In this post, we will provide a summary of all of the prerequisites
that must be met in order for overseas medical graduates to begin their
medical residency in the United States, beginning with STEP 1 and ending
with Matching into residency.
When you apply for a residency
program in the United States, you will encounter a number of challenges
and roadblocks, and we are going to walk you through each one of them,
step by step.
The USMLE Step 1 Exam
The STEP 1 examination is designed to evaluate the candidate's understanding of the fundamental sciences.
The
evaluation for STEP 1 takes place all on the same day and lasts for a
combined total of eight hours. The test consists of questions with
multiple choice answers, and the test is broken up into seven sections.
The maximum number of questions in any given block is forty, with a
maximum of 280 questions over the entire exam.
You can find a more comprehensive explanation by clicking on the following link:
Examination for the United States Medical License | More Information
Examination to Determine Eligibility to Practice Medicine in the United States | Step 1
In what areas will the test be focused?
The following is a list of the broad generalizations of topics from which questions will be asked during this exam:
Sciences of Behavioural Behavior
Chemistry and Dietary Supplements
Genetics
Gross Anatomy & Embryology
Histology as well as the study of cells
Immunology
Microbiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
What do I need to focus on when studying for the STEP 1 exam?
Check out this in-depth blog article where we discuss the study materials for the STEP 1.
How exactly do I go about submitting my application?
You
will need to submit an application for a USMLE/ECFMG identification
number so that you can take any exam that is associated with the USMLE.
Check out our in-depth blog post for more information on how to register
for your first STEP exam.
After submitting an application for
certification, you will be needed to supply any extra relevant documents
and have your medical school verify that you are a student or graduate
of their program. Afterwards, you receive scheduling permits (a paper
that has numbers that allow you to both schedule your exam and start
your exam on your exam day). Check out our page about enrolling for and
scheduling your first STEP exam for more information about the process.
How much does it cost to take STEP 1?
The
cost of taking STEP 1 is $975, and there is an additional surcharge of
$180 for international test delivery if you are going to take the exam
outside of the United States or Canada. All of the following will result
in additional fees: rescheduling, extending the eligibility period, and
changing test centers.
How many points do I need to get on the STEP 1 test?
IMGs
are judged to have had a satisfactory performance on STEP 1 if they
scored 250 or higher. It is less likely for residency programs to score
filter applicants with a score higher than 250. You are also required to
be aware of the average score for the speciality to which you are
applying because these averages vary depending on the specialty. Those
who are able to match into competitive specializations have a higher
mean score, whereas those who do not have lower mean scores.
Step
1 of the USMLE There are scores of international medical graduates in
each speciality who matched or did not match the requirements. You may
have observed that there is a significant variation between the many
areas of specialization.
On January 26, 2022, STEP 1 will
transition to a pass/fail grading system. As a result, the value of the
score you received on STEP 1 will be transferred to other components of
your application.
The USMLE Step 2 CS Exam
Can you tell me about the STEP 2 CK?
The
Step 2 CK examination evaluates candidates' ability to use their
medical knowledge, abilities, and comprehension of clinical science.
Exam
Step 2 CK takes place over the course of a single day. It is
administered in a single testing session that lasts for nine hours and
is broken up into eight blocks of sixty minutes each. The amount of
questions that are included in each section of a particular test may
vary, but it cannot be more than forty. The full examination consists of
somewhere in the range of 318 questions in its entirety.
Check out the following information regarding the STEP 2 CK.
In what areas will the test be focused?
On
the STEP 2 CK exam, similar to the STEP 1 exam, you will be asked
questions pertaining to the body's various systems; however, the
emphasis will be placed more heavily on investigations and management,
and the subject matter covered will include internal medicine,
pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, psychiatry, behavioral
sciences, and statistics.
How can I register for the STEP 2 CK exam?
Check
out our in-depth blog post on how to apply for your first STEP exam if
this will be your first time taking an exam and you are applying to take
STEP 2 CK.
If you have already applied for STEP 1, the
application process for this step is quite similar to the application
process for STEP 1.
How much does it cost to take the STEP 2 CK?
