Licensing and certification bodies
Certified translation of medical credentials for ECFMG
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), the body every international medical graduate goes through on the way to a US residency, publishes one of the most precise translation rules of any US credentialing organization. Any document not in English must be accompanied by a word for word translation prepared from the original or a photocopy, by a government official, a medical school official or a professional translation service, bearing the signature and title of the person who prepared it and the seal if there is one, on letterhead that identifies the company as a translation service, with a certification statement in English. Summary translations, notary only translations, unsigned translations and translations without a certification statement are rejected, and applicants may not translate their own documents. Eagle Translate is a translation service and an ATA Corporate Member, and every delivery meets each point on that list. Certified translation is $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, in 2 to 3 business days, and STUDENT25 takes 25% off.
In their own words
What ECFMG says, in its own words
be a word-for-word translation of the original language document. An abstract or summary translation of the document is not acceptable.The first of six conditions. Ours translate every line of the diploma and the transcript, the grading key and every stamp included.
be prepared by a government official (for example, a Consular Officer), medical school official (for example, a Dean or Registrar), or a professional translation service.Eagle Translate is a professional translation service, the third category, and the same page rules out translations by the applicant.
appear on letterhead. If the translation service is a private company, the letterhead must identify the company as a translation service.Our letterhead reads Eagle Translate, Certified Document Translation, and the certificate that opens the file carries the signature and title of the translator, the company stamp and the certification statement in English, the other conditions on the list.
Original language documents that are not accompanied by an English translation that meets ECFMG's translation requirements will not be accepted. Likewise, English translations that are not accompanied by the original language document will not be accepted.Always the pair. Our certificate names the source document, and the layout of the original is kept so the two read side by side.
Requirement by requirement
ECFMG's six conditions and the Eagle Translate delivery
| What they require | What Eagle Translate delivers |
|---|---|
| Word for word, not an abstract or summary | Complete, every line translated, every stamp and seal described in brackets at its position |
| Prepared from the original or a photocopy, not a transcription | Translated from the scan of the original document you upload |
| Prepared by a professional translation service | Eagle Translate, a translation company and ATA Corporate Member (member 199762) |
| Signature and title of the representative, and seal if there is one | Signed by the translator with the title Qualified Professional Translator, issued by a company officer, with the company stamp |
| On letterhead that identifies the company as a translation service | Eagle Translate, Certified Document Translation, printed at the head of the certificate |
| A certification statement in English that the translation is correct | The Certificate of Translation Accuracy states in English that the translation is complete and accurate |
Pricing
Exact prices, shown before you pay
A diploma with its transcript is the set almost every credential evaluation starts from. Certified translation is $24.95 per page, so a typical order of 3 to 8 pages comes to $74.85 to $199.60. The exact total is measured from your real document and shown before payment.
Standard
$19.95 per page
3 to 5 business days
A professional translation with digital delivery.
Certified
$24.95 per page
2 to 3 business days
A certified translation accepted for official use.
Premium
$39.95 per page
1 to 2 business days
A certified translation, translated first.
One page is up to 250 words.
Two discount coupon codes for students and professionals
STUDENT25 takes 25% off your certified translation
Enter STUDENT25 at checkout and certified translation drops from $24.95 to $18.71 per page. It applies to diplomas, transcripts, and any other document your evaluation needs.
Discount coupon codeSTUDENT25FREERUSH gives you Premium delivery at the Certified price
On a deadline? Choose the Premium level (1 to 2 business days) and enter FREERUSH; it is charged at $24.95 per page instead of $39.95, through 31 December 2026. One code applies per order.
Discount coupon codeFREERUSHRequirements
What ECFMG requires of a translation
- Any document submitted to ECFMG that is not in English must be accompanied by an English translation that meets ECFMG's translation requirements, and documents must be submitted in the original language.
- The translation must be word for word, prepared from the original or a photocopy, by a government official, a medical school official or a professional translation service, with the signature and title of the person who prepared it and the seal if there is one, on letterhead, with a certification statement in English.
- Unacceptable translations include those prepared by a notary who is not an official or a translation service representative, unsigned translations, translations that are not word for word, and translations without a certification statement.
