The USMLE program is jointly owned by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The FSMB, a non-profit group, represents 70 state medical and osteopathic boards in the US and its territories. These boards license doctors, investigate patient complaints, and discipline physicians who violate laws.
The NBME, a non-profit group, evaluates healthcare professionals to serve the public. Its board, comprising around 80 members, includes national experts who shape exam design, at-large members representing diverse viewpoints, including the public, and representatives from various organizations that include:
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC),
- American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS),
- American Medical Association (AMA),
- 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), FSMB,
- the Student National Medical Association (SNMA),
- the uniformed services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Overview
| Full Name | United States Medical Licensing Examination |
| Exam Name | USMLE |
| Sponsored By | FSMB and NBME |
| Description | The test is computer-based and conducted in 3 steps, broadly referred to as Step 1, Step 2 (CK) and Step 3, shown over 3+ years. |
| Total Stages | 03 |
| Maximum Number of Attempts | 06 |
| Registration fee | $610 -$910 (depends on USMLE Step you appear for). |
| Exam Taken | 12,000 students each year and 8,000 are Indian students. |
| Official website | https://www.usmle.org/ |
History of United States Medical Licensing Examination
- The United States Medical Licensing Examination was first designed in the late 1980s and introduced during the period from 1992 to 1994.
- The program replaced the NBME Part Examination program and the FSMB’s Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX) program.
- In 2004, a clinical-skills examination was added to Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills) and beginning with the medical school graduating class of 2005, students have been required to pass it to be licensed.
- In 2005, a clinical skills component was also added to the examination program of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination.
Step Examinations of United States Medical Licensing Examination
Here this selection we are providing the United States Medical Licensing Examinationprogram is composed of three examinations:
- Step 1
- Step 2 CK
- Step 3
United States Medical Licensing Examination Eligibility Criteria
In the United States Medical Licensing Examination to be eligible for the Step 1 and Step 2 exams, you should meet any one of the below eligibility criteria:
United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 & 2 Exams Eligibility
- 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 outside the US and Canada is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and meeting other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG.
United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 3
- Passing scores on Step 1 and Step 2 CK, AND
- An MD degree or the DO degree from an LCME- or COCA-accredited US or Canadian medical school, OR the equivalent of the MD degree from a medical school outside the US and Canada that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and obtain ECFMG Certification.
USMLE Exam Fees
The pursuit is the structure of USMLE fees for Step 1 and Step 2 exams.
| USMLE Fee Type | USMLE Cost for Step 1 | USMLE Cost for Step 2 (CK) |
| Application Fee | $975 | $975 |
| Rescheduling Fees | Up to $604 | Up to $604 |
USMLE Exam Pass Rate
Below are the Overall pass rates for the individual Step exams that comprise the USMLE. Checkout
| – | Years of data | U.S. M.D. medical school examinees | (US 1st-time takers) | U.S. D.O. osteopathic medical school examinees | (US DO 1st time) | Examinees from Non-US/Canadian Schools | (Int’l 1st time) |
| Step 1 | (2019) | 96% | 97% | 96% | 96% | 78% | 82% |
| Step 2 CK | (2018-2019) | 97% | 98% | 97% | 97% | 82% | 87% |
| Step 3 | (2019) | 98% | 98% | 100% | 100% | 89% | 92% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the USMLE policy on attempt limits?
The total number of attempts permitted per Step is four. Examinees who have attempted any USMLE Step (including Step 2 CS) four or more times and have not passed are ineligible to apply for USMLE Steps.
Is the Usmle exam difficult?
USMLE Step 1 is considered more complex than other USMLE exams but is also an essential step toward your medical career.
How many Usmle exams are there?
There are 3 main steps in the United States Medical Licensing Examination exams.
What are the group pass rates by the medical school for the Steps?
For accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada, performance by medical schools is reported by NBME only to individual schools and is available only from those schools. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) is responsible for reporting scores for students and graduates of international medical schools.
Who will have access to my biometric information?
Access to your biometric information will be limited as described in the Privacy Notice for USMLE Candidates. Employees or agents of the USMLE sponsors who have access to the data are bound by confidentiality agreements.
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