USMLE Step 1
USMLE Step 2CK (Clinical Knowledge)
USMLE Step 2CS (Clinical Skills)
USMLE Step 3
All International Medical Graduates who want to work or train in the US will need to gain ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate) Certification. To gain ECFMG Certification International Medical Graduates will need to take and pass the USMLE Step 1 & 2.
To become State Licensed and eventually Board Certified in the US, allowing you to work anywhere and in any position International Medical Graduates will need to complete a Residency Training Program, and after year one of Residency Training take the USMLE Step 3.
USMLE Step 1 & 2CK scores are used as initial screening for Residency application. High USMLE Step 1 & 2 scores will get your application seen. US Residency application is highly competitive and International Medical Graduates must compete with US Graduates to gain places.
Download a Kaplan USMLE Brochure to find out more
USMLE Step 1
| USMLE Step 1 Exam Details | |
| Test Overview | The USMLE Step 1 tests the Basic Sciences learnt by US Graduates in their first year at Medical School. US Graduates will take this exam after their second year at Medical School. The USMLE Step 1 exam score is a primary indicator or Residency Application success |
| Subjects | Behavioral Science
Biochemistry Pharmacology Physiology Pathology Microbiology Immunology Anatomy |
| US Graduates Test | US Graduates will typically take their USMLE Step 1 exam after their second year at Medical School, upon completion of their basic sciences. |
| Scores | 188 (75) is the minimum passing score. The passing score is always 75 on the two digit scale, Program Directors will talk of the 75 passing score. Remember, this is a minimum passing score. You will need to aim higher to gain Residency.
US Medical Graduates score 220-240 on average. |
| Exam Format | The USMLE Step 1 is a computer based, multiple choice question exam. Students will have to answer questions split into 7 blocks. Once completing a block they are unable to go back to any questions in that block. |
| Question Format | You will be required to answer multiple choice questions in Clinical Vignette format. There is one best answer and no negative marking. |
| Timing | You will have a full day of testing. A total of 8 hours of exam, 7 hours of testing, 45 minutes of break time and 15 minutes of tutorial time. |
| Number of Questions | You will have a total of 350 questions, split into blocks of 48 questions |
| Exam Order | While US Medical Graduates take this exam first (after their second year at Medical School) there is no requirement for International Medical Graduates to take this exam first. |
| Register for the Exam | Before you can book to take your USMLE Step 1 exam you'll need to register with the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) to get an Identification Number. Register at www.ecfmg.org. Once you have this you can then book an Eligibility Period. This is the time in which you plan to take your USMLE Step 1 exam. Once you have done this, you'll receive a Scheduling Permit, you can use this to book your exam with the Prometric Center |
| Eligibility Period | 3 month Eligibility Period |
| Registration Fee | $740 plus $130-$330 International Test Delivery Charge |
| Exam Location | Available Internationally |
USMLE Step 2CK - Clinical Knowledge
| USMLE Step 2CK Exam Details | |
| Test Overview | The USMLE Step 2CK tests the Clinical Sciences, it's taken by US Graduates after their forth year at Medical School. USMLE Step 2CK Scores are used as an initial screening for US Residency Application. |
| Subjects | Internal Medicine
Pediatrics OB/GYN Psychiatry Surgery Neurology Public Health |
| US Graduates Test | US Graduates will typically take their USMLE Step 2CK exam after their forth year at Medical School, upon completion of their clinical subjects. |
| Scores | 189 (75) is the minimum passing score. The passing score is always 75 on the two digit scale. Remember, this is a minimum passing score. You will need to aim higher to gain Residency. |
| Exam Format | The USMLE Step 2CK is a computer based, multiple choice question exam. Students will have to answer questions split into 8 blocks. Once completing a block they are unable to go back to any questions in that block. The may also see Extended Matching Questions. |
| Question Format | You will be required to answer multiple choice questions in Clinical Vignette format. There is one best answer and no negative marking. Extended Matching questions may also be present, however, these are rare. |
| Timing | You will have a full day of testing. A total of 9 hours of exam, 8 hours of testing, 45 minutes of break time and 15 minutes of tutorial time. |
| Number of Questions | You will have a total of 352 questions, split into blocks of 44 questions |
| Exam Order | While US Medical Graduates take this exam after the USMLE Step 1 (after Medical School) there is no requirement for International Medical Graduates to take the exams in order. |
