I am an IMG who got into IM residency in June 2001 after completing step 1 in 1995 (in 2nd year med school), and step 2 in 1998 (during internship outside USA) (no repeats and good grades). I couldn't do step #3 until 2 years of residency, and I was offered a contract to work in AL only to find out the 7 year limit.

http://www.albme.org/app-req.htm

Anyone with info? Is there any way around the 7 year rule of passing USMLE Step 1,2 & 3 within 7 years?

The only exception to this rule is if you were pursuing an MD/Phd program (10 years) and a quick look at the ABIM indicated a reccommendation for this rule which the majority of states have adopted.

http://www.fsmb.org//USMLE_updates/t...o_complete.htm
So not only is it getting harder to obtain a residency position, but now your choice of where to practice is being restricted in a most discrimatory way. I will have now to decline a most generous offer.

Thanks for the heads up. So, what is the earliest one can take the step 3?

__________________
Saba Forum Moderator
Saba University School of Medicine, MSIV
Interests: Pediatrics, Psychiatry

this is not just IMGs but ALL Medical students. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure you meet the requirements for a given state. the info can be found here. If you do not pass the three steps in many states within 7 years, you must retake the step one to get all three passed within that time frame. Its not done sucessfully very often for obvious reasons. Good luck in your future endevors.

http://www.fsmb.org/
click usmle step three on the left menu
Then click usmle requirements for licensure


