Dear
friends:
Preparing
for USMLE while in the UK a big challenge. But by careful planning all the steps could be achieved in an year.Follow this
page down to read about step 1,2CK,2CS and step 3
· USMLE consists of three step exams step 1 step 2CK and step 2 CS and
step 3
· Useful sites www.ecfmg.org, www.usmle.org
· Buying books is cheaper and easier in India or any country other than UK.
· Step 1 examination can be taken after first two years at medical school.
· Step 2 can be taken after final year medical exam ( if you have passed)
· Step 2 has clinical component called step 2 Cs( CSA has been scrapped) which can be taken in few exam centres in
USA.
USMLE STEP
1
· Applications are online. Have a good credit/debit card in hand.
·
During application process you need to down load form 183 and get it signed by medical school
dean or local notary
·
Post form 183 with 2 photographs and medical degree( if you have passed MBBS). To ECFMG, Philadelphia.
You will receive an email and permit to take this exam. In Uk these can be taken in Twickenham near London and In Great Portland
street, London
·
Notary charges in UK are around 20 – 50 pounds. Alternatively you can get the form signed
by an official in US consulate in London. Call Kaplan, London( phone 02079303130) to find about.
·
Reading seriously is essential for steps and we need high scores to obtain admissions into
a good residency programme.
·
Use your annual leave, weekends or study leave to prepare these
·
Regarding books my sincere advice is to buy Kaplan books through
www.kaptest.com, or attend any Kaplan coaching
centres
In UK Kaplan is situated in Charing Cross London near Leicester square
They do 30 days/60 days or 3-6 months blocks where you can attend for video lectures and simulated tests.Phone
02079303130
Alternatively if you have good computer and internet connection buy questions/Q bank or live lectures
for the steps online. It works cheaper and easier.Costs vary from $150 to $1000.
·
Lot of other books and series are available these can be purchased through www.amazon.com, www.blackwellscience.com, www.bmj.com
·
Essential books are First aid guide by Vikas Bhushan
·
Some series
High Yield series
Board simulator series
Blue print series
Clinical vignettes by Vikas Bhushan
Good websites helping students are www.usmle.net, www.prep4usmle.com,
·
Read slowly and carefully. Usmle step 1 is based on Clinical vignettes and preparing for this
also helps for MRCP 1 and 2 theory, MRCS 1
·
6-12 months should be enough while working or 3-9 months if not.
·
Exercise regularly to keep fit, take good diet.
Please feel free to contact me for more information. Use the "Contact Me" link in the footer below.
USMLE STEP 2 CK
·
Essentially similar in preparation
to step 1
·
Easier than step 1 if you are working
in Hospital
·
Similar paperwork
·
Applications
are online. Fee around $ 850. Have a good credit/debit card in hand.
·
Visit www.ecfmg.org or www.usmle.org
·
During application process you
need to down load form 183 and get it signed by medical school dean or local notary
·
Post form 183 with 2 photographs
and medical degree( if you have passed MBBS). To ECFMG, Philadelphia. You will receive an email and permit to take
this exam. In UK these can be taken in Twickenham near London and In Great Portland street, London
·
Notary charges in UK are around 20 – 50 pounds. Alternatively
you can get the form signed by an official in US consulate in London. Call Kaplan, London( phone 02079303130) to find about.
·
Reading seriously is essential for steps and we need
high scores to obtain admissions into a good residency programme.
·
Use your annual leave, weekends
or study leave to prepare these
·
The exam tests you in Medicine,
Surgery, O&G, Psychiatry, Paediatrics & Behavioural sciences
·
Regarding books my sincere advice
is to buy Kaplan books through
www.kaptest.com, or attend
any Kaplan coaching centres
In UK Kaplan is situated in Charing Cross London near Leicester square
They do 30 days/60 days or 3-6 months blocks where you can attend for video lectures and
simulated tests.Phone 02079303130
Alternatively if you have good computer and internet connection buy questions/Q bank or live
lectures for the steps online. It works cheaper and easier.Costs vary from $150 to $1000.
·
Lot of other books and series are available these
can be purchased through www.amazon.com, www.blackwellscience.com, www.bmj.com
·
Essential books are First aid guide by Vikas Bhushan
·
Some series
High Yield series
Board simulator series
Blue print series
Clinical vignettes by Vikas Bhushan
Good websites helping students are www.usmle.net, www.prep4usmle.com,
·
Read slowly and carefully. Usmle
step 2 is based on Clinical vignettes and preparing for this also helps for MRCP2, MRCS 2
·
6-12 months should be enough while
working or 3-9 months if not.
Exercise
regularly to keep fit, take good diet.
STEP
2 CS
· Step 2 CS is the second component of USMLE STEP 2.
· You do not need Step 1 to take this exam .
· It can be booked online. Costs around 1200 dollars.
· More information about this is available in www.usmle.org or www.ecfmg.org
· It’s a day long clinical examination covering General Medicine,
Surgery, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology etc. It has
to be taken is USA.
· Its similar to CSA which is now a thing of past. Essentially Step 2 CS has replaced CSA.
· TOEFL is not necessary for this examination.
· Good books for this examination are
- Mastering the objective structured clinical examination by Jo Ann Reteguiz
- NMS review for Clinical
Skills by Arias
-aid for USMLE step 2 CS by Vikas Bhushan
· More information can be obtained from www.usmle.net or www.amazon.co.uk
· Coaching for step 2 CS is provided by Kaplan( www.kaptest.com) costs around 1000 – 4000 dollars depending on
what you want.
· Other institutes providing coaching are
·
www.usmleworld.com www.csereview.com www.pgy1md.com
some golden rules
·
Read the case station before entering
·
shake hands and greet the patien and introduce
yourself
·
Take detailed history . Its important
·
take history in a systematic manner
·
Wash hands before examination
·
do not auscultate without adequate exposure
·
Maintain modesty of patient and help dressing
up
·
councel regarding smoking, alcohol and
safe sex etc
·
Thank the patient
·
write patient notes carefully
·
write differential diagnosis
·
write appropriate investigations
·
If in pain inform that you are trying
to help and will get analgesia
Please feel free to contact me for further informaton. Use the "Contact Me" link in the
footer below.
STEP 3
- It’s a 2 day examination which can
be taken in USA or
Canada
You need ECFMG certification to apply for
this.
The day you see your ECFMG dispatch date
on the OASIS you can apply
Step 3 helps to secure H1 B visa and helps
securing interviews.
Apply to Connecticut board if you are an IMG( Int med graduate)
Go to www.fsmb.org
This website will guide you how to apply
for step 3
It’s a long examination with pass rate
between 50-60 % but eventually every one passes
It covers medicine,paediatrics, surgery,
psychiatry and obg
Start reading immediately after step 2 CK
Books useful are
Kaplan material ( www.kaplanmedical.com)
Kaplan’s q book
Swansons family practice guide( Kaplan medical)
Usmleworld material(www.usmleworld.com)
Questions can be purchased on line
- If you are looking for a J1 visa or you are green
card holder you can take step 3 at a later date
