USMLE: Practice Medicine In The USA, Eligibility, Exam Pattern And Preparation Tips

Are you planning to practice medicine in the United States of America (USA)? It’s time to know complete details about the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The USMLE exam provides a license to medical graduates who want to practice in the USA. This is an exam with 3 levels. Both the Federation of State Medical Board (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to conduct the USMLE exam. FSMB represents the State Boards in the USA, on the other hand, NBME plays a key role in developing content for the examination. It is mainly focusing on exploring clinical skills and decision-making.

Eligibility Criteria For USMLE For Indian Medical Graduates

Indian students must complete an MBBS or equivalent degree, from a college accredited by the World Directory of Medical Schools. It must meet the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility criteria. If your medical college is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, it must include a sponsor note below your school’s listing. This note indicates the current recognition policy of the ECFMG, confirming that students from your college are eligible for ECFMG certification.

If you apply for the exam, The authorities grant you a 3-month eligibility period.
You must take the exam within this period.

Role Of ECFMG In The Exam:

ECFMG is responsible for certifying the International Medical Graduates (IMG) whether students/ graduates meet the standards of the U.S. education system. If you’re certified by the ECFMG, you are eligible to write the USMLE Step 3 exam.

Graduation Status:

If a medical student completes his 2 years of education, he/she will be eligible for the USMLE exam. They can take Step 1 and Step 2 of the examination. They will be eligible for Step 3 after graduation.

Eligibility Criteria For Step 1(CS):

You can apply for step 1 If you have completed 2 years of a clinical course in medical school or if you have graduated with a medical degree. In that case, you are eligible to write the USMLE Step 1 exam.

Eligibility Criteria For Step 2 (CK):

After passing Step 1, you can take Step 2 (Clinical Knowledge) even if you have not graduated. However, you must meet all requirements for Step 3.

Eligibility Criteria For Step 3:

You need to pass Step 1 and Step 2 to take the Step 3 exam.
Step 3, on the other hand, is typically taken after completion of your Medical Degree.
Importantly, you must be certified by the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates)

Note:

Medical schools where you are studying or from which you graduated must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
It is not necessary to take step 1 and step 2 in particular order, you can take step 2 before taking step 1.
Step 1 exam focuses on fundamental sciences
Step 2 primarily focuses on Clinical skills and knowledge.
It is better to take step 1 before step 2.

Application Process For International Medical Graduates(IMG) For USMLE

ECFMG Certification And Required Documents

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification is mandatory for International Medical Graduates to take Step 3 exam. You can take Step 1 and Step 2 without the ECFMG certificate

Medical school transcript: Official transcript from the medical school where the candidate graduated.
Diploma/Certification: Medical degree certification or equivalent degree certificate.
Identification: A valid Passport for identification.
English Proficiency: You might need to prove your English proficiency based on the requirements of ECFMG.

Application Process For USMLE Step 1 And Step 2:

The ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) manages Step 1 and Step 2.
Go to the ECFMG website
Create an account in the online portal of the ECFMG
After completing the application process for Step 1 and Step 2
ECFMG will verify your medical school credentials before approving the application.
the ECFMG processes the application then you will receive a Schedule Permit.
You can schedule your exam from the Prometric website for Step 1 and Step 2.

Application Process For Step 3

You will be eligible to apply for USMLE Step 3 after clearing Step 1 and Step 2.
For Step 3 you must be certified by the ECFMG.
Details of Medical Degree or an equivalent degree.
Step 3 exam application is processed through the FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards).

USMLE Step 3:

Go to the official website of the FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards).
Create an account in their step 3 application portal.
Provide personal details
ECFMG certificate
Identity proof
Submit the details for step 1 and step 2 exams
Upload other required documents

Choose Your Licensing State Of The USA

Each state in the USA. has a different eligibility requirement for Step
Research the state medical boards and their requirements for step 3
Pay the application fee
If the application is processed you will receive an email with a schedule permit.
You can schedule the Step 3 exam in the Prometric Testing Centers.

