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The following is an overview of the process:

1. Subscribe to ECFMG-ERAS News, a free e-newsletter for IMGs using ERAS, to receive important updates.
2. Prior to applying via ERAS, contact your programs of interest to determine their minimum eligibility criteria, ERAS application deadlines, and institutional policies about visas, if applicable.
3. Obtain a Residency Token via ECFMG’s OASIS.
4. Use your Token to register at the AAMC MyERAS website and obtain your AAMC Identification Number.
5. Once you have registered at MyERAS, you can begin to work on your Common Application Form (CAF), Profile, and Personal Statement.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will be required to certify your CAF on-line at MyERAS. Do not certify your CAF until you are absolutely sure the information that you have provided is accurate and complete. Once you certify your CAF, it cannot be changed. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG does not have access to your CAF.

6. Submit supporting documents, referenced with your AAMC Identification Number, to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG for arrival by August 1. All documents should be accompanied by a Document Submission Form (DSF), which you can complete and print on-line using ECFMG’s OASIS. A DSF should be included each time documents are mailed to ECFMG for scanning.

Due to the heavy volume of incoming documents that require scanning, the lead time for scanning and uploading documents is up to four weeks from the date documents appear in the ERAS Support Services Document Tracking System, which you can access via OASIS. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG strives to have your documents ready for program evaluation by September 1; however, your timely submission of documents is critical in achieving this common goal.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs) are not available to program directors until November 1. Therefore, the recommended deadline for arrival of MSPEs at ECFMG is October 1.

7. Track the documents received by ERAS Support Services at ECFMG via ECFMG’s OASIS. Please allow three to five business days from their receipt by ECFMG for your documents to appear in OASIS.
8. Register with NRMP in order to participate in the 2010 Match.
9. Select programs and assign supporting documents.
10. On September 1, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time in the United States, you may begin applying to ACGME-accredited programs, and ACGME-accredited programs may begin contacting the ERAS PostOffice to download application files. You should make every effort to ensure your supporting documents are received by ECFMG four weeks prior to this date to ensure your documents are ready for program evaluation and to meet program deadlines.
11. A few days after applying, monitor the status of your ERAS application via the Applicant Document Tracking System (ADTS), which you can access from MyERAS.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It takes at least one business day before documents can be transmitted to the ERAS PostOffice.