State Minimum Postgraduate
Training Required
Number of attempts at USMLE Time Limit for completion
of all USMLE Steps
Alabama
Tel: (334) 242-4116
$20.00 application packet $175.00
non-refundable application fee 1 year; 3 years IMG
4 attempts 7 years
Alaska
(501) 296-1802
Application fee $840.00 2 years; 3 years IMG
2 attempts per Step 7 years
Arizona Medical
(480) 551-2700
Application fee $500.00 1 year; 3 years IMG
NL 7 years
Arizona Osteopathic
(480) 657-7703
Application fee $580.00 No information at this time. NA NA
Arkansas
(501) 296-1802
$500.00 Application fee 1 year 6 attempts 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
California Medical
(916) 263-2389
Application - $505.00 1 years; 2 years IMG NL 10 years
California Osteopathic
(916) 263-3100
$256 application fee No information at this time. NA NA
Colorado
(303) 894-7690
The current application fee is $425.00 1 year; 3 years IMG
NL 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
Connecticut
(860) 509-7563
Application fee $450.00 2 years NL 7 years
Delaware
(302) 744-4507
See chart on website for fees 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years+
Washington, DC
(202) 442-9200
Application fee $546.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years
Florida Medical
(850) 245-4131
Application fee $552.00 1 year; 2 years IMG 5 attempts for all Steps combined 7 years
Florida Osteopathic
(850) 245-4161
$605 Application fee No information at this time NA NA
Georgia
(404) 656-3913
$400.00 Application fee 1 year; 1-3 years IMG 3 attempts per Step 7 years
Guam
(011) 671-735-7406-8
Contact the state board for licensure information and fees 1 year No information at this time No information at this time
Hawaii
(808) 586-3000
Application & Licensure Fee $290.00 1 year; 2 years IMG NL 7 years
Idaho
(208) 327-7000
Application $400 by endorsement
$300 by examination 1 year; 3 years IMG 2 attempts per Step 7 years
Illinois
(217) 785-0800
Application fee $300.00 2 years 5 attempts per Step 7 years
Indiana
(317) 234-2060
Application fee $250.00 1 year; 2 years IMG 5 attempts per Step 7 years
Iowa
(515) 281-5171
Licensure fee $400.00 1 year; 2 years IMG 6 attempts 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
Kansas
(785) 296-7413
Application fee $300.00 1 year; 3 years IMG (minimum 2 years must have been in US program) 3+ attempts 10 years
Kentucky
(502) 429-8046
Licensure $250.00 non-refundable 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years
Louisiana
(504) 568-6820
License fee $382.00 non-refundable 1 year; 3 years IMG NL at Step 1; 4 attempts each at Steps 2 and 3 NL
Maine Medical
(207) 287-3601
Application fee $350.00 2 years; 3 years IMG 3+ attempts 7 years
Maine Osteopathic
(207) 287-2480
Application fee $350.00 by endorsement No information at this time NA NA
Maryland
(800) 492-6836
Licensure US & Canadian $817IMG $717 1 year; 2 years IMG 3+ attempts 10 years
Massachusetts
(800) 377-0550
Licensure $600.00 1 year; 2 years IMG NL 7 years with exceptions for MD/PhD candidates
Michigan Medical
(517) 335-0919
Licensure $235.00
2 years NL NL
Michigan Osteopathic
(517) 373-6873
Licensure $235.00 No information at this time NA NA
Minnesota
(612) 617-2130 Hearing impaired 1-800-627-3529
Licensure fee $392.00 1 year; 2 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years
Mississippi
(601) 987-3079
Licensure fee $500.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years
Missouri
(573) 751-0098
By examination $300.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years (waived for MD/PhD candidates)
Montana
(406) 841-2300
Licensure fee $325.00 1 year; 3 years IMG NL Steps 1 and 2; 3 attempts at Step 3 7 years
Nebraska
(402) 471-2118
Licensure by application $300 + LAP fee
Licensure by Reciprocity $200 + LAP fee 1 year; 3 years IMG 4 attempts 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
Nevada
(775) 688-2559
Application and initial licensure fee $500.00 3 years NL NL
Nevada Osteopathic
(702) 732-2147
Application and initial licensure fee $500.00 No information at this time NA NA
New Hampshire
(603) 271-1203
Application fee $250.00 2 years 3 attempts 7 years
New Jersey
(609) 826-7100
Contact the state board for licensure information and fees 1 year; 3 years IMG 5 attempts 7 years
New Mexico
(505) 827-5022
$350.00 direct application 2 years 6 attempts per Step 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
New Mexico Osteopathic
(505) 476-7120
Contact the state board for licensure and fee information No information at this time NA NA
New York
(518) 474-3817 Ext. 560
The fee for licensure is $735 1 year; 3 years IMG NL NL
North Carolina
(919) 326-1100
Temp $150.00 then full $125.00 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years+
North Dakota
(701) 328-6500
Application fee $200.00 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years
Northern Mariana Islands
(670) 664-4811
Contact the State Board for licensure or fee information No information available at this time No information available at this time No information available at this time
Ohio
(800) 554-7717
Contact State Board for licensure or fee information 1 year; 2 years IMG NL 7 years+
Oklahoma
(800) 381-4519
Application fee $400 Temp (approved) $200 1 year; 2 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years
Oklahoma Osteopathic
(405) 528-8625
Contact the State board for licensure or fee information No information available at this time NA NA
Oregon
(503) 229-5770
License Application fee $375.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3+ attempts 7 years (possible waiver for MD/PhD candidates and individuals with personal illness)
Pennsylvania Medical
(717) 787-2381
Application fee accredited medical college $35.00
Unaccredited medical college $85.00 2 years; 3 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years +
Pennsylvania Osteopathic
(717) 783-4858
License application fee $195 1 year NA NA
Puerto Rico
(787) 782-8949
Contact the state board for licensure or fee information 1 year No information available at this time No information available at this time
Rhode Island
(401) 222-3855 / Fax401) 222-2158
Application fee $437.50 1 year; 3 years IMG 5 attempts 7 years
American Samoa No information available at this time No information available at this time No information available at this time
South Carolina
(803) 896-4500
Application fee $510.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 4 attempts per Step 7 years
South Dakota
(605) 334-8343
Application fee $200.00 2 years 3 attempts per Step 7 years
Tennessee Medical
(615) 532-4384
Application fee $410.00 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years
Tennessee Osteopathic
(615) 532-3202
Application fee $410.00 No information available at this time NA NA
Texas
(512) 305-7010
Application fee $800.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3+attempts 7 years+
Utah Medical
(801) 530-6628
Application fee $ 200.00 2 years 3 attempts 7 years; 10 years for MD/PhD candidates
Utah Osteopathic
(801) 530-6628
Application fee $ 200.00 2 years 3 attempts NA
Vermont Medical
(802) 657-4220
Licensure fee $400.00 1 year; 3 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years
Vermont Osteopathic
(802) 828-2373
Licensure fee $400.00 No information available at this time NA NA
U.S. Virgin Isles
(340) 774-0117
Contact the state board for licensure or fee information No information available at this time No information available at this time No information available at this time
Virginia
(804) 662-9908
Licensure fee $302.00 1 year; 2 years IMG NL 7 years
Washington Medical
(360) 236-4788
Application fee $325.00 2 years NL on Steps 1 and 2; 3 attempts at Step 3 7 years+
Washington Osteopathic
(360) 236-4945
Licensure fee $650.00 No information available at this time NA NA
West Virginia Medical
(304) 558-2921, ext. 221
The fee for licensure is $300 1 year; 3 years IMG NL 7 years+
West Virginia Osteopathic
(304) 723-4638
Reciprocity or Endorsement $200.00 No information available at this time NA NA
Wisconsin
(608) 266-2112
Initial fee $125.00 1 year 3+ attempts per Step 7 years
Wyoming
(307) 778-7053 1 year; 2 years IMG 3 attempts 7 years





