Medical Licensure Starts in Medical School

The National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) sponsor the US Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™). Medical students take the 3-part examination during medical school and residency. Most medical students take Step 1 of the in-training examination after the second year of medical school, Step 2 during the fourth year of medical school, and Step 3 during the first or second year of residency.

After passing all 3 parts, you are eligible to apply for your medical license. Medical licenses are granted by state boards of medical examiners. Medical students who plan to practice in another state are advised to apply for a medical license with that state's licensing board as early as possible (generally early in the third year of residency). The FSMB posts links to individual state medical boards.  

Students and graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada that are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education register for the USMLE with the NBME. Students and graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada register for the USMLE with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).