| Register for the Exam | Before you can book to take your USMLE Step 2CK exam you'll need to register with the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) to get an Identification Number. Register at www.ecfmg.org. Once you have this you can then book an Eligibility Period. This is the time in which you plan to take your USMLE Step 2CK exam. Once you have done this, you'll receive a Scheduling Permit, you can use this to book your exam with the Prometric Center |
| Eligibility Period | 3 month Eligibility Period |
| Registration Fee | $740 plus $130-$330 International Test Delivery Charge |
| Exam Location | Available Internationally |
USMLE Step 2CS - Clinical Skills
| USMLE Step 2CS Exam Details | |
| Test Overview | The USMLE Step 2CS tests communication, interpersonal skills and Spoken English Proficiency. Doctors will be faced with 12 Standardized Patient Interactions, they must pass all to pass this exam. |
| Subjects | Communication Skills
Spoken English Proficiency Integrated Clinical Encounter |
| US Graduates Test | US Graduates will typically take their USMLE Step 2CS exam after their forth year at Medical School. |
| Scores | Pass or Fail. Doctors must pass all Standardized Patient Interactions to pass the exam. 85% of the score is given by the Standardized Patient who is an actor. 1 out of 6 IMGs fail this exam. |
| Exam Format | The USMLE Step 2CS exam is a live exam, testing patient interaction and communication skills. The Doctor will be faced with 12 Standardized Patients who will present with common clinical problems. The student will need to successfully communicate and examine the patient. |
| Question Format | 12, 15 minute Patient Interactions, followed by 10 minutes of note writing. You will be required to communicate effectively, conduct an appropriate physical examination and write concise patient notes. |
| Timing | You will have a full day of testing. The exam will last for 9 hours. You will have 15 minutes with each patient and 10 minutes of note writing. |
| Number of Questions | 12 Patient Interactions. 11 are scored, and one is not. You will not be aware of which interaction is not scored. |
| Exam Order | There is no order in which you should take this exam. As you will be tested on common clinical problems, and preparation for the exam is 6 days, many International Graduates choose to take the USMLE Step 2CS as early as possible. |
| Register for the Exam | Before you can book to take your USMLE Step 2CS exam you'll need to register with the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) to get an Identification Number. Register at www.ecfmg.org. Once you have this you can then book an Eligibility Period. This is the time in which you plan to take your USMLE Step 1 exam. Once you have done this, you'll receive a Scheduling Permit, you can use this to book your exam with the Prometric Center |
| Eligibility Period | 12 month Eligibility Period |
| Registration Fee | $1,295 |
| Exam Location | California, Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago |
USMLE Step 3
| USMLE Step 3 Exam Details | |
| Test Overview | The USMLE Step 3 tests Patient Management, it's taken by US Graduates after their first year in Residency. International Graduates may wish to take this exam before Residency to gain a H1B Visa. This visa requires that you take and pass the USMLE Step 3. However, not every US State will allow you to train in the US having taken the USMLE Step 3 before Residency. You should check this! |
| Subjects | Internal Medicine
Pediatrics OB/GYN Psychiatry Surgery Ethics and Epidemiology |
| US Graduates Test | US Graduates will typically take their USMLE Step 3 exam upon completion of their first year of Residency Training. |
| Scores | 187 (75) |
| Exam Format | The USMLE Step 3 is a computer based, multiple choice question exam. You will also be faced with Clinical Case Simulations, you will see 9 of these, they are free form text boxes, with basic patient information. They ask you to work through these patients, ordering labs, treatment, medicines and considering any ethical or legal issues. |
| Question Format | You will be required to answer multiple choice questions in Clinical Vignette format. There is one best answer and no negative marking. You will face 9 Clinical Case Simulations (CCS) on the second half of the second day. |
| Timing | You will have two full days of testing. A total of 7 hours on the first day and 6 on the second. On each day you will have 45 minutes of break time and 15 minutes of tutorial time. |
| Number of Questions | You will have a total of 500 multiple choice questions and 9 Clinical Case Simulations. |
| Exam Order | You must have taken your USMLE Step 1, 2CS and 2CK before you take your USMLE Step 3 as you must have ECFMG Certification to book your exam. |
| Register for the Exam | The USMLE Step 3 is administered by each individual State Board. You will need to register to take the exam with the Federal State Medical Board (FSMB) online at www.fsmb.org. |
| Registration Fee | $690 |
| Exam Location | Available in the US only. |