USMLE Registration - Step III

To register for the USMLE Step III Exam, the individual applying to take the exam must meet all of the requirements set by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBEC) and must have completed the Step I Exam, the Step II Clinical Skills Exam, and the Step II Clinical Knowledge Exam prior to applying for the Step III Exam. This means that the individual must have completed these three exams and must have a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, a degree that can be substituted for an MD degree, or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree prior to applying for the exam. The individual must also meet all of the other requirements for licensure set by the local medical licensing authority for the jurisdiction in which the individual is pursuing licensure in order to take the exam. If the individual applying for the Step III Exam completed a medical program outside of the United States and Canada, the individual must have an ECFMG Certification or a Fifth Pathway Certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to applying for the exam.

If the individual meets all of the applicable requirements set by the NBEC, he or she may apply for a testing permit by contacting the NBEC via their website, fax, e-mail, or phone. Once the individual has received a testing permit, the individual can schedule a testing date by contacting Thomson Prometric via their website or by phone. The individual applying for the Step III Exam may choose any available testing date within his or her eligibility period. However, there are only a limited number of seats available for each testing date and seats often fill up quickly so applicants may wish to apply for a testing date as soon as possible.