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Blog Summary
If it is your forever dream to go to the USA and practice medicine, then the first step that you should take is clear the USMLE. USMLE is a three-step examination process that is common for all students irrespective of where and how they have trained themselves in the field of medicine. It assesses the applicants on the same standards of how well they interpret and demonstrate their medicinal skills in patient care. To clear the USMLE with a good score, you need to have a proper schedule and plan sketched out well before you appear for the Exam. A Residency program in the USA can help you start with the preparations and set you on the path to complete it successfully.
USMLE
USMLE is the short form for the United States Medical Licensing Examination. This is the fundamental and mandatory ground that is expected to be completed by all medical aspirants if they want to gain medical licensure in the US. It is the Exam that is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners (FSMB and NBME). The Exam is split into three steps that assess the student’s ability to make use of the medical concepts learned and apply them diligently in the practice of medicine. It checks and evaluates the practitioner’s fundamental and patient-centered skills for the effective use and support of safe patient care methods.
USMLE History
The Exam was designed and drafted in the 1980s but was introduced only between 1992-94. It came as a single platform for assessing the medical standards of the students replacing two other widely accepted medical licensing examinations. They were the NBME part examination program and the Federation Licensing Examination – FLEX program. It is now the critical criterion that has to be fulfilled by any aspirant who wants to get a medical license and practice in the US.
USMLE Steps Overview
When you choose to do a Residency program in the USA, you get to have the advantage of parallelly preparing for USMLE clearance. The examination has three steps that have to be completed, and all three exams are computer-based.
Step 1: Spread over a day; this step has seven sets of 40 multiple-choice questions that sum up to approximately 280. They assess the student’s knowledge of basic science concepts and their application in medical practice.
Step 2: Spread over a day; the second step has eight sets of 40 multiple-choice questions that sum up to approximately 316 questions. They assess the student’s knowledge of clinical science concepts and their application in medical practice.
Step 3: Spread over two days; this step has six sets of multiple choice questions that sum up to approximately 413 questions, along with 13 simulation tests. They assess the student’s knowledge of biomedical and clinical science concepts and their application in patient care, patient management, ambulance care, etc.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination’s Steps 1 and 2 can be completed in any order. However, one must complete both steps to qualify for Step 3 of the examination.
USMLE Steps – 2023
Step 1Step 1 of USMLE can be easily cleared when you opt to do a Residency program in the USA with Texila American University. It assesses and evaluates the comprehension of primary and fundamental scientific principles that include the topics of anatomy, behavioral science, pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, and pathology. It also has additional concepts that need to be well-versed in, like genetics, immunology, and nutritional science.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The student must have enrolled or graduated from a medical school in the US or Canada. Students outside of the US and Canada must have completed the study in a medical school that is listed under the World Directory of Medical schools and must fulfill all other requirements as set out by the ECFMG.
- The candidate must fulfill the eligibility requirements that are set out at the time of application and at the time of taking the Exam.
- A candidate who has been dismissed from Med school or has withdrawn himself from the school during the time of application or while taking the test is not eligible to be assessed.
Step 2
The second step in the USMLE preparation evaluates the candidate based on skill, knowledge, and understanding of clinical science and its application in patient health management. It monitors the efficiency of the student to offer care to patients in supervised environments that are challenging and spontaneous. It also checks the student’s ability to emphasize health promotion and disease prevention. The test includes an optional tutorial that can help you recall learned concepts for a duration of 15 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria:
The student must have enrolled or graduated from a medical school in the US or Canada. Students outside of the US and Canada must have completed the study in a medical school that is listed under the World Directory of Medical schools and must fulfill all other requirements as set out by the ECFMG.
The candidate must fulfill the eligibility requirements that are set out at the time of application and at the time of taking the Exam.
A candidate who has been dismissed from Med school or has withdrawn himself from the school during the time of application or while taking the test is not eligible to be assessed.
Step 3
This is the final examination that is spread over two days of time and checks how well the student can apply medicinal, biomedical, clinical, and fundamental concepts in an unsupervised environment. It assesses if the student can offer independent primary medical care and scores based on patient management under ambulatory circumstances. Along with the test with approximately 413 multiple-choice questions, they must complete thirteen real-life case simulations to clear the Exam.
Eligibility Criteria:
The applicant must be MD-eligible or have equivalent qualifications from a medical school in the US or Canada. Students who possess such a degree from a medical school outside the US and Canada must have the school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and meet all requirements suggested by the ECFMG.
When you do a Residency program in the USA, you will be able to clear Step 1 and Step 2 more easily as they prepare you for the USMLE clearance. To be eligible for Step 3, you must successfully complete both Steps 1 and 2.
The candidate must be ECFMG certified and meet all eligibility requirements at the time of application and appearance of the examination.
Retakes and Reattempts – USMLE 2023
A candidate can retake the test three times within one year. Any further attempts must have a time gap of 12 months from the first attempt or six months from the most recent effort. Once cleared, any Step cannot be attempted for higher marks. A candidate who has made six or more attempts of the same step will not be permitted to retake the Exam. Additionally, it should be mentioned that the committee checks how many shots a candidate takes to clear each stage. This is why removing the step with the least number of attempts is recommended by preparing yourself well in advance.
USMLE Application 2023
- A candidate can access the ECFMG website and pay an application fee of $985 to apply for Step 1.
- The candidate can access the ECFMG website and pay an application fee of $985 for Step 2 CK.
- The candidate can access the ECFMG website and pay an application fee of $1600 for Step 2 CS.
- The candidate can access the FSMB website and pay an application fee of $895 for Step 3.
Conclusion
The USMLE clearance is for medical aspirants with the passion and perseverance to achieve big in the medical field. Being a part of the Residency Program in the USA from a reputed institution like the Texila American University implies that you get on the path to success. As US degrees have global recognition, you will get the opportunity to set your career path in every angle and crevice of the world. The board offers many study materials and practice sessions to help you pass the Exam seamlessly. Make the best use of them and rock society with flying colors.