USMLE Courses

The USMLE stands for the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It is an examination divided into three steps that every individual needs to pass if they wish to practice medicine in the United States. The USMLE is sponsored by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Federation of State Medical Boards.

While pursuing their medical education and after successful completion of an M.D degree, physicians will be required to pass this examination to gain a license to practice medicine in the US.

All three steps in the USMLE exam complement each other and are framed to assess the skills and abilities of the physician. It means that one step alone cannot stand in the line of assessment for the readiness of a doctor to gain their medical license.

Generally, the first two steps are taken by the student during medical school. While the third step is taken after graduation.

The USMLE exam has three steps: Step 1, Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge), and Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills), and Step 3. This three-step exam is required to obtain a medical license to practice medicine in the United States. Each of the three steps is a separate exam and taken at different points in your medical career.

All three steps in the USMLE exam complement each other and are framed to assess the skills and abilities of the physician. It means that one step alone cannot stand in the line of assessment for the readiness of a doctor to gain their medical license.

To be eligible for the USMLE Exam, you must be in one of the following categories at the time of applying and on the day of the examination. Here is the eligibility criteria:

• A medical student enrolled in, or a graduate of a US or Canadian medical school and is leading to the MD degree that is accredited by the LCME, OR
• A student officially enrolled in or is a graduate of a US medical school and is leading to the DO degree which is accredited by COCA or the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
• A medical student enrolled in or is a graduate of a medical school which is outside the US and Canada but listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and meets the ECFMG eligibility requirements.

You can register for the USMLE exam online through the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) website. To apply for USMLE examinations, you must read the USMLE Bulletin of Information and submit an application through your registration entity.

The ideal time to begin preparing for the USMLE is during the third year of your MBBS course. Most aspirants attempt the Part 1 examination during the third year of their MBBS course.

No test preparation courses are affiliated with or sanctioned by the USMLE program. Information on such courses is not available from the ECFMG, FSMB, NBME, USMLE Secretariat, or medical licensing authorities.
The best preparation for the USMLE is a general, thorough review of the content reflected in the examination descriptions. You should also practice for your exams using the sample test materials. Self-assessment information and materials are also available. In addition, registered examinees who want the opportunity to become familiar with the Prometric test center environment may take a practice exam at the test center, for a fee.

An individual is allowed a maximum of four attempts per Step. Examinees who have failed to pass an USMLE Step after four attempts are ineligible to apply for the exam.

USMLE Step 1 is the most important exam you will take in your medical career because it is going to determine which medical specialties you can follow and what type of residency program you match for.

The minimum score to pass for Step 1 is 194, while the national average is 229. In general, a score of 230 to 245 is considered a good score in USMLE Step 1, while 245 to 255 is considered to be a great score.