To practice medicine in the United States, graduates must successfully pass the United States Licensing Examinations (USMLE) and be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) prepares our students to successfully pass all licensing examinations.  UMHS will integrate into the Basic Science program a series of shelf examinations.  These examinations are made of questions that are similar in type and style to the USMLE.     These are the same examinations that are offered to U.S. medical students.  Shelf examinations are, in essence, mini USMLE examinations as they use a similar type and style of questions.

UMHS also offers a board preparation program in 5th semester to further prepare students to pass Step 1 of the USMLE on their first attempt. 

Each state regulates medical licensure in the United States.  Because these standards vary by State, we urge students to contact their state medical board for further information about licensure.

United States Licensing Examinations (USMLE)

Three tests comprise the USMLE, and they assess a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles as well as to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.

USMLE Step 1 (taken prior to semester 6 at UMHS)

Assesses whether medical school students understand and can apply important concepts of the sciences basic to the practice of medicine.

USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS (taken prior to graduation from UMHS)

Assesses whether medical school students can apply medical knowledge, skills and understanding of clinical science essential for provision of patient care under supervision.

USMLE Step 3 (taken prior to completion of residency training)

Assesses whether medical school graduates can apply medical knowledge, skills and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine.

ECFMG Certification

In addition to taking the United States Medical Licensing Examinations, students graduating from international medical schools must be certified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This certification is required for residency and licensure.

Residency Positions

Residency programs begin July 1st of each year.  In order to be eligible, students must have the following prior to May 31st:

• Passing scores on the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS
• Diploma from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• ECFMG certificate

When applying for residency positions, deadlines are critical.  Most residency programs accept applications from July to December for entry the following July.  Students must call or write to all the programs in which they are interested and obtain applications as early as possible.  Interviews are generally conducted from September to January. 

The best way to become familiar with programs and their addresses is to obtain a copy of the American Medical Association (AMA) Graduate Medical Education Directory, also known as the “green book”, from any medical library or bookstore.  This book lists the programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Match Program

The National Residency Match Program (NRMP) is a universal placement service that most programs and applicants participate in as it greatly optimizes the chances of getting a residency position.  Applications are available from July to October for entry the following July.  The deadline for receipt of the application is October.

To be eligible to participate in the NRMP, students must have passed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and CS by December of the year prior to which they wish to enter residency training.  Students must also be scheduled to graduate from medical school on or before May 31st.

After applying to the NRMP, students must apply to each residency program in which they are interested and go on interviews.  In February, students must submit a “rank order list” to the NRMP.  The rank order list is a list of the programs at which students interviewed that are listed from most to least desirable.  Simultaneously, all residency programs submit their rank order lists of the candidates they interviewed.

A computerized matching process begins, with results released in March.  If a student matches at a specific program, it is a legally binding contract and he/she must begin the residency that July.

If a student fails to match or is not eligible to enter the NRMP, the student can still apply to residency programs to obtain a position “outside the match”.  Students who participated in NRMP but did not match will be sent a publication listing all unfilled residency positions.

Resources

USMLE Secretariat
3750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3190
Telephone: 215-590-9700
FAX: 215-590-9457
United States Medical Licensing Examination web site

American Medical Association
515 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312-464-5000
American Medical Association web site

ECFMG
3624 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2685 USA
Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) web site 

National Resident Match Program
2540 N Street, N.W., Suite 1
Washington, D.D. 20037-1037
202-828-0566
National Resident Match Program (NRMP) web site