ERAS update

	PREPARING FOR THE ERAS 2012 APPLICATION SEASON - ERAS 2012 TOKEN RELEASE DATE - CHANGES TO USMLE PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SCORES - ON-LINE LETTER WRITER PORTAL (LWP) - ERAS SUPPORT SERVICES AT ECFMG EXTENDS TELEPHONE SUPPORT HOURS - ECFMG MEDICAL SCHOOL WEB PORTAL (EMSWP) ERAS SERVICE ********************************************** ERAS 2012 TOKEN RELEASE DATE ERAS 2012 Tokens are expected to become available in mid-June 2011. Please monitor the ERAS Support Services section of the ECFMG website at http://www.ecfmg.org/eras for updates and additional information. CHANGES TO USMLE PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SCORES Starting July 1, 2011, USMLE transcripts reported through the ERAS reporting system will no longer include score results on the two-digit score scale. USMLE results will continue to be reported on the three-digit scale. This affects the Step 1, 2 CK, and 3 examinations only; Step 2 CS will continue to be reported as pass or fail. These changes do not alter the score required to pass or the difficulty of any of the USMLE Step examinations. The full announcement is available on the ECFMG website at http://www.ecfmg.org/announce.htm#usmlechanges. ON-LINE LETTER WRITER PORTAL (LWP) For ERAS 2012, ERAS Support Services at ECFMG expects to offer applicants the ability to send electronic requests for letters of recommendation (LoRs) directly to their letter writers. Letter writers will have the ability to upload LoRs directly to ERAS Support Services via a new Letter Writer Portal (LWP). LoRs uploaded through the LWP are expected to be processed within one to two weeks. Please monitor the ERAS Support Services section of the ECFMG website at http://www.ecfmg.org/eras for additional information. ERAS SUPPORT SERVICES AT ECFMG EXTENDS TELEPHONE SUPPORT HOURS Effective July 1, 2011, applicants will be able to reach an ERAS Support Services at ECFMG representative by telephone Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time in the United States. The ERAS Support Services direct telephone number is (215) 966-3520. Applicants also can reach an ERAS Support Services representative by e-mail at eras-support@ecfmg.org. ECFMG MEDICAL SCHOOL WEB PORTAL (EMSWP) ERAS SERVICE EMSWP ERAS is a web-based service through which international medical schools have the ability to upload medical student performance evaluations (MSPEs), medical school transcripts, and letters of recommendation (LoRs) through a secure site; track receipt of ERAS supporting documents received by ECFMG; and verify the ERAS registration activity of students and graduates. This service is available to international medical schools at no cost. Schools that use EMSWP ERAS can eliminate the costs associated with providing documents by mail or courier service. Providing documents via EMSWP ERAS also reduces processing time significantly. Documents mailed to ECFMG require up to four weeks to process. Documents uploaded through EMSWP ERAS require only 24-48 hours to process. For more information on how to establish an EMSWP ERAS account, international medical schools should contact ERAS Support Services at erasadmin@ecfmg.org