USMLE Step 3
USMLE Step 3 is the final step step of the USMLE series of test. Once the aspirant successfully clears the USMLE Step 3 2018, s/he is become eligible to practice medicine in USA. USMLE 2018 Step 3 tests the aspirants understanding of medical science and whether they can practice medicine in USA without supervision. The USMLE Step 3 exam is spanned over two days and covers two important areas: Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP) and Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM). Know all about USMLE 2018 Step 3 such as eligibility criteria, dates, application form, exam pattern, syllabus and scores.
Eligibility Criteria for USMLE 2018 Step 3
As opposed to the USMLE Step 1 and Step where students pursuing a their medicine degree can take the tests, USMLE Step 3 can only by aspirants who have completed their medicine course from a medical institution listed in the World Directory of Medical colleges. Candidates can ascertain whether their institution is find whether your college is listed or not by searching for your college name in the World Directory of Medical Colleges website.
Below are the Eligibility Criteria of USMLE Step 3:
The USMLE Step 3 aspirants should have passed the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS
The USMLE Step 3 aspirants are required to mandatorily have a degree equivalent to a the USA and Canadian MD degree or should have a degree from a medical school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Candidates possessing valid Fifth Pathway certificates issued by December 31, 2009 are eligible take Step 3.
Application Process for USMLE 2018 Step 3
The USMLE application process for USMLE Step 3 has to be completed through the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). Candidates can take the USMLE Step 3 in the USA only. The examination is available throughout the year except in the first week of January and on major holidays. Similar to the USMLE Step 1, the eligibility period of USMLE Step 3 is 3 months. The USMLE Step 3 test dates are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. However, candidates cannot schedule a test date more than six months before the examination.
The application fee for USMLE Step 3 is $850.
USMLE Step 3 Dates
The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) has not specified any specific date for USMLE Step 3. The candidates are required to select a test date from the three-month eligibility period.
USMLE 2018 Step 3 Exam Pattern
The two-day USMLE step 3 exam has evaluation of Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP) and Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM). The FIP has 233 multiple choice questions to be completed in 7 hours. The day one of USMLE Step 3 exam has 6 blocks of 38-40 questions which are allotted an hour (60 minutes) each.
The day two of the USMLE Step 3 exam evaluates the aspirants Advanced Clinical Medicine skills. The total duration for ACM on day two is 9 hours and includes 180 multiple-choice to be completed in 6 blocks. With approximately 30 questions in each block, the aspirants are given 45 minutes to complete each block.
The written section is followed by 13 case simulations. Each case simulation is to be completed in a maximum of 10 or 20 minute. A maximum of 45 minutes break time is available. Candidates can also complete an optional survey if time permits.
USMLE Step 3 Exam Pattern 2018
Test | Pattern | Duration |
Step 3(FIP) | 233 MCQs divided into six 60-minute blocks, each block contains approximately 38-40 questions | 7 hours |
Step 3(ACM) | 180 MCQs divided into six 45-minute blocks, each block contains approximately 30 questions | 9 hours |
The minimum passing scores in USMLE 2018 Step 3 is 196.
USMLE 2018 Step 3 Syllabus
The courses covered in Foundations of Independent are biostatistics and epidemiology/population health, interpretation of medical literature, application of foundational sciences etc. The USMLE Step 3 day one exam has a multiple-choice based question paper.
