Important Change for Canadian Medical School Graduate Applicants
Effective July 1, 2025, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) will assume sole responsibility for accrediting medical education programs in Canada. These programs will no longer be accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
For applicants for Alabama medical licenses, this means that graduates of Canadian medical schools are considered international medical graduates (IMGs) for the purpose of entering U.S. graduate medical education and must obtain ECFMG certification.
LCME accreditation establishes eligibility to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) and to enter U.S. residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). With the transition away from LCME accreditation for Canadian medical education programs, Canadian medical school graduates will establish their eligibility for USMLE and ACGME-accredited residency programs through ECFMG Certification. As a result, individuals who graduate from Canadian medical schools on or after July 1, 2025 will be considered international medical graduates (IMGs) for the purpose of entering U.S. graduate medical education (GME).
Individuals who will graduate from Canadian medical schools on or after July 1, 2025, and who plan to pursue U.S GME can now begin applying for ECFMG Certification.
More information and detailed instructions for students and graduates of Canadian medical schools are available in the Certification section of the ECFMG website, including:
- How to determine your eligibility and begin the ECFMG Certification process;
- How to apply for residency programs in the United States as an IMG; and
- How to apply for USMLE.
About ECFMG Certification
ECFMG Certification is the standard for evaluating the qualifications of IMGs entering the U.S. health care system and includes requirements for medical schools, examination requirements (which include USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge among other requirements), and verification of medical education credentials directly with the issuing institution. For more detailed information, please see our ECFMG Certification Overview.