-Free line: (800) 633-2322
   http://www.medbd.ca.gov

3. National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

   If you are applying for a first-year residency position filled through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), it will be necessary for you to register with that organization. The following is the address of the NRMP:

   National Resident Matching Program
   2450 N Street, NW
   Suite 201
   Washington, D.C. 20037-1127
   USA
   (202) 828-0566 or 1-866-617-5838
   http://www.nrmp.org

4. Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)

   To apply for an Internal Medicine residency position, you must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Contact the ECFMG for application information by sending an inquiry to ECFMG/ERAS Program, P.O. Box 11746, Philadelphia, PA 19101-0746, USA or by email eras-support@ecfmg.org. Students and graduates of Canadian schools should contact the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS). Contact CaRMS at 171 Epea Street, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario K2P-0B4 Canada or call (613) 237-0075 for ERAS processing information and materials.

   Applications submitted through ERAS must include the following:

   1. ERAS Application
   2. USMLE Transcript
   3. Medical School Dean's Letter
   4. Medical School Transcript
   5. Letters of Recommendation (at least 3)*
   6. ECFMG Status Report
   7. "Applicant Evaluation Status Letter" from California Medical Board

   *Please submit a letter from the head of the Department of Medicine (or designee) and at least two additional letters from the faculty, one of which must be from a member of the Department of Medicine.

As the above procedures are lengthy, you should organize your activities to accommodate the dates and time requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: The basic components of your application (the common application form, transcript and Dean's Letter) MUST BE RECEIVED by us by November 15th.

The Department of Medicine, following review of all completed applications, will request interviews of selected candidates. Interviews will be scheduled only AFTER our selection committee reviews applications. We will send interview invitations to you by email, so be sure to indicate your preferred and accurate email address on your ERAS application.

Relevant Addresses and Telephone Numbers

The Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 263-2382
California Toll-Free line: (800) 633-2322
http://www.medbd.ca.gov

National Resident Match Program
2450 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1127
(202) 828-0566
http://www.nrmp.org

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
3624 Market Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685
(215) 386-5900
http://www.ecfmg.org

Electronic Residency Application Service
http://www.aamc.org/eras