What USMLE Scholarships Are Available?
USMLE scholarship helps aspiring students meet financial or academic constraints during education. Medical school is undoubtedly expensive and has increased for several years.
The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that for the 2023-2024 academic year, the average cost for first-year students at in-state public medical schools, including tuition, fees, and health insurance, reached $40,493, marking a 34% rise from $30,192 in 2012-13. Similarly, the cost at in-state private medical schools increased by 34% from $48,292 in 2012-13 to $64,729 in 2023-2024.
These costs are further raised for first-year students attending out-of-state public and private schools, which can be over $93,000.
Whether a medical student attends a private or public school or in-state or out-of-state medical school, it often requires some support.
Scholarships are always preferable over loans because loans can be a hassle, causing emotional and financial stress.
USMLE Scholarship – Overview
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step exam that is used to get a license to practice medicine in the United States.
This exam assesses the examinee’s ability to apply concepts, knowledge and principles, demonstrating fundamental patient-centered skills. In simple words, USMLE is the gateway for getting a medical license.
The USMLE is supported by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).
The USMLE test committee members, including medical professionals, biomedical scientists, medical educators, and clinicians, develop the examination content. USMLE Examination Committee creates the examination materials.
USMLE – A Three-Step Procedure
USMLE is composed of three steps that stand by themselves individually, assessing readiness, which is required for getting a medical license. Let’s find a detailed overview of each USMLE Step.
Step 1.
It is a computer-based test designed to assess students’ understanding of basic sciences and their medical applications. The exam lasts 8 hours and includes 280 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) divided into seven 60-minute blocks.
Step 2.
Step 2 Clinical Knowledge is a computer-based test that tests students’ understanding of clinical science and its applications. It consists of nearly 318 multiple-choice test questions divided into eight sixty-minute blocks.
Almost 12 patients are allotted 15 minutes to encounter every patient, and 10 minutes are separate to note the patient’s record. The duration of the test is 8 hours.
Step 3.
It is a computer-based two-day examination that assesses a test-taker’s ability to apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine without specific reference to ambulance patient management.
Day 1 of Step 3 includes about 232 questions divided into six blocks of 38 to 39 questions each, with the test session lasting approximately 7 hours.
Day 2 of Step 3 includes about 180 MCQs, divided into six blocks of 30 questions each and 13 case simulations, with the test session lasting approximately 9 hours. There are 13 computer-based case simulations, where each case gets 10 or 20 minutes of real-time.
USMLE Eligibility for Steps 1 and 2
Check out the following eligibility criteria before applying and on the day of your test.
- A student of medicine officially enrolled in or a US or Canadian medical school’s program graduate, leading to an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree accredited by the LCME or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
- A medical student officially enrolled in or an American medical school graduate leads to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
- The medical student is officially enrolled in or a medical school graduate of a MED school outside of the USA or Canada who meets and fits the Educational Commission For Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
USMLE Eligibility for Step 3
A student is eligible to apply for Step 3 after meeting certain requirements. Therefore, before submitting the application form, an applicant should:
- Hold an MD degree from an LCME-accredited US or Canadian medical school or a DO degree from a COCA-accredited US osteopathic medical school
- Clear the Step 1 and Step 2
- Get the certification by ECFMG
- Meet the requirements for step 3 set up by the medical licensing authority.
USMLE Scholarship Qualification – Where to Apply?
The USMLE scholarship is a great way for medical students to get financial assistance paying for their education.
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USMLE-Rx Scholarship Program Qualification:
- The school must be AOA or LCME accredited or affiliated with an organization that supports students preparing to become physicians.
- Applications must be completed by an official representative from the Dean’s Office or the Office of Student Affairs.
The qualified schools receive five USMLE-Rx Step 1 Scholarships and five Step 2 CK Qmax Scholarships.
For more information, visit www.usmle-rx.com
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AMBOSS Access Scholarship Program
The AMBOSS Access Scholarship Program is available for students facing long-standing significant financial barriers to their medical education. The Global Education Fund, worth $2 million, is offered to empower future doctors.
For more information, visit https://www.amboss.com/us/scholarships-program
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IEFA
IEFA offers an annual scholarship for medical professionals who want to obtain a license. The scholarship covers the cost of STEP 1 of the USMLE.
The applicant will be selected based on various factors, including work experience, college GPA and medical school performance.
For more information, visit https://www.iefa.org/scholarships
Conclusion
USMLE scholarships are the best option for medical students. They help reduce the financial burden of medical school.
However, check out all the available options and other alternatives before paying for medical school to support your education.
See Also
Education Grants for Healthcare Workers
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