NBME/USMLE & Licensure

Please review the current COM Catalog for the most up-to-date information on policies for the USMLE exams.

General OverviewStep OneStep TwoStep ThreeLicensure

General Overview

"The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States and is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®). The USMLE program supports medical licensing authorities in the United States through its leadership in the development, delivery, and continual improvement of high-quality assessments across the continuum of physicians’ preparation for practice." *

*Source: USMLE Bulletin / Overview

"The USMLE assesses a physician's ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that are important in health and disease, and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care. Each of the three Steps of the USMLE complements the others; no Step can stand alone in the assessment of readiness for medical licensure." **

**Source: USMLE website

The USMLE Exam Process

The USMLE site has all necessary information on how to apply for Step exams, an overview, content description, content outline (outline of exam content), and practice materials for each exam.

The Practice section has software, which you install that has over 100 practice test items and a software tutorial for each Step examination. Some practice items may include multimedia files such as video or audio clips.

Where do I find the most current USMLE information?

Review the USMLE website for information on each Step exam and practice materials.

Review sample tests, take a self-assessment exam and view important procedural information on the NBME Examination Services site.

Supporting Resources

For the most up-to-date information on policies for the USMLE exams, please review the current COM Catalog.

The FSMB and NBME provide additional information and resources.

NBME has a Self Assessment Services section where you can become familiar with questions like those that appeared in USMLE, target your studies using diagnostic feedback highlighting areas of strength and weakness, and use your self-assessment score to estimate your approximate score on the USMLE score scale.

The Library Portal has a list of available review materials

Under the "ETSU OneSearch" tab, enter the search term "usmle"

Review materials are also posted to D2L.

Step One

USMLE Step 1

"Step 1 assesses whether you understand and can apply important concepts of the sciences basic to the practice of medicine, with special emphasis on principles and mechanisms underlying health, disease, and modes of therapy. Step 1 ensures mastery of not only the sciences that provide a foundation for the safe and competent practice of medicine in the present, but also the scientific principles required for maintenance of competence through lifelong learning. Step 1 is constructed according to an integrated content outline that organizes basic science material along two dimensions: system and process." *

* Source: USMLE Step 1 Overview (Further Information)

How do I register for the exam?

1. Obtain the form from the NBME website.

2. Print your form.

3. Obtain signatures from Wendy Williams or Sherry Bailey in Student Records (2nd floor Stanton-Gerber Hall).

4. Register to take the exam. Visit the Prometric Center website to identify testing locations and schedule an appointment.

Click on the link to schedule your test.
From the next list, select United States Licensing Exam: Step 1 or Step 2. (You can do this by selecting the alphabetical location or by searching for USMLE.) You may also call at 1-800-633-3926 (1-800-MED-EXAM)

By when do I need to take the USMLE Step 1 exam?

Students are required to pass STEP 1 before beginning their Junior year.

Contact Kortni Dolinger, MS, with any questions: 423-439-6311; LINDSAYK@etsu.edu

Step Two

USMLE Step 2

"Step 2 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science essential for the provision of patient care under supervision and includes emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. Step 2 ensures that due attention is devoted to principles of clinical sciences and basic patient-centered skills that provide the foundation for the safe and competent practice of medicine." (*CK; **CS was discontinued )

"Step 2 CK is constructed according to an integrated content outline that organizes clinical science material along two dimensions: physician task and disease category." *

* Source: USMLE Step 2-CK Overview (Further Information)

** USMLE Step2-CS has been discontinued (Further Information)

By when do I need to take the USMLE Step 2 exam?

All students must pass STEP 2 (CK) as a requirement for graduation.

For residency application, you should schedule your exam so that your results are available by the end of September. CK results are usually available within 6 weeks.

Contact Kortni Dolinger, MS, with any questions: 423-439-6311; LINDSAYK@etsu.edu

Step Three

USMLE Step 3

"Step 3 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings. It is the final examination in the USMLE sequence leading to a license to practice medicine without supervision. The examination material is prepared by examination committees broadly representing the medical profession. The committees comprise recognized experts in their fields, including both academic and non-academic practitioners, as well as members of state medical licensing boards. Step 3 content reflects a data-based model of generalist medical practice in the United States. The test items and cases reflect the clinical situations that a general, as-yet undifferentiated, physician might encounter within the context of a specific setting. Step 3 provides a final assessment of physicians assuming independent responsibility for delivering general medical care.

"The Step 3 examination devotes attention importance of assessing the knowledge and skills of physicians who are assuming independent responsibility for providing general medical care to patients. The first day of the Step 3 examination is referred to as Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP), and the second day is referred to as Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM)." *

* Source: USMLE Step3 Overview (Further information)

When do I need to take the USMLE Step 3 exam?

STEP 3 is typically taken after your first year of residency, however individual state and program requirements vary.

Contact Kortni Dolinger, MS, with any questions: 423-439-6311; LINDSAYK@etsu.edu

Licensure

"In the United States and its territories, a license to practice medicine is a privilege granted only by the individual licensing authority (i.e., state medical board) of the various jurisdictions. All decisions regarding acceptance of USMLE results and/or licensure eligibility are made by the individual state medical boards of the United States.

"It is important to note that eligibility to sit for the USMLE Step 3 for a specific state medical board does not automatically signify your eligibility for medical licensure in that jurisdiction.

"To obtain complete licensure information, you should contact the state medical board where you intend to seek a medical license. The Federation provides a listing of all state medical boards, Requirements (by state), and their contact information at State Medical Board Info." *

* Source: Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)