Which qualifications need to be verified?

Which qualifications need to be verified?

All applicants will need to have their primary medical qualification verified. Some applicants will need to have further qualifications verified, depending on the type of registration you’re applying for. 

How are you applying for registration? What type of registration are you applying for? Document(s) you will need to have verified by ECFMG

Taking the PLAB test

Provisional registration or full registration

  • Primary medical qualification

Holding an acceptable Postgraduate Qualification (PGQ)

Full registration

  • Primary medical qualification

  • Acceptable PGQ

With an offer from an approved sponsor

Full registration

  • Primary medical qualification

For full registration and entry onto the Specialist or GP register via the Portfolio pathway

Full registration with specialist/GP

  • Primary medical qualification

Entry onto the Specialist or GP register via the Portfolio pathway

Specialist/GP

  • Primary medical qualification

Note – if your primary medical qualification was verified when you first gained registration, you don’t need to have it verified again.

Holding a relevant European qualification

Provisional registration or full registration

  • Primary medical qualification

  • Accompanying certificate (if applicable)

Full registration with specialist/GP

  • Primary medical qualification

  • Accompanying certificate (if applicable)

  • Specialist or GP qualification

Specialist or GP

  • Primary medical qualification
  • Accompanying certification (if applicable)
  •  Specialist or GP qualification

Note – if your primary medical qualification and accompanying certificate were verified when you first held registration, you don’t need to have them verified again. 

Holding a Recognised specialist qualification Full registration with specialist/GP
  • Primary medical qualification
  • Accompanying certificate (if applicable)
  • Specialist or GP qualification
  Specialist or GP
  • Specialist or GP qualification

Note – if your primary medical qualification and accompanying certificate were verified when you first held registration, you don’t need to have them verified again.

The primary medical qualification that you should verify is your final medical diploma. The final medical diploma is issued by your medical school or university after you have completed all necessary requirements and have been awarded your medical degree.

The final medical diploma may also be referred to as the primary medical qualification, carton degree, conferral certificate, decorative degree, or diploma that is used for framing and wall-hanging purposes.

We do not require you to have medical school transcripts, evidence of pre-graduate internships, or alternate graduation documents verified by ECFMG in support of your application.

If you’re applying with a Relevant European Qualification, you must also have any accompanying certificate required verified by ECFMG. You can find out if this applies to you on our Relevant European Qualification list. If you already hold full registration and wish to apply for specialist or GP registration using a relevant European qualification, you will need to have your primary medical qualification (and accompanying certificate if applicable) verified, as well as your specialist/GP qualification.

If you’re applying with a Recognised Specialist Qualification, you may need to provide additional documents which need to be verified at the same time as your qualification certificate. You can find out if this applies to you on our Recognised Specialist Qualification list.

What happens if I’ve already had my qualification verified by ECFMG?

If your qualification has already been verified by ECFMG, you won’t need to have it verified again. Simply log into your EPIC Account and make a request to ECFMG to release the report to us.  

If your qualification has already been verified by ECFMG for ECFMG certification, or through ECFMG’s International Credentials Services (EICS), you will need to create an EPIC account. However, ECFMG may be able to use that previously verified qualification to complete your request. After you create your account, ECFMG will review your file, and if it is acceptable, ECFMG will add your previously verified qualifications to your EPIC Portfolio.