2026 USMLE Service Transition Guide: Key Dates & Action Items
The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) program has announced important upcoming changes designed to create a smoother, more efficient path for test-takers. The USMLE Service Transition is scheduled for launch in January 2026. It involves a comprehensive effort to consolidate all USMLE Step exam service functions, including exam registration, score report delivery, and customer support, under the joint oversight of the Federation of State Medical Boards® (FSMB®) and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®). This large-scale restructuring will be implemented through two distinct phases.
Keep reading for a summary of the key USMLE transition announcement and important dates for test-takers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- USMLE Service Transition Phase One
- Key USMLE Transition Dates for IMGs
- USMLE Service Transition Phase Two
- Key USMLE Step 3 Transition Dates for U.S. Students/Graduates
- List of Immediate Action Items for All USMLE Examinees
USMLE Service Transition Phase One: IMGs Transition to FSMB
The initial phase of the USMLE service transition affects International Medical Graduates (IMGs)—medical students and graduates of schools outside the U.S. USMLE Step exam services previously managed for IMGs by ECFMG®, a division of Intealth®, will be transferred to the FSMB. Following this change, the FSMB will manage all USMLE services for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 for IMGs.
Key USMLE Transition Dates for International Medical Graduates
Review the table below for key transition dates affecting IMGs.
| Date | Event/Action Required |
| December 31, 2025 | Recommended deadline for submissions to ECFMG. The USMLE program recommends that all applications and supporting documentation (for Step 1/2 CK, eligibility period extensions, testing region changes, or score rechecks) be submitted to ECFMG via the MyIntealth portal by this date. |
| January 7, 2026 | ECFMG continues to provide services until this date. Examinees testing during the outage period (Jan 8–12) must download their scheduling permits by this date. |
| January 8, 2026 | FSMB’s USMLE portal and ECFMG’s MyIntealth portal will become temporarily unavailable. IMGs will no longer be able to access any USMLE services in ECFMG’s MyIntealth portal. |
| January 12, 2026 | Transition complete. FSMB will begin managing all USMLE services for IMGs through the FSMB’s USMLE portal, which is expected to be available again on this date. |
Source: USMLE
Important reminder for IMGs: If your application or service request is incomplete or not finalized by the transition date, IMGs will be required to resubmit the request with FSMB after the service shift.
Does the USMLE Service transition affect requirements for ECFMG certification?
This service change does not impact the requirements for ECFMG Certification. ECFMG will continue to determine if IMGs are eligible for Certification, and Step 1 and Step 2 CK will remain necessary to satisfy the examination component for Certification.
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USMLE Service Transition Phase Two: Step 3 Services for U.S. Students/Graduates Transition to NBME
This second phase impacts students and graduates of U.S. medical schools who are registering for USMLE Step 3. Step 3 services currently provided by FSMB to students and graduates of U.S. medical schools will transition to the NBME. This change will centralize all examinee services for students and graduates of U.S. medical schools with the NBME.
Key USMLE Step 3 Transition Dates for U.S. Students/Graduates
Review the table below for key transition dates affecting U.S. students and graduates taking USMLE Step 3.
| Date | Event/Action Required |
| January 15, 2026 | Recommended deadline for Step 3 submissions to FSMB. The USMLE program recommends that all exam registration activities (including applications for Step 3, eligibility period extensions, or score rechecks) be submitted to FSMB by this date. |
| January 22, 2026 | FSMB continues to provide Step 3 services until this date. Examinees testing during the outage period must download their scheduling permits by this date. |
| January 23, 2026 | FSMB’s USMLE portal will become temporarily unavailable. Examinees will be unable to access all Step 3 services. |
| January 26, 2026 | Transition complete. All Step 3 services will be available, and NBME will begin managing all USMLE registration services for students and graduates of U.S. medical schools through the MyUSMLE℠ Portal. |
Source: USMLE
Important reminder for U.S. students/graduates: If your application or service request is incomplete or not processed prior to the transition, you will need to resubmit it with NBME following the transition.
List of Immediate Action Items for All USMLE Examinees
If you are planning to take a USMLE exam or perform any service function (like score rechecks, extensions, or registration) around these dates, please note the following crucial steps:
- Download Scheduling Permits: Examinees are not allowed to test without a scheduling permit. Ensure you download your permit before the outage periods start.
- IMGs testing January 8–12: Download permits by January 7, 2026.
- U.S. Students/Graduates testing Step 3 during the outage: Download permits by January 22, 2026.
- Plan Ahead: The provided deadlines (December 31, 2025, and January 15, 2026) serve as general guidance and do not guarantee completion before the service transition. Submitting your applications well in advance is highly recommended to avoid reprocessing issues.
- Stay Informed: For the latest information, refer to the USMLE Service Transition Information Hub.
This USMLE service transition is like merging two major highways into a single, efficient thoroughfare—while the construction requires brief closures (the portal outages), the long-term goal is to streamline the entire licensing journey for future physicians. We encourage strict adherence to these published deadlines to ensure a smooth preparation and registration process.
Written by John Bloodworth, M.D., Executive Director, Medical Product. Dr. Bloodworth earned his M.D. from Ross University School of Medicine in 2010, joining Kaplan full-time soon after.
