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59<header>
60  <p><a href="/">Home</a> &rsaquo; FCVS Guide</p>
61  <h1>FCVS for Massachusetts Medical License</h1>
62  <p>The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is required for every initial Massachusetts medical license. This guide explains how it works, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to avoid the most common delays.</p>
63</header>
64<section>
65  <h2>What Is FCVS?</h2>
66  <p>FCVS is run by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). It performs primary source verification of your medical education credentials and stores them in a permanent portfolio that any participating state medical board can access. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine requires FCVS for every initial full license application — there is no path to bypass it.</p>
67</section>
68<section>
69  <h2>What FCVS Verifies</h2>
70  <ul>
71    <li><strong>Medical school diploma and transcripts</strong> — confirmed directly with the issuing institution.</li>
72    <li><strong>USMLE or COMLEX scores</strong> — all steps or levels, verified through NBME or NBOME.</li>
73    <li><strong>Postgraduate training</strong> — every residency and fellowship program you have completed or are currently enrolled in, verified directly with the program director.</li>
74    <li><strong>ECFMG certification</strong> — for international medical graduates.</li>
75  </ul>
76</section>
77<section>
78  <h2>Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your FCVS Profile</h2>
79  <h3>1. Create your account</h3>
80  <p>Go to fsmb.org/fcvs and create your applicant account. You will provide identifying information, contact details, and your AAMC ID or AOA number.</p>
81  <h3>2. Submit verification requests</h3>
82  <p>Within your FCVS account, request primary source verification for each credential type. FCVS will then send verification requests to your medical school, your training programs, and the testing bodies on your behalf.</p>
83  <h3>3. Pay the fees</h3>
84  <p>The standard FCVS profile fee is $375. Additional fees apply for transmissions to additional state boards (typically $75 each) and for re-verification updates.</p>
85  <h3>4. Monitor and follow up</h3>
86  <p>FCVS will not chase a slow institution for you. Log in weekly to see which verifications are still outstanding. If a verification has not been received within 30 days, contact your medical school registrar or program coordinator directly.</p>
87  <h3>5. Authorize transmission to Massachusetts</h3>
88  <p>Once your FCVS profile is complete, authorize FSMB to transmit your portfolio to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine. The transmission is electronic but takes a few business days to appear in your Massachusetts application.</p>
89</section>
90<section>
91  <h2>How Long Does FCVS Take?</h2>
92  <p>The typical FCVS profile takes 45–60 days to complete from initial request to final transmission. International medical graduates and physicians with multiple training programs often see longer timelines, particularly when older institutions are slow to respond. Start FCVS as early as possible — even before you formally submit your Massachusetts application.</p>
93</section>
94<section>
95  <h2>Common FCVS Pitfalls</h2>
96  <ul>
97    <li><strong>Wrong AAMC ID or name mismatch</strong> — names that do not exactly match medical school records will cause verification failures.</li>
98    <li><strong>Forgotten training programs</strong> — every postgraduate program counts, including transitional years and one-month rotations that issued separate verifications.</li>
99    <li><strong>Slow medical schools</strong> — a few medical schools, particularly some Caribbean and older European institutions, take 90+ days. Plan accordingly.</li>
100    <li><strong>Outdated FCVS profile</strong> — if you have an FCVS profile from years ago, it may not include subsequent training. Update before transmitting.</li>
101  </ul>
102</section>
103<section>
104  <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
105  <h3>Is FCVS the same as ECFMG?</h3>
106  <p>No. ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certifies international medical graduates. FCVS is a separate FSMB credentialing service that bundles all your verified credentials for transmission to state medical boards.</p>
107  <h3>Can I use an old FCVS profile?</h3>
108  <p>Yes, if it remains active and is up to date. You can request an existing profile be transmitted to Massachusetts for a transmission fee, typically $75. Update the profile to reflect any training completed since your original setup.</p>
109  <h3>How much does FCVS cost?</h3>
110  <p>The base FCVS profile is $375. Additional state transmissions are typically $75 each. Re-verifications and other updates carry small fees. Plan to budget around $450–$500 for the full FCVS process when applying to Massachusetts as your first state.</p>
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