United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

Dr. Muhammad Asim Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad

USMLE

Step 1 Step 2
CK (clinical knowledge) CS (clinical skills)

Step 3

USMLE Step 1

Subjects

Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Behavioral sciences, Pathology, Microbiology. 8- 12H/day, 6 days a week for 5-12M, try to be consistent
740$+140$ (International Test Delivery surcharges) =880$ Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Avg. time required to prepare

Fee

Test centers

Date of exam

Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year

Exam format
Computer based exam Total exam time

8H (1 day exam) 15 min 336

Tutorial

Total no. of MCQs

Total no of blocks

7 (each block contains 48 MCQs and lasts 1H. Beginning May 15, 2010 total no of questions in each block will be reduced to 46)

Time for break

45 min, you can take breaks between any 2 blocks but not within a block.

USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge)

Subjects

Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatry 8-12H/day, 6 days a week for 4-8M
740$+155$=895$ Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi

Avg. time required to prepare

Fee

Test centers

Date of exam

Every Wednesday, Thursday throughout the year

Exam format
Computer based exam Total exam time

9H (1 day exam) 352

Total no of MCQs

Total no of blocks

8 (each lasts 1H and contains 44 MCQs)

USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills)

Subjects tested

Same as step 2 CK
6-8H/day for about 1 Month 1295$ Philadelphia, PA. Houston, TX. Chicago, IL. Atlanta, GA. Los Angeles, CA.

Avg. time required to prepare

Fee

Test centers

Date of exam

Every day except Saturday and Sunday throughout the year

Exam Format
Involves direct patient encounters Total exam time

8H (1 day exam) 12

Total no of stations

Time available at each station

25 min, you are required to take history, do physical examination, determine differential diagnosis and then write down notes of 12 Simulated patients (SPs)

USMLE Step 3:
(Be clear that this exam is not necessary to apply for residencies)

Subjects

Same to Step 2 CK
6-8 H/day for 1-2M

Avg. time required to prepare

Total exam time

16 H (2 day exam)
705$

Fee

Test centers

all over USA and only in USA

Everyday including Saturday and Sunday

Date of exam

Frequently Asked Questions about USMLE

How should I prepare for USMLE step 1 exam?

Take decision before graduation Start preparation after the result of final professional Buy books
Dictionaries Kaplan Lecture notes MCQs books like USMLE World for step 1 and Q bank for step 1 First Aid for step 1

First reading;

Just read and try to understand Kaplan Lecture notes, dont try to memorize Use dictionaries aggressively Start with physiology Listen to Kaplan lecture notes DVDs specially Genetics and Behavioral sciences.

Second reading;

Try to memorize Kaplan lecture notes now Add MCQs books like USMLE WORLD (UW) series and Q BANK series (Boosters). Read pathology immediately after physiology

Third reading;

Read Kaplan lecture notes again and add First Aid (you would start making your own questions). Kaplan test (available on CD)

Take practice tests

excellent test to check your speed correlates very strongly with USMLE score

NBME practice test (Buy on the internet)

Its time to go for exam.

When should I take USMLE step 1 exam?

Before graduation or after graduation! Before house job, after house job or along With house job!
I want to get experience certificate The Knowledge I gain will help me in USMLE I am not that strong financially

How and when should I apply for visa?

Which subject is more important and which one is less or can I skip some less important topics?

What if I go for step 2CK before step 1?

What specialties can I go to after doing USMLE?

What are electives and when should I do electives?

How can I enhance my memory and learning skills?

Use multiple ways to learn knowledge (read books, use dictionaries, listen to class lectures, write down notes, listen to Kaplan DVDs, put notes on the walls)

What is match process and how should I plan myself according to it?

What are other important things that matter in getting residency in USA?

Duration from graduation (less than 5 years) US Clinical Experience (electives, research and observer ship) Letter of Recommendations (LORs) preferably from American teachers Time of USMLE certification Others (how did you utilize your time between graduation and application, performance at the day of interview)

Who is the best person over here to do USMLE?

We all have brains; we just need to use our brains in the right way.

Links

http://ecfmg.org/ http://www.usmle.org/ Email address Muhammad_asim172@hotmail.com psycon2005fsd@yahoo.com