USMLE Step 3 is the last in the series of USMLE exams. USMLE Step 3 is a required exam for all medical graduates in order to obtain license as a practicing physician in the United States.
Most of the following information is adopted from www.usmle.org. For complete information, please visit the official site.
Examination Content
USMLE Step 3 examination tests on general topics that are required to understand and practice concepts of general medicine/ family medicine. USMLE Step 3 includes multiple choice questions as well as Clinical case simulations ( CCS) . Approximately 75% of the total exam time is devoted to Multiple Choice Questions and 25% of the time to Step 3 CCS.
The following components are tested:
- Normal conditions and disease categories (normal growth and development, basic concepts, and general principles)
- Clinical encounter frame (initial work up, continuing care, urgent intervention)
- Physician task (applying scientific concepts, formulating a diagnosis based on history, physical exam, and lab findings, and managing the patient).
Clinical encounter frames are common clinical scenarios physicians may encounter. They range from nonemergency problems, to the continuity of care, to life-threatening emergency situations encountered in emergency departments, clinics, offices, care facilities, inpatient settings, and on the telephone. Each test item, in an encounter frame, represents one of the six physician tasks. For example, initial care encounters emphasize taking a history and performing a physical examination. In contrast, continued care encounters emphasize decisions regarding prognosis and management.
Eligibility for USMLE Step 3:
To be eligible for Step 3, prior to submitting your application, you must:
- obtain the MD degree (or its equivalent) or the DO degree,
- pass Step 1, Step 2 CK, and, if required based upon the rules referenced below, Step 2 CS,
- obtain certification by the ECFMG or successfully complete a “Fifth Pathway” program if you are a graduate of a medical school outside the United States and Canada (information on Fifth Pathway programs is available in ECFMG’s Information Booklet, and
- meet the Step 3 requirements set by the medical licensing authority to which you are applying.