If
you are taking the exam outside of the United States or Canada, you
will be required to pay an additional surcharge of $200 in addition to
the $975 fee for the STEP 2 CK exam.
All of the following will result in additional fees: rescheduling, extending the eligibility period, and changing test centers.
What exactly should I be studying for the STEP 2CK exam?
Check out this in-depth blog post that we've written on the STEP 2CK study resources.
When it comes to the STEP 2 CK, what are the average scores for the various specialties?
This
graph illustrates the USMLE Step 2CK scores of international medical
graduates who matched and those who did not match according to their
respective specialties. In a manner analogous to STEP 1, there is a
significant gap between each of the several specialties.
Are there any restrictions placed on the total number of tries that can be made on the STEP?
Examinees
will only be allotted four chances to pass each Step exam beginning on
July 1, 2021, down from the current maximum of six attempts allowed.
OET Exam
After
the termination of the STEP 2 CS examination, a new medical English
language test known as the Occupational English Test (OET) was developed
and implemented.
The OET Medicine test is comprised of the following four parts:
Listening (45 mins, 42 marks)
Studying (60 mins, 42 marks)
Writing
(45 minutes) (includes six criteria; the maximum score for "Purpose" is
three, and the maximum score for the remaining criteria is seven)
Speaking
(20 mins) (a maximum of six marks can be earned for each of the
linguistic criteria, and a maximum of three points can be earned for
each of the five clinical communication criteria)
To pass the
overall test, you need a score of 350, which is equivalent to a grade of
B. A total score of 350 requires getting at least 30 points out of each
category.
Receiving a Degree from a Qualified Medical School
It
is necessary for an overseas medical student's medical school to be in
compliance with a number of ECFMG regulations in order for the student
to be eligible to apply for ECFMG Certification. The institutions that
qualify for this honor can be found in the World Directory of Medical
Schools.
"The ECFMG® has announced that, beginning in 2024
(formerly 2023), in order to be eligible for ECFMG Certification,
physicians will be required to have graduated from a medical school that
has been officially accredited. This requirement was previously
scheduled to take effect in 2023. It is necessary for the physician's
medical school to be accredited by an accrediting institution that is
recognized by WFME in order to fulfill this criteria.
Research
Research
can take anywhere from six months to two to three years, depending on
the specialty, and many applicants do it because they want to maximize
their chances of getting matched.
If you don't have much
experience in the research field, most research possibilities are
volunteer employment that don't pay. For this reason, it is essential to
ensure that you have access to sufficient personal financial resources
before to moving to the United States.
USCE (US Clinical Experience)
The
application for permanent residency in the United States requires
USCEs. You can receive Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) with the
assistance of USCE, which will be beneficial to you when you apply for
residency.
The following is a list of the several kinds of USCE Electives, Clerkships, and Subinternships:
An
Elective or Clerkship is the USCE that is most beneficial to an
application. Only people who have not yet completed their medical
training are eligible for this opportunity. It offers a more customized
letter of recommendation the majority of the time. The price of an
elective for a period of four weeks might range anywhere from $100 to
$5,000.
Externships
Designed to provide medical graduates some
kind of practical experience in their field. Large university hospitals
don't typically perform this procedure.
Observerships
Medical
school graduates have the option of participating in observerships,
which allow them to see various aspects of patient care. Observerships
do not permit you to engage with patients; nevertheless, they do provide
you with the opportunity to become familiar with the healthcare system
in the United States and to build prospects for networking.
Telerotations
The
COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the rise in popularity of
telerotations. When you are trying to create your CV, having
telerotations on your resume is better than having nothing at all. Even
though they are not as helpful as having USCE in person, they are still
better than having nothing. The cost of telerotations might range
anywhere from zero to two thousand dollars each month.
ECFMG certification
It
is possible to apply to the MATCH without having ECFMG certification;
however, it is strongly advised that international medical graduates
apply with ECFMG certification. IMGs are required to have ECFMG
certification in order to match. Because the STEP 2 CS exam is no longer
available, the certification criteria has been updated very recently to
reflect the new standard.
I really hope that this information is
of some use to you as you prepare for the arduous but ultimately
rewarding process of obtaining US residency.
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