Check that you meet the Step 3 requirements. Two sets of requirements are listed: the core USMLE program requirements that all applicants must meet and the state‐specific eligibility requirements (e.g. minimum postgraduate training of the sponsoring board). Please keep in mind that when you register for Step 3, you will be asked to indicate the state board for which you are sitting.
After identifying a board whose eligibility requirements you meet, print that state board's instructions for your reference. You may also need to print and submit a postgraduate training form or additional documents from these instructions.
Please keep in mind that the eligibility periods for Step 3 can not be chosen. Your eligibility will begin upon approval of your application.
The 2011 Step 3 application cycle runs October 1, 2010 through September 2, 2011 with eligibility and available test dates beginning from November 1, 2010. When applying after November 1, 2010 the usual processing time will determine the exact start date of an examinee's eligibility period.
USMLE Step 3 Eligibility Requirements
The USMLE program requires completion of the following prior to submitting a Step 3 application:
Obtain an M.D. degree (or its equivalent) or a D.O. degree (or its equivalent). You may only apply after the date of graduation on your diploma. (For recent graduates, it can take up to six weeks to verify the degree before approval for Step 3).
Pass both USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (CK and CS).
If a graduate of a foreign medical school, certification by the ECFMG or successful completion of a "Fifth Pathway" program. (You may apply only after the issue date on your ECFMG or Fifth Pathway certificate).
Meet the requirements for taking Step 3 imposed by the individual licensing authority for which you are applying to sit Step 3.
The USMLE program limits all individuals to four (4) attempts per Step within a 12‐month period. You may not apply for a fifth attempt at Step 3 prior to the expiration of 12 months from the date of the first Step 3 administration.
Special Notice Regarding the Fifth Pathway Program
In November 2007, the American Medical Association (AMA) determined that it would withdraw its support for the Fifth Pathway program. Per the AMA, the last Fifth Pathway program class to be supported will be the January 2009 entering class, which will be supported until completion in December 2009.
The USMLE Composite Committee and the USMLE parent organization (FSMB and NBME) have determined that the USMLE program will cease acceptance of Fifth Pathway certificates issued after December 31, 2009 for the purpose of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements. For valid Fifth Pathway certificates issued through December 31, 2009, the USMLE program has not yet determined whether they will be accepted indefinitely for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility criteria or whether a cut‐off date will be imposed. Individuals holding Fifth Pathway certificates that are not accepted by the USMLE program for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility will be required to obtain ECFMG certification in order to be eligible for Step 3.
Information and updates about the Fifth Pathway program and USMLE will be posted on the USMLE website (www.usmle.org).
Processing Time The FSMB processes USMLE Step 3 applications in the order they are received.
If you submit your application online, the FSMB will begin processing your application within 2‐3 business days. However, your online application cannot be completed until the FSMB receives the Certification of Identity form and any other required document(s) that you must mail to our offices. Once the document(s) arrive, your application will be completed within approximately 3‐5 business days after receiving all documents and meeting all requirements.
If you mail a paper application, please allow approximately 1‐3 weeks for processing once the FSMB receives your application.
It is recommended that you send your application materials and fee by a traceable means, such as US Postal Service certified mail return receipt or an overnight courier.
Test Accommodations Test accommodations include but are not limited to the following:
Assistance with keyboard tasks
Audio rendition
Extended testing time
Extra break time
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If you have a documented disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and require test accommodations, you must notify the FSMB in writing each time you apply for Step 3. Click here for more detailed information and applications.
Application Status Applicants are responsible for monitoring the status of their Step 3 application by accessing the Candidate website. This website requires you to login with your USMLE ID number.
You should use the Candidate website to monitor the status of your application and the availability of your scheduling permit and score report.
Step 3 Electronic Scheduling Permit Once your application is registered and your eligibility status approved, an e‐mail will be sent to you indicating your application has been approved. Within 3‐5 business days, a subsequent e‐mail will be sent to you with instructions on how to obtain and print your electronic scheduling permit. If you do not receive the subsequent e‐mail(s) you are encouraged and instructed to go to the Candidate website for your scheduling permit. Be sure that you provide an e‐mail address that will accept an e‐mail from usmle@fsmb.org. Many .edu's, hotmail, and other accounts block or place e‐mails from fsmb.org into spam or junk e‐mail folders.
It is your responsibility to obtain and print your USMLE Step 3 electronic scheduling permit. Your permit will remain available until you have tested or your eligibility expires. Therefore, if your scheduling permit is misplaced or destroyed you can reprint it from the Candidate website. You will not be allowed to sit for the Step 3 exam without presenting your Scheduling Permit to the proctoring staff on each day of the exam. Inability to present your permit may require you to cancel your current test date and reschedule your appointment. You may also incur a fee from Prometric. If there is insufficient time remaining in your eligibility period to reschedule (or request and pay for an eligibility extension), you risk forfeiting your Step 3 exam fee.
