Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) is the final part of the exam that an aspiring doctor must pass in order to practice medicine in the United States. Instead of taking the USMLE® all at once, students take it in stages. The USMLE® Steps 1 and 2 are taken while a student is still in medical school, and the USMLE® Step 3 is taken during a residency program, which provides on-the-job training for aspiring doctors. The exam is difficult, and it usually necessitates both a commitment to studying and a significant amount of effort during the exam itself.
The USMLE® Step 3 assesses an aspiring doctor’s ability to apply his medical and scientific knowledge to his practice. This ability is essential for someone seeking a medical license and who will eventually diagnose and treat patients without supervision. The questions on the test usually focus on how to apply this knowledge to patient care in settings such as clinics, medical offices, and other health care facilities where a person is seen as an outpatient.
A person must demonstrate more than textbook knowledge when taking the USMLE® Step 3 exam. The exam also assesses the test taker’s clinical abilities. The ability of test takers to diagnose diseases and select appropriate treatments is tested. The exam also assesses a person’s ability to provide follow-up care.
To take the USMLE® Step 3, a person must meet certain eligibility requirements. To take the exam, for example, a person must have earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. To qualify, he must also pass the Step 1 and Step 2 exams. Alternative requirements may apply in some cases, such as in the case of a person who graduated from medical school in a country other than the United States. In addition, to be eligible to take this exam, an individual must meet jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Because the USMLE® Step 3 is such a significant exam, it usually necessitates a significant amount of preparation. Typically, aspiring doctors spend at least a few months studying for the exam. They may use study manuals and refresher courses to prepare, and some test takers may also seek advice from licensed doctors on how to improve their scores.