news
ECFMG to FSMB: what changed for IMG registration
Since January 2026, international graduates register for all three Step exams through FSMB rather than ECFMG. What moved, what did not, and what to check.
- IMG pathway
- The Match
- Step 1
IMG pathway
8 guides on IMG pathway from Steps IMD.
The new exam interface when you test abroad
The 2026 software update changed navigation and added a settings menu. Why meeting it cold matters more at an international centre.
- IMG pathway
- Step 1
- Practice exams
Designated testing dates and the IMG timeline
Fixed exam dates from January 2029 compress a timeline that already has less slack in it. What international applicants should plan for.
- IMG pathway
- The Match
- Step 2 CK
review
Choosing a question bank when you did not train in the US
Most question bank advice assumes a US curriculum and a US student budget. What changes when neither applies.
- Question banks
- IMG pathway
- Reviews
Preparing for Step 1 alongside a non-US curriculum
The exam assumes a curriculum you may not be following, on a schedule that does not align with yours. How to close the gap without abandoning your degree.
- IMG pathway
- Step 1
- Study strategy
An IMG timeline for the Match, working backwards
The application calendar is fixed and everything else has to fit around it. Building a schedule from the deadline rather than from where you are now.
- IMG pathway
- The Match
- Step 2 CK
ECFMG certification, explained without the acronym soup
What certification is for, the pieces it is assembled from, and why starting the administrative work late is the most common avoidable delay.
- IMG pathway
- The Match
- Step 1
faq
A plain-language glossary of USMLE terms
The abbreviations and jargon that appear constantly in USMLE discussion, explained without assuming you already know what they mean.
- Step 1
- Step 2 CK
- IMG pathway