Medical students take the USMLE Step 1 before beginning their clinical rotations.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-part examination administered to candidates seeking a license to practice medicine. Step 1 of the exam is typically administered after the second year of medical school, although some candidates wait until after graduation to begin the examination process. The exam is open to students and graduates of United States and Canadian medical schools, as well as to students and graduates of certain medical schools outside of North America.
Education Prerequisites
To take the United States Medical Licensing Exam, candidates must first fulfill certain education prerequisites, including a high school diploma or GED certificate, as well as a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Although USMLE applicants are not required to have majored in any particular subject, they must take specific courses in preparation for medical school, such as biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, English composition, biochemistry and anatomy. During their junior year, applicants typically sit for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Students are tested in writing, physical sciences, biological sciences and verbal reasoning; MCAT scores, undergraduate GPA and other factors such as letters of recommendation and extracurricular activity are considered when determining whether students will be accepted to medical school.
Eligibility
For eligibility to sit for Step 1 of the USMLE, applicants must fulfill one of three qualifications. One, candidates must be a student or graduate of a United States or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); students must be conferred the MD (Medical Doctorate) degree upon graduation. Two, candidates must be a medical student or graduate of a United States medical school accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); students must be conferred the DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree upon graduation. Three, candidates must be a student or graduate of a medical school outside of the United States and Canada and meet the examination eligibility requirements as determined by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Exam Content
The USMLE is typically administered after a medical student's second year, before students begin clinical rotations, to ensure candidates have fully grasped the classroom and laboratory concepts necessary to begin a medical career. Students preparing to successfully take the test are required to be knowledgeable in the content of the exam. According to the USMLE website, Step 1 of the exam includes questions regarding anatomy, behavioral sciences, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, nutrition, genetics and aging. Examinees will also be asked questions regarding the following organ systems: hematopoietic/ lymphoreticular, nervous/ special senses, skin/ connective tissue, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal/ urinary, reproductive and endocrine.
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