Intealth (parent of ECFMG and FAIMER)

Intealth was established in 2021 by ECFMG (the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) and FAIMER (the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research) as their shared identity. Intealth says that in 2023 it became a private nonprofit organization in its own right, with ECFMG and FAIMER as its divisions. ECFMG was established in 1956 and FAIMER in 2000.

In practice, IMGs still meet the ECFMG name everywhere: on the certificate, in visa documents, and in program requirements. Documents often say "Intealth, dba ECFMG", meaning Intealth doing business as ECFMG. When a residency program asks for your ECFMG certificate, it is the same organization.

Mainly doctors who qualified outside the US and Canada. You meet Intealth at several points:

• ECFMG certification, required to enter ACGME-accredited residency and to sit USMLE Step 3.
• ERAS support: ECFMG acts as the Designated Dean's Office for IMGs in ERAS, issuing the token and transmitting documents.
• J-1 sponsorship: Intealth is authorized by the Department of State to sponsor foreign national physicians in the J-1 category for clinical training, and issues the DS-2019. See J-1 visa for physicians.
• EPIC, a primary source verification service that other regulators, such as the UK's GMC, use. See EPIC verification.

ECFMG's guide for J-1 physicians says its sponsorship lasts for the time typically required to complete the program, up to a federal maximum of seven years, and can cover a spouse and unmarried children under 21 as J-2 dependents. Sponsored doctors must report a change of address within ten days and any incident involving them or a dependent within 24 hours.

Nurses do not normally deal with Intealth. Their credentials go through TruMerit (formerly CGFNS), and their exam is the NCLEX from NCSBN.

1. Create an account in MyIntealth, the online portal for applicants. ERAS token requests, document uploads and J-1 matters all run through it.
2. Apply for ECFMG certification and have your medical diploma and transcript verified with your school.
3. Register for the USMLE. Since January 12, 2026, USMLE Step services for IMGs (registration, score reports and customer service) are run by the FSMB rather than ECFMG.
4. When you apply for residency, request your ERAS token through MyIntealth. ECFMG lists a $185 non-refundable fee for the 2027 season.
5. If you match into a program that uses the J-1, apply to ECFMG for visa sponsorship.

Full fees and pathway rules are on our ECFMG page.

• Name mismatches between your passport, diploma and MyIntealth record, which hold up verification.
• Waiting on your medical school to confirm documents. Start early, because Intealth verifies with the school directly.
• Confusing roles. Intealth certifies and verifies; it does not license doctors. State medical boards do that.
• Looking in the wrong place for USMLE help. Since 2026, USMLE registration and scores for IMGs sit with the FSMB.

Our ECFMG Pathways guide and USMLE guide cover each step.