Eligibility for USMLE

Eligibility for USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge 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:
  1. a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US or Canadian medical school program leading to the MD degree that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), OR
  2. a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US medical school leading to the DO degree that is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OR
  3. a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school that is outside the US and Canada, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, and that meets other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG.

Additional Information:

• Must meet eligibility requirements at time of application AND on test day
• 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 meet the eligibility requirements, you may take Step 1 and Step 2 CK in any sequence.

Eligibility for USMLE Step 3

• To be eligible for Step 3, before submitting your application, you must:

1. Possess the MD degree (or its equivalent) or the DO degree from an LCME- or COCA-accredited US or Canadian medical school or from a medical school
   outside the US and Canada listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, AND
2. Pass Step 1 and Step 2 CK, AND
3. Possess ECFMG Certification if you are a graduate of a medical school outside the US and Canada.

Additional Information:

• Must meet eligibility requirements at time of application AND on test day

Change in Eligibility Status

• If your eligibility for a Step or Step Component 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.
• Failure to notify the organization that registered you for your examination of your change in status may result in a finding that you engaged in irregular behaviour.
• If you take a Step or Step Component for which you are not eligible, results for that examination may not be reported or, if previously reported, may be cancelled, at the discretion of the USMLE program.

Graduates from Unaccredited Medical Schools in the US or Canada

• If you graduated from an unaccredited medical school in the US or Canada and are eligible for initial licensure as a physician by a US medical licensing authority, you may take the USMLE only upon specific request by that medical licensing authority.
• The physician licensing authority should submit the request to sponsor you to the USMLE Secretariat in advance of your application for each Step.

Sequence of Steps

• If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may take Step 1and Step 2 CK  in any sequence.
• You may take Step 3 only after passing Step 1 and Step 2 CK.

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 exam sequence. Attempts at the formerly administered Step 2 CS count toward the limit.
• All attempts at a Step are counted toward the limit, regardless of when the examinations were taken.
• Many state medical boards require that all Steps of the USMLE exam 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.

Retakes

• Retaking Failed Examinations

1. 1. 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 months after your most recent attempt at that examination.
   2. This includes incomplete attempts.
   3. If you have questions about how this policy may impact your registration, contact the organization through which you will register for your exam.

• Retaking Previously Passed Steps

1. 1. If you pass a Step, you are not allowed to retake it, except to comply with a time limit imposed by a US physician licensing authority for completion of all Steps or by another authority recognized by the USMLE program. Visit the USMLE website for more information.
   2. If you have not yet passed Step 3 and need to retake a previously passed Step 1 or Step 2 CK examination to meet a time limit imposed by a US physician 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.
   3. In order 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

1. 1. If you have already been granted a physician license by a US medical licensing authority based on other licensure examinations, such as the Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), the NBME certifying examinations, or National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners COMLEX-USA, you may not be eligible to take the USMLE.
   2. Please contact the appropriate registration organization with questions about your eligibility.

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