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 2010 USMLE sample test materials, and the Step 3 Content Description and General Information all available on USMLE's website.

The testing software is simple and easy to understand. Still, it is recommended that you acquaint yourself with the software before testing. Software resembling the actual test delivery system is available on the USMLE website. It is important to take advantage of this opportunity prior to the exam, as practice time cannot be accommodated on the test day.

When taking Step 3, it is essential that examinees review the CCS orientation materials and practice with the sample cases prior to the testing day. The CCS software is available on the USMLE website. Failure to practice with the software will not be an acceptable explanation for poor performance on the CCS portion of Step 3.

For those wishing to practice the entire computer-based testing experience, for an extra cost of $48, a sample examination is available through Prometric (a division of Thomson Learning, Inc). 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.