What do you need to be eligible to take the USMLE step1 Exam?

What Do You Need to Be Eligible for the USMLE?

You are eligible to take the USMLE! If you are a US citizen, you must be officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US or Canadian medical school program leading to an MD degree accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or a US medical school leading to a DO degree accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). 

International medical graduates (IMGs) must be enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school that is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and meet the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements. 

Those who graduated from non-accredited medical schools in the US or Canada may be eligible to take the USMLE if their medical licensing authority makes a specific request.

 

Can Osteopathic Physicians take the USMLE?

You will only need to take either the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States of America (COMLEX-USA) or the USMLE if you’re trying to get your osteopathic physician license. Although, since osteopathic medical schools require the COMLEX-USA, you won’t have to take both exams.

While a few allopathic residency programs may prefer not to use COMLEX-USA because its scoring system is different than that of the USMLE, it’s not necessary for DO students to take the USMLE to get accepted into an allopathic residency.

 

Are IMGs Eligible to Take the USMLE?

Yes, International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are eligible to take the USMLE. To be eligible, their school should be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools as meeting the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirements. 

IMGs are expected to complete USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 2 CS to be certified by the ECFMG, which is also required for visa sponsorship and for them to be eligible to take Step 3 of the USMLE.

 

What If You Graduated from a Non-Accredited Medical School?

If you graduated from a non-accredited medical school in the U.S. or Canada, you can take the USMLE only when the medical licensing authority makes a specific request. The medical licensing authority should submit the sponsorship request to the USMLE Secretariat before you apply for each Step.

 

Read also: How to Prepare for USMLE Step 1? 5 tips