{"id":15520,"date":"2025-07-10T15:14:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T13:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uniperfect.gr\/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-usmle\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T15:14:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T13:14:39","slug":"unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-usmle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uniperfect.gr\/en\/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-usmle\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlocking the secrets of the USMLE"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row pix_particles_check=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE )<\/a> is a series of tests that are a mandatory requirement to start your residency and become a licensed medical practitioner in the United States. This exam is mandatory for both American Medical Graduates (AMGs, i.e. graduates from the U.S. or Canada) and International Medical Graduates (IMGs, i.e. graduates of any other medical school). The examination is made up of three multiple choice tests, Steps 1, 2, and 3.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/th>\r\nPurpose<\/strong><\/th>\r\nStructure<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
Step 1<\/strong><\/td>\r\nGeneral science.\r\n\r\nIt is the equivalent of the first three years of medical school in Greece (pre-clinical training<\/strong>).<\/td>\r\nOne-day examination that lasts 8 hours<\/strong>. It is possible to take the exam in Greece.\r\n\r\nApproximately 280 multiple choice questions divided into 60-minute blocks \u2013 40 questions per block, plus a one-hour break.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Step 2<\/strong><\/td>\r\nClinical science for the practice of medicine under supervision (residency<\/strong>).\r\n\r\nIt is the equivalent of the final three years of medical school in Greece (clinical training<\/strong>).<\/td>\r\nOne-day examination that lasts 9 hours<\/strong>.\r\n\r\nIt is possible to take the exam in Greece.\r\nApproximately 318 multiple choice questions divided into eight 60-minute blocks \u2013 40 questions per block, plus a one-hour break.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Step 3<\/strong><\/td>\r\nClinical science for the practice of medicine without supervision (physician).\r\n\r\nAssesses general knowledge of medicine that a physician must have regardless of specialty<\/strong>.<\/td>\r\nTwo-day examination exclusively available in the U.S.\r\n\r\nDay 1:<\/strong> The duration of the exam is 7 hours. Approximately 232 multiple choice questions divided into six 60-minute blocks \u2013 ~38-39 questions per block, plus a one-hour break.\r\nDay 2:<\/strong> The duration of the exam is 9 hours. Approximately 180 multiple choice questions divided into six 45-minute blocks of 30 questions each, 13 case simulations lasting 10-20 minutes, plus a one-hour break.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]
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USMLE and Medical Residency in America! ft. Panagiotis Kaparaliotis<\/h3><\/div>[vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”15399″ img_size=”333×187″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wpokrQA-l3s” el_class=”yt-podcast-img”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Do you want to learn what the USMLE is and how one starts a medical residency in the United States? If so, you are in the right place! Dr. Panagiotis Kaparaliotis, a graduate of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, author of the book USMLE First Aid<\/i>, and a Pathology resident at Emory University School of Medicine, explains the process, what aspiring doctors should pay attention to, and how to successfully pass the USMLE Steps![\/vc_column_text]
<\/i> Watch Podcast<\/span><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_separator animation=”fade-in-down” css=”.vc_custom_1709105948051{margin-top: 35px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row pix_particles_check=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prerequisites for starting your residency in the U.S.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nGreek medical school graduates fall under the IMGs category. Therefore, receiving the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certification is compulsory for those who wish to practice medicine in the U.S. The role of the ECFMG is to assess the extent to which doctors who have graduated from non-American medical schools are qualified to enter into a residency program in the U.S. To acquire the ECFMG Certification, a candidate must have successfully graduated from medical school, completed Steps 1 and 2 of the USMLE, and passed the Occupational English Test (OET), an English test specifically designed for healthcare professionals.\r\n\r\nThe aforementioned qualifications are the official necessary requirements to get an ECFMG Certification. Due to the fact that competition is high, in order for an IMG candidate to increase their chance of success, unofficially, there is a set of criteria that needs to be met. Among others, a candidate needs to have passed all Steps on the first try \u2013 without failing any component \u2013 have a high score for Step 2, a few months of practical experience at a clinic in the U.S., and reference letters from American doctors. For specialties that are exceptionally competitive, it is necessary to have conducted research in the U.S. for at least a year. These research fellowships are usually paid (salaries are approximately the same as for medical residencies), and finding a position is relatively easy.\r\n\r\nTime frame for applying and getting started <\/strong>\r\n\r\nTo start your residency in July of any given year, you need to have completed your application (e.g. ECFMG Certification, references) by September of the previous year, namely approximately 10 months earlier.\r\n\r\nIn detail:\r\n