verification of medical credentials

[dr.zafranfarooq]

dear doctors and medical students,if my form 186 gets accepted then can I request for extension of my eligibility period.i want to appear in usmle step1 in February but right now I can't choose eligibility period for 2016.what should I do? my medical school doesn't participate in ECFMG medical school web portal system it will take couple of months to get my credentials verified. my friend just got sechduling permit after his medical credentials verification and his medical school participate in ECFMG medical school web portal system but ECFMG people say that verification of medical credentials is separate process n its not necessary to sit in usmle step1 / 2ck.now what should I do? should I register for usmle step1 now or wait for availability for eligibility period of 2016.please clarify to me that will ECFMG extend my eligibility period if I request after approval of form 186 or they will wait for verification of my medical credentials.

[fat1iscool]

Hi,

Verification of credentials and applying for an exam and getting your permit are indeed 2 separate processes. I believe if your form 183 has been accepted, then you can schedule and sit for any exam, even if your credentials are still being processed. But if you want to extend your eligibility period, I think ECFMG will have to contact your school again, and since it does not participate in the portal, it will be a lengthy process. Perhaps you should wait to apply for an exam? The 2016 exam dates are opening in September anyway, and that isnt too far away.

[dr.zafranfarooq]

thank you very much for your kind reply