Eligibility for the USMLE Steps

Who Is Eligible to Take the USMLE?

Step 1 and Step 2 CK

To be eligible, you must be in one of the following categories at the time you apply AND on the day of your examination:

• A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a U.S. medical school program leading to the MD degree that is accredited by the LCME, OR
• A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a U.S. medical school leading to the DO degree that is accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), OR
• A medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school that is outside the U.S., listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and that meets other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG.

Step 3

Eligibility requirements for Step 3 are:

• Passing scores on Step 1 and Step 2 CK, AND
• An MD degree or the DO degree from an LCME- or COCA-accredited U.S. medical school, OR the equivalent of the MD degree from a medical school outside the U.S. that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and have obtained ECFMG Certification and have a valid and unexpired ECFMG Certificate, AND
• Meet all other eligibility criteria as listed in the USMLE Bulletin of Information.

The USMLE program recommends that, for Step 3 eligibility, applicants should have completed, or be near completion of, at least one postgraduate training year in an accredited U.S. graduate medical education program that meets state board licensing requirements.

Change in Eligibility Status

If your eligibility for a Step changes after you submit your application but before your scheduled test date(s), you must promptly notify the organization that registered you for your examination. If you take a Step for which you are not eligible, results for that examination may not be reported or, if previously reported, may be canceled, at the discretion of the USMLE program.

  If you are dismissed or withdraw(n) from medical school, you are not eligible for the USMLE, even if you are appealing the school’s decision or are otherwise contesting your status. If you are on a leave of absence, please check with the organization that registered you for your examination before submitting your application; if you have already registered, check before testing.

Failure to notify the organization that registered you for your examination of your changed status may result in a determination that you engaged in irregular behavior and placement of a permanent annotation on your score reports and transcripts. 

Number of Attempts and Time Limits

  If you have attempted a Step four or more times, including incomplete attempts, and have not passed, you are ineligible to apply for any Step in the USMLE sequence. Attempts at the formerly administered Step 2 Clinical Skills count toward the limit.

Many U.S. state medical boards require that all Steps of the USMLE sequence be successfully completed within a certain time frame.

Information regarding state-specific requirements for licensure can be obtained on the FSMB website. Note: Combined degree (e.g., MD/PhD) students should reference the USMLE website for more specific information regarding exceptions to time limits.

Retaking Failed Examinations

You may not take the same Step more than three times within a 12-month period. Your fourth attempt must be at least 12 months after your first attempt at that examination and at least six (6) months after your most recent attempt at that examination. This includes incomplete attempts.
 

Retaking Previously Passed Steps

If you pass a Step, you are not allowed to retake it, except to comply with a time limit imposed by a U.S. medical licensing authority for completion of all Steps or by another authority recognized by the USMLE program. Visit the USMLE website for more information. 

If you need to retake a previously passed Step 1 or Step 2 CK examination to meet a time limit imposed by a U.S. medical licensing authority or another authority recognized by the USMLE program, you should understand that if you fail a retake, you will no longer be eligible to take Step 3. 

To meet the examination requirements for Step 3 eligibility, you must have achieved a passing performance on the most recent administration of the examinations intended to meet those requirements.

Previously Licensed Physicians

If you have already been granted a physician license by a U.S. medical licensing authority based on other licensure examinations, including but not limited to, the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE), NBME certifying examinations (i.e., NBME Parts), or National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Parts or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA), or by exception — you may not be eligible to take the USMLE. Please contact the appropriate registration organization with questions about your eligibility.

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