Is The USMLE Exam Conducted In India?

Yes, the USMLE exam is conducted in India and the cities are Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Kolkata, and New Delhi. Administered by the Prometric Test Centers.

Step 1 and Step 2 are conducted in India.
USMLE Step 3 is only Conducted in the USA
Exam city Centers might change over time therefore stay updated with official sites.

How Many Times Does The USMLE Conduct In a Year?

USMLE exam conducted 3 times in a year
Book your slot according to your convenience

Exam Pattern For Step 1, Step 2, And Step 3:

The United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) is conducted in 3 levels each level focuses on different topics within medical sciences and has its own set of questions

Exam Pattern For USMLE Step 1:

The exam explores basic sciences including Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Behavioral Sciences.

USMLE Step 1 is an exam with 280 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Exam Duration: 8 hours (including breaks)
The organizers divided the exam into 7 blocks and each block has 40 questions with 60 minutes for each block.
It is designed to explore basic sciences including Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, and Behavioral Sciences.

Exam Pattern For USMLE Step 2:

USMLE Step 2 mainly focuses on Clinical Skills and understanding of clinical sciences. It covers the diagnosis, management of diseases, and patient care.

USMLE Step 2 exam with 318 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Exam Duration: 9 hours (including breaks)
The organizers divided the exam into 8 blocks; each block contains 40 questions with a time duration of 60 minutes for each block.
The exam deals with Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Exam Pattern For USMLE Step 3:

USMLE Step 3 primarily focuses on patient management and asses whether you’re capable of applying medical knowledge. It is a two-day exam

Day 1: Foundation Of Independent Practice (FIP)

Exam with 232 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Exam Duration: 7 hours (including breaks)
The organizers divided the exam into 6 blocks; each block has 38-40 questions with 60 minutes for each block.
It covers medical knowledge, Biostatistics, and epidemiology. Patient safety and communication.

Day 2: Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM)

USMLE Advanced Clinical Medicine exam with 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Time Duration: 9 hours including breaks
13 computer-based Case Simulations (CCS).
6 MCQ blocks and each has to be completed within 45 minutes.
Simulates real-life clinical scenarios. Manage cases in a virtual environment with diagnostic and treatment tools.

Preparation Tips For:

Start preparation from the basic topics like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pathology, etc.
Managing time is the most important aspect in preparation for any exam therefore creating a timetable.
Begin your preparation from your graduation days therefore, it will help you understand the requirements for the USMLE, even if you have the chance to take the exam before completing your medical Degree.
Look for challenging medical cases and analyze how doctors have solved them.
Try to put yourself in a real-world scenario and learn how to make quick decisions in order to save a patient’s life. These are all important skills when you are preparing for Step 3.
Take assistance from reputed coaching institutes.

Countries That Accept USMLE Other Than The U.S.A

USMLE is mainly designed for obtaining a license to practice medicine within the USA. However, there are certain countries that accept the USMLE exam.

Canada: Canada has its licensing exams (MCCQE). Some Canadian state programs might accept the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2.
New Zealand: The Medical Council of New Zealand accepts Step 1 and Step 2 CK for seeking provisional registration.
Australia: The Australian Medical Council (AMC) considers the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK as part of the standard pathway for the IMGs.
United Arab Emirates (UAE): USMLE is accepted by some licensing authorities like the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
Qatar: The Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) approves Step 1 and Step 2 CK towards the requirement of the medical license.
Saudi Arabia: USMLE is accepted for licensure by the Saudi Commission of Health Specialties (SCFHS).
Singapore: Foreign-trained doctors must qualify for USMLE to be eligible to practice in Singapore.
Israel: The candidate may use USMLE scores when seeking a license.

Conclusion:

Practicing medicine in the USA is a dream for many people around the world. Therefore try to cover all the topics mentioned in the blog and understand the eligibility criteria. Don’t register for the exam if you are ineligible because, as USMLE takes serious action against such irregular behavior, therefore read eligibility criteria carefully and understand the requirements of USMLE.