The main focus of Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM) is on patient management, diagnosis, prognosis, health maintenance, therapeutics, among others. Like the day one, this is also a multiple-choice question paper. The syllabus of USMLE 2018 Step 3 syllabus for FIP and ACM are:
USMLE Step 3 Syllabus 2018- FIP and ACM
Competency | Foundations of Independent Practice | Advanced Clinical Medicine |
Medical Knowledge/Scientific Concepts | 18% - 22% | N/A |
Patient Care: Diagnosis 1. History/Physical Examination 2. Diagnosis 3. Laboratory/Diagnosis Studies | 40% – 45% | N/A |
Prognosis/Outcome | N/A | 20% - 25% |
1. Patient Care: Management 2. Health Maintenance/Disease Prevention 3. Pharmacotherapy 4. Clinical Interventions 5. Mixed Management 6. Surveillance for Disease Recurrence | N/A | 75% - 80% |
Communication and Professionalism | 8%-12% | N/A |
Systems-based Practice/ Patient Safety and Practice-based Learning | 22% - 27% | N/A |
Source: USMLE
USMLE Step 3 Scores
The aspirant have to qualify the USMLE Step 3. The scores are calculated for both days; FIP and ACM. The qualifying marks for USMLE Step 3, is 196.
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Questions related to USMLE
Do the rank of college matter in matchmaking process of usmle?
While matching your programme to Medical Schools or Hospitals, USMLE scores do matter. The factors that are considered for Matching are:
- High USMLE scores
- Board scores of other residents in the programme vs the no.of attempts
- Any Clinical experience in the US
- If the programme you are applying for is open to IMG Candidates
- How many years out of medical school are you
- Strong letters of recommendation
- Languages that you speak
And to get place in a good hospital, these are the factors that you need to look into. And ofcourse the rank of the college matters but your placement or matching to that college depends on the above mentioned factors.
Applied to enough IMG friendly hospitals
Answer laterI am in second year of MBBS . i am not sure if I want to pursue further career in india or abroad. also , I need a bit briefing about usmle .
Hi,
If you are planning to settle abroad do PG in abroad and make sure that MCI has approved it. The medical council of India has approved PG courses only from these 5 countries- USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
I can get from your question that you are willing to write the US Medical License Exam (USMLE). Since you are an international applicant you need to score higher than the average marks scored by the US applicants.
All the best.
iv completed my mbbs in march 2020. now im planning to do internal medicine in US in 2022. id like to know a timeline regarding the same
Dear Barath,
Thank you for your query. If you want to study in USA you need to first get through IELTS with a score of atleat 7-8 in academic overall. Then you have to pass the medical exam in USA which is required to being qualified to get for a course on Internal medicine.
All the best
I wish to become a Neurosurgeon, but first I wish to practice in the United States or Singapore for half of my career and to spend last half of my career in India. Whether my wish is a good one? Is it possible? Is my decision is correct? Kindly commend on my wish?
Raja, we have been discussing your career and aspirations for a while now and we appreciate that you want to take Career360's opinion on the matter of your career. So by now, you are aware of the fact what it takes to become a neurosurgeon and what it is to clear USMLE, practise as a resident in the US. We also have discussed the life style and the salary part. Now regarding the first half and later half of the career, we only wish we could predict our timeline on this planet. We do not which might be the first half or which might be the later part. But no wish is bad. If you want to achieve something, you should lest you regret for the rest of your lofe. Now to practise in the US, you may have to appear for USMLE, clear the step 1 and then practise as a resident before you can get the license to practise as a full time neurosurgeon. That is a long process that might take good 4-5 years. You study MBBS in India for 50 months and then complete the 1 year rotational internship and it takes you as many as 5 years. And appearing for USMLE and then working as a resident take another 4 years and so 10 years of your life are spent getting a valid license to practise in the US. And then lets say after 5 years you want to move to Singapore, that takes a whole different processing because you need to appear for their license exam. And you work in Singapore for lets say another 5 years and you come back to India. 15 years of your life are spent studying and getting licenses. But the beauty is within 15 years you can actually get license to practise in 3 countries. So you need to take a call. Or how about you finish MBBS in India, move to Singapore to study your MD/MS and plan on moving to the US? That way the transition is going to be smoother.
Are Neurosurgeons happy in San Francisco?
Hi,
Well I guess they are because they get very good six figure salary and have a great job security although it's stressing but still they like their job cause they got into it knowing the stress it may carry. Neurosurgery is very much in demand and is a very great speciality in medical field.
I hope my answer helps.
All the best.
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