USMLE — United States Medical Licensing Examination
The three-step licensing examination for medical practice in the United States.
Required for medical licensure in the United States, and taken by international medical graduates as well as US medical students.
Exam format
- •Three components: Step 1, Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) and Step 3
- •Step 1 covers the basic sciences and is scored pass/fail
- •Step 2 CK covers clinical knowledge in multiple-choice format
- •Step 3 is typically taken after graduation, during residency
What it covers
- •Blueprint: the USMLE Content Outline
- •Basic sciences — pathology, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology and behavioural science
- •Clinical disciplines — internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry
- •Practise with NBME-style blocks and CMS forms
Frequently asked questions
What is the USMLE?▾
The United States Medical Licensing Examination is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States, sponsored by the FSMB and the NBME. Step 1 covers the basic sciences and is scored pass/fail, Step 2 CK covers clinical knowledge, and Step 3 is generally taken during residency.
Is USMLE Step 1 still scored?▾
No. Step 1 is reported as pass/fail, which means Step 2 CK carries more weight for residency applications than it used to.
What is the USMLE Content Outline?▾
It is the official specification of what the examination covers. Questions are meant to be traceable to an objective in it, which is why blueprint alignment matters when you choose practice material.
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