Scheduling USMLE Step 3 Once you access and print your Scheduling Permit you will be able to contact Prometric to schedule your Step 3 exam on two consecutive days. Prometric schedules test dates on a first-come, first-served basis. You are urged to schedule a testing date relatively early in your eligibility period. This will provide the greatest flexibility in the event that you must reschedule your appointment.
If you must reschedule your test date, you must provide Prometric with a minimum of five‐business days notice in order to avoid a rescheduling fee. Rescheduling a testing date allows you to select another testing date within your eligibility period; it is not an extension of your eligibility period. Consult the Eligibility Extensions portion of the Step 3 page for information on this service.
Exam Preparation The best preparation is a thorough medical education and appropriate residency training directed toward providing unsupervised medical care for patients in the United States. Additionally, Step 3 candidates should engage in a comprehensive review of the material covered by the examination as outlined in the USMLE Bulletin of Information, the USMLE sample test materials, and the Step 3 Content Description and General Information available on USMLE website.
It is essential that examinees carefully and completely review the testing software and the CCS orientation materials prior to your scheduled testing dates. Practice with the software and CCS orientation material is available at all times on the USMLE website. Failure to practice with the software and CCS orientation materials will not be an acceptable explanation for poor performance during the multiple choice questions or the CCS portion of the Step 3.
The sample test questions are only available for the Windows (PC) operating system because the exams are administered on a PC‐only platform at test centers. The sample test questions may run on a Mac that has PC‐emulation software installed, such as Virtual PC; however, we do not test the installation or the application running with PC‐emulation software, and cannot advise you about Mac applications. If you use a Mac and do not have access to PC‐emulation software, you may be able to contact someone who can arrange for the sample test questions to be installed on computers that can be accessed by Mac users or students who do not have personal PCs (i.e., in learning resource centers or libraries).
For those wishing to practice the entire computer‐based testing experience, for an extra cost, a sample examination is available through Prometric. Please note that only those individuals registered for Step 3 and in possession of their scheduling permit are eligible for this practice session. You may access a practice session by first visiting the USMLE website to register for the practice exam. Once registered a permit will become available on the Candidate website. Scheduling and payment of fees is accomplished through Prometric. Furthermore, the sample questions shown at the practice session are identical to those provided on the USMLE website.
Eligibility Extensions If are unable to test within your eligibility period contact our offices to inquire about a one‐time contiguous 90‐day extension. Due to the need for re‐verification of eligibility prior to approving requests for extensions, requests must arrive no later than ten days after the end of the original eligibility period. A fee of $65 is charged for this service. Applicants requesting an eligibility period extension must download and mail the Eligibility Extension Form to FSMB offices to an address provided on the form.
Electronic Score Reporting General information on how USMLE Step 3 is scored is available in the USMLE Bulletin of Information and Step 3 Content Description and General Information. USMLE policy requires annotation of score reports and transcripts for Step administrations for which test accommodations were used. Score recipients who inquire about the annotation will be provided with information about the nature of the test accommodation only.
Score reports for the USMLE Step 3 are usually made available within three to four weeks after your test date; however, delays are possible for various reasons. You should allow at least eight weeks to receive notification that your score report is available.
Note: Please be sure that you have included a current email address with your Step 3 application as you will be notified by email that your score report is available. You will be required to access your score report through the Candidate website and to print the score report from the Candidate website.
Scores released on or after August 15, 2007 can only be viewed and printed from the Candidate website page for 120 days from the score report release date. If the 120 days has passed, you may only access your score information through an EBAHR request form and paying appropriate fees. The EBAHR is a request for an official transcript of all USMLE scores and will not contain the performance profile provided on the original score report.
USMLE Exam Retakes The USMLE program limits all individuals to four(4) attempts at a Step within a 12 month period. You may not apply for a fifth attempt at Step 3 prior to the expiration of 12 months from the date of the first Step 3 administration.
If you pass a Step or Step Component, you are not allowed to retake it, except to comply with the time limit of a medical licensing authority for the completion of all Steps or a requirement imposed by another authority recognized by the USMLE program for this purpose. See the USMLE Bulletin of Information for further details.
USMLE Licensure Disclaimer In the United States and its territories, a license to practice medicine is a privilege granted only by the individual licensing authority (i.e., "state medical board") of the various jurisdictions. All decisions regarding acceptance of USMLE results and/or licensure eligibility are made by the individual state medical boards of the United States.
It is important to note that eligibility to sit for the USMLE Step 3 for a specific state medical board does not automatically signify your eligibility for medical licensure in that jurisdiction.
To obtain complete licensure information, you should contact the state medical board directly where you intend to seek your medical license. The FSMB provides a listing of all state medical boards and their contact information.
USMLE Step 3 Contacts If you have questions concerning your Step 3 eligibility, please contact:
USMLE Step 3
Federation of State Medical Boards
(817) 868‐4041 usmle@fsmb.org
