United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

Students of American University of the Caribbean are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). AUC students must comply with the regulations established by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which serves as the registration entity for international medical students taking the USMLE Steps 1 and 2.

USMLE, a three-step exam, provides a common system for evaluating applicants for medical licensure in the United States. Steps 1 and Step 2 are each one-day, multiple-choice examinations. Step 1 is usually taken after the second year of medical school, when the basic medical sciences have been completed, and its passage is a prerequisite for clinical clerkship programs. Step 2 is usually taken either during the last clinical year of medical school or after graduation. Steps 1 and 2 may be taken in either order, so long as specific ECFMG requirements are met. Students should become familiar with these requirements.

Step 1 assesses whether the student can apply the knowledge and understanding of key concepts of basic biomedical science, with an emphasis on principles of health, disease and modes of therapy.

Step 2 assesses whether a student can apply the medical knowledge and understanding of clinical science considered essential for provision of patient care under supervision, including emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.