- Applicants for ECFMG services are not permitted to translate their own documents.
- An English language certificate issued by the medical school that is not a word for word English version of the degree or transcript is not acceptable as a translation.
- ECFMG recommends Straker Translations but does not require it; if another service is used, the applicant is responsible for ensuring the translation meets ECFMG's requirements.
- If the medical school's credential is not in English and no acceptable translation is provided, ECFMG has it translated by an independent service and charges the applicant's account without notice beforehand.
Common reasons translations get rejected
- Sending the medical school's English certificate as the translation. ECFMG accepts it only if it is a word for word English version of the diploma or transcript.
- A notary's translation. ECFMG lists translations prepared by a notary who is not an official or a translation service representative among the unacceptable ones.
- Uploading the translation without the original language document. ECFMG rejects translations that arrive alone.
- Submitting a professional evaluation of the diploma. ECFMG does not accept evaluations in lieu of the final medical diploma; it verifies the diploma with the medical school itself.
- Leaving the translation to ECFMG's independent service. It is arranged without notice and billed to your account, so the price is not yours to compare.
Who relies on it
Who this rule reaches
- International medical graduates applying for ECFMG certification on the way to USMLE and residency, whose final medical diploma and transcript are verified by ECFMG with the medical school.
- The same word for word, signed, on letterhead standard is what state medical boards and hospital credentialing offices later ask for, so a translation that meets ECFMG's list serves the rest of the path.
Good to know
Good to know about ECFMG
ECFMG is a division of Intealth and was established in 1956; its translation resource page was last updated on December 4, 2024 and the 2026 Information Booklet pages on January 9, 2026.
ECFMG's instructions for its recommended service describe the certified translation as one that includes the translator's signature and seal, uploaded as a PDF together with the original language document; that is the form our delivery takes.
Certified translation with us is $24.95 per page of up to 250 words; STUDENT25 takes 25% off and FREERUSH gives Premium delivery at the Certified price. One code per order.
How it works
From upload to certified delivery
Step 1
Upload and get an instant quote
Send us your document, choose your languages, and see your price right away.
Step 2
A professional translator translates it
A qualified professional translator translates your document.
Step 3
Reviewed for accuracy and certified
Your translation is reviewed for accuracy and certified with a signed certificate of accuracy.
Step 4
Receive your certified translation
You receive your certified translation, ready for official use.
Questions
Common questions
- Does ECFMG accept translations from Eagle Translate?
- ECFMG accepts translations by a professional translation service that are word for word, signed with the representative's title, sealed, on letterhead identifying the company as a translation service, and certified in English. Our delivery carries each of those. ECFMG says it is the applicant's responsibility to make sure a translation from a service other than Straker meets its requirements, and ECFMG decides each file; we do not give legal advice.
- Do I have to use Straker Translations?
- No. ECFMG strongly encourages it and says translations from Straker will not be rejected for failing its requirements, but it also says applicants are not required to use Straker. Any service whose translation meets the published list is allowed.
- Does ECFMG accept a notarized translation?
- Not on its own. A translation prepared by a notary who is not a government or medical school official or a translation service representative is on ECFMG's list of unacceptable translations. What ECFMG wants is the translation service's signature, seal, letterhead and certification statement.
- Which documents will I need translated?
- The final medical diploma in the original language with all signatures and the issue date, and, when ECFMG obtains it from the school, the final medical school transcript. Anything else ECFMG asks for that is not in English follows the same rule.
- How much does the translation cost and how long does it take?
- $24.95 per page of up to 250 source words, in 2 to 3 business days, no certification fee. STUDENT25 takes 25% off; FREERUSH gives Premium 1 to 2 business day delivery at the Certified price. One code per order.
- Can ECFMG verify the certificate?
- Yes. Each certificate carries its own number and a QR code that lead to eagletranslate.com/verify, where the number is confirmed against our records.
A translation error is ours to fix
If your certified translation is rejected because of a translation error we made, we correct it at no charge, and if the corrected translation is rejected again for that same error we refund what you paid for it. Our Refund Policy sets out the conditions and what it does not cover. Your documents are encrypted and kept confidential from start to finish.
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