deadline set forth in ECFMG’s writing to the individual. Submissions received after the deadline will be
considered by
the Medical Education Credentials Committee at its discretion. The individual may also request the opportunity to
appear personally before the Medical Education Credentials Committee, and may be represented by legal counsel, if
the individual so wishes. In instances in which the individual appears personally before the Medical Education
Credentials Committee, a stenographic or audio recording will be made of that portion of the proceedings during which
the individual is in attendance. Any statements made by the individual during a personal appearance before the
Medical Education Credentials Committee will be under oath.
5. All pertinent information regarding the irregular behavior, including any explanation or other information that the
individual may provide, will be provided to the Medical Education Credentials Committee. The Medical Education
Credentials Committee, based on the information available to it, will determine whether the preponderance of the
evidence indicates that the individual engaged in irregular behavior. If the Medical Education Credentials Committee
determines that the individual engaged in irregular behavior, the Medical Education Credentials Committee will
determine what action(s) will be taken as a result of the irregular behavior. ECFMG will notify the individual whether
the Medical Education Credentials Committee determined the individual engaged in irregular behavior and of any
action(s) taken pursuant thereto.
6. The Medical Education Credentials Committee’s determination of irregular behavior and any action(s) taken
pursuant thereto (a “decision” of the Medical Education Credentials Committee) may be appealed to the Review
Committee for Appeals if the individual has a reasonable basis to believe the Medical Education Credentials
Committee did not act in compliance with the Medical Education Credentials Committee Policies and Procedures or
that the Medical Education Credentials Committee’s decision was clearly contrary to the weight of the evidence before
it. The notice of appeal must be received by ECFMG within thirty (30) days of the date on which the notification
advising the individual of the Medical Education Credentials Committee’s decision was mailed to the individual. The
appeal of a decision of the Medical Education Credentials Committee is governed by the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
7. Petitions for reconsideration of a decision of the Medical Education Credentials Committee will be reviewed by the
Medical Education Credentials Committee only in extraordinary cases. Any such petition must first be considered by
ECFMG staff, who, after discussion with the Medical Education Credentials Committee Chair, may deny the request or
place it on the agenda for consideration by the full Medical Education Credentials Committee at a regularly scheduled
meeting. Absent the submission of newly discovered material evidence not previously available to the petitioner and,
therefore, not available to the Medical Education Credentials Committee, petitions for reconsideration typically will be
denied.
C. Representative Examples of Irregular Behavior
Representative examples of allegations of irregular behavior and actions taken by the ECFMG Medical Education
Credentials Committee include, but are not limited to, the following:
Providing false information on an application submitted to ECFMG
The ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee reviewed an allegation of irregular behavior in
connection with an individual who provided false information on an application submitted to ECFMG as part of
the certification process. In that application, the individual certified he was a student enrolled in medical school
when, in fact, he previously had been dismissed from medical school and, therefore, was no longer a student.
Following review, the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee determined the individual had
engaged in irregular behavior and took action to bar the individual from ECFMG Certification, thereby
rendering the individual ineligible to apply for USMLE examinations leading to ECFMG Certification.
Providing false information to ECFMG as part of the ECFMG On-line Authentication Process, which is a
prerequisite to submitting an application for examination
The ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee reviewed an allegation of irregular behavior in
connection with an individual who provided false information to ECFMG as part of the ECFMG On-line
Authentication Process, which is used to obtain a USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number and is a prerequisite
to submitting an application for examination. During the on-line authentication process, the individual certified
he had not previously submitted an application for examination to ECFMG when he had not only previously
applied for, but had taken examinations.
Page 17
Following review, the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee determined the individual had
engaged in irregular behavior and took action to bar the individual from ECFMG Certification, thereby
rendering the individual ineligible to apply for USMLE examinations leading to ECFMG Certification.
Submitting a fraudulent medical diploma and providing false information on an application submitted to
ECFMG
The ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee reviewed an allegation of irregular behavior in
connection with an individual who submitted a fraudulent medical diploma and provided false information on an
application submitted to ECFMG.
Following review, the ECFMG Medical Education Credentials Committee determined the individual had
engaged in irregular behavior and took action to bar the individual from ECFMG Certification, thereby
rendering the individual ineligible to apply for USMLE examinations leading to ECFMG Certification.
Last updated: September 7, 2017
Copyright © 2017 by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. All rights reserved.
Page 18