Introduction:
The main idea is that you have to get ECFMG certification before you can do Residency or Fellowship Programs in the United States. And for getting the ECFMG certification you have to pass the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 tests. Certification also enables you to take the USMLE Step 3 which then gives you an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States.
About USMLE
The United States Medical Licensing Examination(USMLE) is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States which every foreign medical student/graduate and American medical student/graduate has to take to practice as a physician in the United States. Foreign medical students/graduates known as International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are students/graduates from medical schools outside USA and Canada even if they are USA/Canada citizens.
Steps of USMLE
It consists of three steps
Step 1: It tests your pre-clinical knowledge which includes Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Behavioral Science.
Step 2: This step mainly judges if you can apply medical knowledge, skills and understanding of clinical science for patient care under supervision. It includes two parts CK and CS. In CK (Clinical Knowledge) your knowledge about clinical subjects will be judged. In CS (Clinical Skills) you have to deal with the patients, communicate with them, take notes of histories, presentation etc.
Step 3: This steps assesses whether you can apply your medical knowledge and clinical skills for unsupervised practice.
Eligibility Criteria for foreign students (IMGs):
A medical student
- Officially enrolled in a medical school outside USA/Canada and his medical school should be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research and that the graduation year should be current at the time of applying and exam.. Check your eligibility here (As soon as you graduate and receive your medical diploma, you must send two photocopies of your Final Medical Diploma and one full-face, passport-sized, color photograph to ECFMG).
- Completed at least two years of medical school ( you must have completed the basic medical science component of the medical school curriculum by the beginning of your eligibility period)
A Medical graduate
- Officially graduated from a medical school outside USA/Canada and his medical school should be listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research and that the graduation year should be current at the time of applying and exam.. Check your eligibility here
- Two photocopies of your final medical diploma. The name of the final medical diploma for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal is MBBS Diploma.
- Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by an official English translation
Procedure:
- Get ECFMG ID: Before applying for USMLE you need to get ECFMG ID from the ECFMG website. Get your ID here. Fill all the information accurately, make sure your name is same as the one which is on marksheets/degree and try to get a passport with same name.
- Apply for ECMFG certification: Now you have to apply for the certification process on the ECFMG website. Go to ECMFG site and Login into IWA section. (Apply Here). Check your email to confirm receipt of your application. To check the status of your application you can use OASIS.
- Apply for the USMLE: Application can be usually sent at any time of the year.It consists of applying online through the IWA and at the end of online application you willl be presented two forms viz. Certification of Identification Form (Fom 186) if you are a medical graduate or Certification Statement (form 183) if you are medical student. Print the appropriate form and send it to ECFMG by courier or post. Other documents (such as photocopies of Medical Diploma & Final Medical School transcript) as mentioned on IWA of ECFMG website must also be dispatched along with Form 187. You must pay all applicable fees at the time you apply for examination. You can check status of your application on OASIS.
Eligibility period: When you apply for Step 1 or Step 2 CK, you must select a three-month period, such as January-February-March, February-March-April, etc., during which you would like to take the exam. Remember that it takes 3weeks to process the application after they receive it and there may be postal delays before that, so choose your eligibility period smartly.
- Scheduling permit : Next you will receive a scheduling permit if your application is accepted. Scheduling permits are issued in electronic format and can be accessed using ECFMG’s IWA after you receive a notification email about it.
- Appointment with Prometric: Next you go to Prometric website (who will be eventualy conducting your exam) and schedule your testing appontment within the eligibility period (upto 6 months in advance) using your scheduling permit details. Contact Prometric. You will receive your Prometric Confirmation Number. Be sure to keep this number. If you need to reschedule your testing appointment, you will need your Prometric Confirmation Number.
- Take the test: You should arrive at the Prometric test center 30 minutes before your scheduled testing appointment with Scheduling permit and photo identity document (Passport,Driver’s license with photograph, National identity card or Other form of dated, unexpired, government-issued identification that meets all of these requirements). Take the test and get your scores in 3 to 4 weeks time on a Wednesday!
Minimum pass score on 2 digit scale is 75 and on 3 digit scale 188 and 189 for S1 and S2 CK respectively.
When to apply
The best time to apply for Step 1 is just after you have finished pre-clinical classes.
Number of attempts and time limit
- You will be allowed to take each Step or Step Component no more than six times, including incomplete attempts.
- You have to get your certification within 7 years or else all previous passing performance will be invalid. This seven-year period begins on the exam date for the first Step or Step Component passed and ends exactly seven years from this exam date.
- You can take a test 3 times in a calendar year. The 4th attempt should be 6 months after the latest attempt.
Fee Structure
Application for ECFMG certification = $50
Step 1 = $790 (Examination Fee) + (International test delivery surcharge: $140 for India)
Step 2 CK= $790 (Examination Fee) + (International test delivery surcharge: $140 for India)
Step 2 CS = $1,375 (Examination Fee)Format of the Exams
Step 1 and Step 2 CK are each one-day multiple-choice exams. Step 1 exam consists of 350 multipe choice questions divided into 7 blocks of 50 questions each to be done in 60-minutes. Each question will be followed by 3 to 11 response options with only one best answer. The Step 1 testing session lasts approximately eight hours. The Step 2 CK testing session lasts approximately nine hours. Step 2 CK has.370 questions divided in 8 blocks of 48 questions each. Each block has to be done in 60 minutes.
Step 2 CS is a one-day exam that consists of 12 simulated patient cases. The Step 2 CS testing session lasts approximately eight hours.You get 15 mins for history and examination of the patient, 10 mins for writing patient notes.
Preparation Materials
NBME self assessment service (paid service) : Click Here
Practice Session at a Prometric Test Center after receiving scheduling permit (paid service)
USMLE Test Contents
STEP 1
Anatomy
Behavioral sciences
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Interdisciplinary topics, such as nutrition, genetics, and aging.
Internal medicine
Obstetrics and gynecology
Pediatrics
Preventive medicine
Psychiatry
Surgery
For more info.
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