USMLE Step 3
The USMLE Step 3 exam, tests a medical student's clinical skills as would be encountered by a physician on a typical day. It is the final step in the USMLE series of medical licensure examinations. The USMLE 3 is a 2-day exam with 500 multiple-choice questions and computer-based patient simulations. Step 3 is an important part of the licensing requirements for MDs and graduates of foreign medical schools to practice medicine in the United States. Foreign medical students are often required to pass the final USMLE exam in order to obtain a H-1B Visa. The USMLE 3 is also a pre-requisite of the majority of state licensing boards.
Step 3 exams test students on a broad spectrum of general topics required to understand and practice the concepts of medicine. Some important components of the USMLE 3 include:
- USMLE Step 3 is a mandatory exam that needs to be passed to obtain a license as a practicing physician.
- Students register via a state licensing board for the USMLE 3 exam.
- Step 3 exams are delivered online and may be taken throughout the year.
- Approximately 75% of the Step 3 is multiple choice with one fourth of the exam focused on clinical case simulations.
Step 3 Review
Most fourth-year students prepare for the Step 3 exam on their own. However, students training in medical specialties that do not deal directly with family medicine can often benefit from review courses that are individualized to help them prepare for their USMLE 3.
Each item tested on the USMLE Step 3 is based on one of the six primary physician tasks. Patient simulations are closely based on common clinical scenarios that a physician may encounter during a normal work day. For example, a simulation of an initial patient encounter will measure the student's ability to record a patient history and perform a physical examination. In contrast, a continued-care patient simulation will focus on the student's decisions regarding a diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up patient care. Case scenarios range from nonemergency problems, to the continuity of care, to life-threatening situations seen in emergency rooms, public health clinics, doctors' offices, healthcare facilities or over the telephone.
PASS Program South offers 4-week, 6-week and 8-week USMLE test preparation review courses designed to empower you with the knowledge that will change your medical future and the patients you touch during your practice. Since the principles at all Steps of our Physician Achievement Concept Courses evolve around the major concepts of Physiology, medical students at any level are welcome to attend. Don't memorize it. Let PASS Program South teach you how to Master it. For additional information about individualized study programs designed to prepare you for the USMLE Step 3 test, contact us today at (904) 209-3140.
