What is the USMLE?

This post is to provide some basic information about the USMLE.

The United States Medical Licensing Exam is an exam taken in order to be licensed to practice as a doctor in the US.

It consist of three steps (with 2 separate parts in Step 2):
a) USMLE Step 1 - with basic science questions (anatomy, biochemistry etc)
b) USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK)- with questions on diagnosis and management (psychiatry, surgery etc)
c) USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) - which aims to tests your interaction with patients
d) USMLE Step 3 - which focuses more on the management of patients

You only need Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS in order to be certified by the Education Commission of Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Step 3 is not required to get a residency training position in the U.S., and therefore, most people usually only take it one year after they start working. In my subsequent posts, I will just ignore this Step 3. The most important steps are your Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS.

The USMLE Steps can be taken in any order. Many clinical students choose to take the Step 2 CK first because clinical knowledge is most fresh in their mind.

Question: Where can I sit for the USMLE exams?
You can sit for the Step 1 and Step 2 CK exams in Kuala Lumpur. The Step 2 CS needs to be taken in the US.

Question: When can I sit for the USMLE exams?
Anytime! The USMLE exams is a computer based exam. It runs every week throughout the whole year, except for the first two weeks in January. You just need to register for the exam, and book a spot in the Kuala Lumpur Prometric Center. You will be taking your test in a cubicle with a computer. There will be people in other cubicles taking various other examinations, such as the TOEFL. You can sit for the exam even while you are a medical student, or even if you are a 60-year-old doctor.

Question: So, once I complete the USMLEs, I can work in the US?
Unfortunately no. The first thing to understand is that there are a lot of other foreign graduates (non-US doctors) who are applying for a position in the US. These people come from India, Phillipines, Pakistan and so on. Hence, in order to compete for a spot, the USMLE is no longer just about "completion". What you score matters heavily. Generally, scores are reported in a 3-digit scale (the 2-digit scale is not the most important). Average score is around 220. In order to be a competitive applicant, you need to score above the average.

Question: Once I am done with the USMLEs, what's next?
Once you completed Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS, you can apply for a residency position in the U.S. This is a three to five year training program. You can apply in whichever specialty training program you wish, ranging from General Surgery to Psychiatry. The competitiveness of the programs depend on its field (Neurosurgery vs Pediatrics), its location (urban vs rural), the hospital (university hospitals vs community hospitals) and so on. Application opens on September 15th every year, and during November to January, you will then head for interviews at various programs in different hospitals. By March 15th, you will get to know whether you got a position or not, and if you got a position, you will also know which hospital you will be working at. By July 1st every year, residents begin their first day at work.

Question: How do I score well in the USMLE?
"The general who wins the battle makes many calculations before the battle is fought". The first step is to make a study plan, get the right USMLE books and study materials. You can do this by doing your own research at various USMLE forums. Popular forums include prep4usmle.com and usmle-forums.com. I did a couple of weeks of research to come up with the best study plan and study materials for myself.

- Jamie -

Do you have any other questions? Feel free to write under the comment section or just email me. I will try to help if I can.

Tags : USMLE, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, What is, USMLE Books, to be a doctor in USA