What is USMLE exam?
USMLE test or USMLE exam is US medical licensing exam. It is a screening exam for medical students who want to get a medical license in the United States. USMLE full form stands for the United States Medical Licensing Examination. If you are preparing for USMLE exam, and have queries about USMLE preparation, and looking for how to prepare for USMLE exam, this is all the information you will need.
USMLE is sponsored by two regulatory bodies in the US, which are Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). These two are non-profit-organisations, representing 70 state medical and osteopathic boards across United States of America. Each state has their own rules and regulations when it comes to medical licensing. USMLE test is the common evaluation tool among these for initial medical licensing.
It is regulated by an 80 members board, which include members from not only FSMB and NBME, but also the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Resident and Fellows Section of the AMA, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS), the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the uniformed services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
USMLE includes 3-step examination.
Which are,
1.Step 1 exam
2.Step 2 CS (Clinical Science) and Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)
3.Step 3
These are the three stages of USMLE. Step 1 and Step 2 examination is done while the student is in medical school. Step 3 is taken after he / she has graduated.
Here, we are providing all the information about USMLE exam, USMLE exam details, USMLE exam pattern, USMLE exam Schedule, USMLE exam eligibility, and USMLE exam scores to qualify for the licence.
Eligibility for the USMLE Steps
STEPS 1 AND 2 CK Requirements.
- a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US or Canadian medical school program leading to the MD degree that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), OR
- a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US medical school leading to the DO degree that is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), OR
- a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school that is outside the US and Canada, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, and that meets other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG.
STEPS 3 Requirements.
- Possess the MD degree (or its equivalent) or the DO degree from an LCME- or COCA-accredited US or Canadian medical school or from a medical school outside the US and Canada listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, AND
- Pass Step 1 and Step 2 CK, AND
- Possess ECFMG Certification if you are a graduate of a medical school outside the US and Canada.
RETAKES
You may take the same examination no more than three times within a 12-month period. Your fourth and subsequent attempts must be at least 12 months after your first attempt at that examination and at least six months after your most recent attempt at that examination.
If you have passed an examination, you are not permitted to retake a Step or Step Component, except to comply with certain requirements as approved by the USMLE governance committee.
ATTEMPTS AND TIME LIMITS
You are ineligible to retake a Step or Step Component if you have made six or more prior attempts to pass that Step or Step Component, including incomplete attempts, regardless of when the examinations were taken.
Many state medical boards require that all Steps of the USMLE be successfully completed within a certain time frame.
Please Note: If you are dismissed or withdraw(n) from medical school, you are not eligible for the USMLE, even if you are appealing the school’s decision to dismiss you or are otherwise contesting your status. If you are on a leave of absence, please check with the organization that would register you for your examination before submitting your application; if you have already registered, check before testing. Failure to notify the organization that registered you for your examination of your changed status may result in a determination of irregular behavior and a permanent annotation on your USMLE score reports and transcripts.
Application and Scheduling Process.
STEPS 1 AND 2 CK
• Students/graduates of LCME- or COCAaccredited programs should apply via the NBME Application website
• Students/graduates of medical schools outside the US/Canada should apply via the ECFMG Application website
• During the application process, select an eligibility period during which you prefer to test
• You will receive your scheduling permit via email
• Visit the Prometric website to schedule your test date
STEP 3
• All graduates should apply for Step 3 via the FSMB website
• During the application process, select a three-month eligibility period during which you prefer to test
• You will receive your scheduling permit via email
• Visit the Prometric website to schedule your test dates.
Examination Day and Testing
DO
Review the USMLE Rules of Conduct prior to taking your examination
Follow all test center staff instructions on the day of your examination
Remember to bring a copy of your scheduling permit (electronic or paper) and required identification (see below); you will not be permitted to test without them
Arrive 30 minutes prior to your testing appointment
Confirm that your headphones are working, either before the examination begins or during the tutorial
Use personal items only when on an authorized break; you are not permitted to access your locker during unauthorized breaks
Ensure you’ve completed all sections of the examination
DON’T
Feel compelled to test if you are ill, under unusual stress, or unprepared for the examination; to reschedule, contact the organization that registered you for your examination
Bring family and friends to the test center; instead, arrange to meet them after the examination ends Bring unauthorized items to the testing room; for computer-based examinations, only soft-foam earplugs are allowed
Write on laminated note boards prior to entering your Candidate Identification Number (CIN) and starting your test session (computer-based examinations) or write on anything other than the laminated note boards
Work past the announcements instructing you to stop.
