USMLE(United States Medical Licensing Examination)

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States. In the US, there are separate state medical boards that grant medical licenses for their individual jurisdictions. They have their own set of rules and regulations and conduct their own exams. USMLE provides them with a common evaluation system to assess applicants for initial medical licensure procedure.

USMLE is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).

Its three steps assess:

• Candidate's understanding and ability to apply scientific concepts to the medical practice, especially those related to health, disease, and modes of therapy. Apart from safe and competent practice of medicine, it also evaluates candidates based on scientific principles required for the maintenance of competence through lifelong learning.
• Ability to apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science to patient care under supervision, with emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.
• Ability to apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science to unsupervised practice of medicine, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings.

Who can appear for USMLE?

Students or graduates of a medical school in the United States and Canada should apply for USMLE through the National Board of Medical Examiners while the graduates or students of medical schools outside the United States and Canada should apply through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Step 1 and Step 2 of the USMLE exam can be taken in any of the Prometric test centers across the world but Step 3 can only be taken at Prometric test centers in the US and its territories.

Overseas students who wish to enter residency or fellowship programs in the United States or Canada also take USMLE.