IMGs From Iran: Schools, Test Centers and Visa Notes

Iranian medical graduates face two separate questions: whether their school and year make them eligible for ECFMG Certification, and whether current US entry restrictions allow them to obtain a visa. The first is checked in the World Directory. The second is the harder one in 2026, so it is covered carefully below. This is general information, not legal advice.

What the published data say about IMGs from Iran #

NRMP counts IMGs by citizenship, not by country of medical school. In the 2026 Main Residency Match, 11,944 non-U.S. citizen IMGs submitted rank order lists and 6,733 matched to PGY-1 positions (56.4 percent). Those figures include all nationalities. We found no Iran-specific figure in NRMP's Match reports or in ECFMG's fact sheet (which gives only global totals). We do not quote one. See IMG match statistics.

Checking school eligibility #

Check your school in the World Directory of Medical Schools for an ECFMG Sponsor Note covering your graduation year. ECFMG also requires, since 2024, accreditation by an agency recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). See the World Directory guide and accreditation requirement.

For Iran, WFME's list shows the Secretariat of the Council for Undergraduate Medical Education (SCUME) as a recognized agency, with recognition shown until June 2029. That is a positive sign, but it is a statement about the agency. Recognition of an agency does not by itself tell you that your particular school was accredited for your graduation year. The Sponsor Note does.

USMLE testing #

IMGs register for USMLE through FSMB since January 2026; ECFMG still decides eligibility for certification. Step 1 and Step 2 CK are given at Prometric centers in many countries; Step 3 only in the US and its territories (USMLE Bulletin). We could not verify any Prometric USMLE center in Iran on usmle.org or Prometric's pages, and we do not list one. Check Prometric's locator after you get your permit. If you must test abroad, you will need to plan travel and, most likely, a visa or entry permission for that country, which depends on your passport. See USMLE test centers outside the US.

Credentials, sanctions and documents #

ECFMG verifies your diploma and transcript directly with your school, so ask your registrar early. US sanctions law can affect communication and payments with Iranian institutions. In June 2015, ECFMG paused and then resumed credential verification involving Iranian institutions after Treasury clarification. We could not confirm ECFMG's current handling, so contact ECFMG about any payment or verification problem and do not use unofficial intermediaries. See EPIC credential verification and common ECFMG delays.

US entry restrictions on Iranian nationals #

What the proclamation text says, as we read it:

• Who: nationals of the listed countries, including Iran, who are outside the US and had no valid visa on January 1, 2026. Visas issued before that date were not revoked by it.
• Exceptions listed: lawful permanent residents; dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-designated country; certain diplomatic and international-organization visa classes; certain athletes for major sporting events; and a category of immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran. The text names no general exception for J-1 exchange visitors or physicians.
• Case-by-case: the proclamation allows individual exceptions that the Secretary of State, the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant in the national interest. The State Department publishes the procedures; we could not verify how they apply to residents.
• Where the State Department explains it: Suspension of Visa Issuance.

Because the restriction is tied to nationality at entry, it can matter differently depending on where you are, what passport you hold and whether you hold a valid visa. We cannot tell you how it applies to your case.

If you are already in the US in a valid status, or hold a green card or US citizenship, the rules on entry restrictions differ. The standard resident visa routes, if you are not affected, are in the J-1 visa process and J-1 vs H-1B.

Community and professional resources #

We could not verify a specific professional or alumni association to recommend. Ask your school's alumni, colleagues who trained in the US, and the program's international office. Treat anonymous forums as leads, not rules.

Next steps #

1. Check your Sponsor Note and graduation years.
2. Get individual immigration advice before committing to a start date.
3. Plan exams around a verified, reachable Prometric location.
4. Keep copies of all ECFMG and visa correspondence.