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMG – international medical school graduates
NA – Not Applicable
NL – No Limit

Attempt Limits – unless otherwise indicated these represent allowable attempts at Step 3

+ indicates more attempts allowed on conditional basis with board approval or a longer time frame is considered for completion of licensing exam sequence, e.g., extended time for MD/PhD candidates.

Additional postgraduate training is required if an individual exceeds the allowable number of attempts for a USMLE Step

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

most States do not allow the retaking of a step that has be passed to count. (I asked)

Also for FMG/ MS , many are in programs that require 4.5-6 years medical school followed by 1-2 years internship (required in the respective territory to gain an unrestricted license & a requirement for a residency -USMLE/ECFMG)

Lets say you took step 1 in 2nd year (when basic sciences are still fresh) and immediately entered a residency after internship. the time you can take step 3 is 2-3 years (state dependent) of residency.
The total time therefore is 6 (med school) - 2 (year step 1 taken) + 1 to 2 (internship) + 2 to 3 (residency) = 7-9 years

For a lot of MS/FMG's that's not practical. So this is mainly a warning to those who are in similar programs to delay taking the USMLE (until during internship/ final year med school) until they are sure they wish to work in the US. Unfortunately if you wait a year or 2 to enter residency (as I did working after internship) or if you were unsuccessful in your initial attempts to gain a residency position, it can still happen to you.

check link previously posted....
Aw heck here!
http://www.fsmb.org//USMLE_updates/t...o_complete.htm


P.M.

You can take it right after you graduate med shool, I believe. I know a few people who took it before they started residency. G

__________________
AUC Class of '99
Bored certified
I may be a jerk, but I'm a Jedi jerk like my father.

Some say I look like Buzz Lightyear....
(They're right)

DISCLAIMER: I have no financial stake in ValueMD, or any medical school.

Hey Steph,

With your super-duper moderator guru powers, you ought to make that a sticky in the State Licensing forum! Thanks for the info!

Aloha,

__________________
Pathology
PGY-1.75

I dont think even I, gurumod, have that power. But ill check.
And as per prior post; no you cant retake a passed step for a hgiher score.

__________________
Steph
If you get a warning, put on yer manpants and stop whining about it.

As soon as you've passed both steps 1 and 2.

see next post