Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

1. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates Stephen S. Seeling, JD Vice President for Operations

2. “Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream.” Sir William Schwenck Gilbert H.M.S. Pinafore

3. www.fakediplomas.com • www.backalleypress.com • www.phonydiploma.com • www.diplomamakers.com

6. ECFMG InternationalCredentials Service (EICS) • Established in 2000 to help international medical regulatory authorities to obtain verification of medical education credentials • Builds on ECFMG expertise in primary source verification • Uses ECFMG’s medical credentials reference library

7. EICS • ECFMG certification was initiated in 1958 • Primary source verification of medical education credentials required since July 1, 1968 • Over 200,000 documents primary source verified

8. EICS • Extensive credentials reference library • Sample medical diplomas and other credentials over time • Names, titles and sample signatures of authorized medical schools officials • Authentic medical school seals over time

9. EICS • EICS offers primary source verification of four categories of international medical credentials • Medical school diplomas • Medical school transcripts • Certificates of postgraduate medical training • Certificates of medical registration/licensure Transcript Diploma

10. EICSPrimary Source Verification • EICS verifies credentials through contact with an authorized individual at the issuing institution • EICS sends photocopies of the credentials, a verification form and photo of the physician • Resends when no response

11. EICSPrimary Source Verification • EICS requests official signatures and seals in responses • Completed verification is checked by EICS for authenticity • Is it signed by appropriate official with appropriate seal?

12. Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)Application Process • Required EICS verification since 2001 • EICS-customized application form on HPCSA and EICS websites • Candidate sends application, credentials, and fee to EICS • After credentials are verified, EICS sends report to HPCSA

13. EICS Report • Name and Address of Regulatory Authority • Candidate Identification Information • Name, EICS Number, Date of Birth • List of Credentials Submitted • Status of Credentials • Verified, Verification Pending, Rejected • Copies of Verifications and Credentials

14. HPCSA Earliest application received: April 25, 2001 Number of applications received from earliest to September 29, 2006: 1,565 Number of credentials received: 6,104

15. HPCSATop 5 Countries ofMedical School Diplomas Received • Nigeria • Democratic Republic of the Congo • United Kingdom • Pakistan • India

16. HPCSATop 5 Countries ofCertificates of Registration / Licensure Received • Nigeria • Democratic Republic of the Congo • United Kingdom • India • United States

17. HPCSATop 5 Countries of Certificatesof Postgraduate Training Received • Nigeria • United Kingdom • Pakistan • Austria • Switzerland

18. HPCSANumber of Countries and Documents Received