Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do you have any time limit since year of graduation?
    • Yes, five years.
  • Do you give PGY-1 as part of the Neurology residency or do you consider only PGY-2 positions?
    • Neurology Program at WVU is a categorical program for four years. This includes PGY1 and three years of neurology training.
  • Do you take International Medical Graduates in your program?
    • Yes.
  • Do you sponsor H1 visas?
    • No, we only accept J1 visas or green card.
  • Do you ask for any prior US clinical experience?
    • Prior clinical experience is not mandatory, but preferred.
  • Do you have any minimum score requirements?
    • There are no minimum score requirements.
  • What is the last date to apply to your program?
    • The last date to apply is December 1.
  • Do you need a valid ECFMG certificate at the time of application?
    • Not at the time of application but required prior to rank order list submission deadline.
  • How many positions do you have for the first year?
    • The program has eight positions.
  • What is the program size?
    • We currently have 30 residents, but have recently expanded our program size from 6 residents/year to 8 residents/year.
  • Is research experience necessary?
    • No research experience is necessary.
  • What are the requirements for ECFMG Certification now that the USMLE Clinical Skills test is suspended?
    • All International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are required to have ECFMG Certification prior to the submission deadline for the applicant rank list (February 1st).  One criteria for ECFMG certification is successful completion of an English Language Proficiency Assessment.  Prior to 2021, this was assessed by the USMLE Step II Clinical Skills (CS) test, but due to the international Covid pandemic all USMLE Step II CS tests have been suspended.
    • As a result, the ECFMG will accept the Occupational English Test (OET) Medicine as a surrogate marker of English proficiency.  United States Medical School graduates, IMG applicants who have already passed the USMLE Step II CS exam, and IMG applicants who have already passed the OET Medicine test on or after 7/1/2018 do not need to take/retake this exam.  For more information regarding ECFMG requirements for the 2021 Match, please visit their website at https://www.ecfmg.org/certification-requirements-2023-match/.
    • You may pre-register for the OET Medicine exam at https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/l/ecfmg.  It is recommend that you take this exam by December 31st to help ensure that your test score is reported in enough time for ECFMG to determine the status of your pathway application and to report that status to the NRMP by the NRMP’s Rank Order List deadline.  The OET Medicine test is offered in 44 countries, but beginning in September 2020 the OET will offer OET@Home, a version of the test that applicants can take safely and securely at home through remote proctoring.
    • Please note that you are also required to have taken and passed the USMLE Step I and USMLE Step II Clinical Knowledge (CK) in order to be considered for ECFMG Certification.  This requirement is consistent with previous years.  ECFMG applicants who have failed a USMLE Step I or Step Component (including Step II CS) two or more times are ineligible to register.  ECFMG applicants are eligible only if both their USMLE Step I and USMLE Step II (CK) were passed after January 1, 2018. Applicants with older passing exam scores will be required to seek exemption through the ECFMG.
  • Due to delays imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, if an applicant submits their Step 2 CK results late will your program be willing to review that candidate's application?
    • Yes, all applications received by December 1st will be reviewed.
  • Due to COVID-19, a lot of applicants especially non-US IMGs may not have US clinical experience, will your program be willing to be flexible regarding that requirement this match season? 
    • US clinical experience is not a requirement for being offered an interview.
  • Does your program require ECFMG certification for non-US IMGs before being interviewed?
    • ECFMG certification is not necessary to receive an interview, but is necessary prior to the submission of a rank list.  We cannot rank individuals who are not ECFMG certified.