Access your locker or use your cell phone on an unauthorized break.
USMLE Exam Pattern
The number of USMLE Step 1 questions will be total of 280. The questions will be in multiple choice question form. The Step 1 exam is a single day exam with a duration of 8 hours. The eight-hour duration consists of seven blocks, which are 60 minutes long. A single block in Step 1 examination will have 40 questions each.
USMLE Step 1 Exam Pattern
| USMLE Step 1 Exam Pattern |
| Duration |
Total Questions |
Blocks |
No. of Question in each Block |
| 8 Hours |
280 |
7 |
40 |
| USMLE Step 2 Exam Pattern |
| USMLE Step 2 |
Duration |
Total Questions |
Blocks |
No. of Question in each Block |
| USMLE Step 2 CK |
9 Hours |
318 |
8 |
40 |
| USMLE Step 2 CS |
- |
12 Patients |
15 Minutes Each |
- |
USMLE Exam Pattern for Step 3
USMLE Step 3 Day 1: Foundation of Independent Practice (FIP)
The first day of Step 3 Examination is the assessment of candidate’s knowledge of basic scientific and medical principles essential for effective healthcare. It is also an assessment of knowledge of patient history and physical examination along with diagnosis and use of diagnostic studies.
The examination duration for Day 1 is 7 Hours, divided into 6 blocks. Each block contains 38 to 40 items respectively. The total number of USMLE Step 3 questions for Day 1 will not exceed 260.
USMLE Step 3 Day 2: Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACP)
The second day of Step 3 Examination is the assessment of knowledge application abilities in patient management and manifestation of disease. It also asses various aspects such as diagnosis and prognosis, health maintenance and screening, therapeutics and medical decision-making.
The examination duration for Day 2 is 9 hours, divided into 6 blocks. Each block contains 33 questions respectively. The total number of USMLE Step 3 questions for Day 2 is 200.
The test also contains computer based case stimulations.
USMLE Step 3 Exam Pattern:
| USMLE Step 3 |
Duration |
Total Questions |
Blocks |
No. of Question in each Block |
| USMLE Step 3 Day 1 |
7 hours |
233 |
6 |
38-40 |
| USMLE Step 3 Day 2 |
9 hours |
180 |
6 (30 minutes each) |
33 |
| (13 case stimulations) |
Exam fees
USMLE Fees
• For LCME or AOA accredited medical students or graduates in the US or Canada, the candidates will have to apply through NBME or NLES.
The structure of the USMLE Step 1 fees, USMLE step 2 fees is as below:
| Fees |
USMLE Step 1 cost |
USMLE Step 2 CK cost |
USMLE Step 1 & 2 CK cost |
USMLE Step 2 CS cost |
| Application Fees |
$610 |
$610 |
$70 |
$1285 |
| Rescheduling Fees |
$0-$506 |
$0-$569 |
- |
$0-$1280 |
For USMLE registration, medical students or graduates outside the US or Canada, will have to apply through ECMFG.
|
Application fees for ECFMG
|
$75
|
USMLE Exam Fees for Step 1 and 2
| Fees |
Step 1 |
Step 2 CK |
Step 2 CS |
| Application Fees |
$910 |
$910 |
$1565 |
| Extension of Eligibility Period for Step 1/Step 2 CK only) |
$70 |
$70 |
|
| Step 1/Step 2 CK Testing Region Change |
$65 |
$65 |
|
| Rescheduling fee |
$0-$569 |
$0-$1285 |
$0-$1280 |
| Score Recheck (Step 1/Step 2 CK/Step 2 CS) |
$80 |
$80 |
|
| ECFMG Exam Chart |
$50 |
|
|
| ECFMG CSA History Chart |
$50 |
|
|
| USMLE Transcript -Paper |
$70 per request (up to 10 transcripts) |
| USMLE Transcript - Electronic Transmission for ERAS |
$80 per ERAS session |
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