Your Path to
USMLE Step 3
Starts Here

If you graduated from a medical school outside of the U.S. and Canada, your school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements. Regardless of the type of medical degree you hold, all applicants for the USMLE Step 3 must apply through the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website.

To be eligible for Step 3, you must have passed Step 1 and Step 2 CK of the Boards during medical school. The USMLE program recommends taking Step 3 after completing (or nearly completing) at least one year of postgraduate training in a U.S.-accredited graduate medical education program that meets state board licensing requirements.

The busiest times for testing are May through July and November through December. Because scheduling is first-come, first-served, try to schedule your test dates early in your eligibility period. This way, you’ll have flexibility if you need to reschedule. You can take the exam at any Prometric® test center in the United States or its territories.

The USMLE Step 3 is a 2-day computerized exam with approximately 500 multiple-choice questions, along with computer-based case simulations (CCS) that evaluate your ability to assess history and physical exam information, order diagnostic tests, select initial therapies, and manage patients.

The exam primarily focuses on patient management (45-55% of questions). Other topics include history and physical exam; lab and diagnostic studies; diagnosis; prognosis; and pathophysiology—each comprising about 8-12% of the exam questions. Additionally, each question falls into one of three clinical encounter frames: initial workup; continued care; and emergency care.