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Step 3 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge and understanding of biomedical and clinical science essential for the unsupervised practice of medicine, with emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings. It is the final examination in the USMLE sequence leading to a license to practice medicine without supervision. The examination material is prepared by examination committees broadly representing the medical profession. The committees comprise recognized experts in their fields, including both academic and non-academic practitioners, as well as members of state medical licensing boards. Step 3 content reflects a data-based model of generalist medical practice in the United States. The test items and cases reflect the clinical situations that a general, as-yet undifferentiated, physician might encounter within the context of a specific setting. Step 3 provides a final assessment of physicians assuming independent responsibility for delivering general medical care.
Day 1
Step 3 Foundations of Independent Practice (FIP)
This test day focuses on assessment of knowledge of basic medical and scientific principles essential for effective health care. Content areas covered include application of foundational sciences; understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology/population health, and interpretation of the medical literature; and application of social sciences, including communication and interpersonal skills, medical ethics, systems-based practice, and patient safety. The test day also includes content assessing knowledge of diagnosis and management, particularly focused on knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies. This test day consists solely of multiple-choice questions and includes some of the newer item formats, such as those based on scientific abstracts and pharmaceutical advertisements.
Day 2
Step 3 Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM)
This test day focuses on assessment of the ability to apply comprehensive knowledge of health and disease in the context of patient management and the evolving manifestation of disease over time. Content areas covered include assessment of knowledge of diagnosis and management, particularly focused on prognosis and outcome, health maintenance and screening, therapeutics, and medical decision making. Knowledge of history and physical examination, diagnosis, and use of diagnostic studies also is assessed. This test day includes multiple-choice questions and computer-based case simulations.
Recommended Study Material:
| Immune System | |||
| Blood & Lymph reticular System | |||
| Behavioral Health | |||
| Nervous System & Special Senses | |||
| Skin & Subcutaneous Tissue | |||
| Musculoskeletal System | |||
| Cardiovascular System | |||
| Respiratory System | |||
| Gastrointestinal System | |||
| Renal & Urinary System | |||
| Pregnancy, Childbirth, & the Puerperium | |||
| Female Reproductive & Breast | |||
| Male Reproductive | |||
| Endocrine System | |||
| Multisystem Processes & Disorders | |||
| Biostatistics & Epidemiology/Population Health, & Interpretation of the Medical Literature | |||
| Social Sciences |
Your instructors will vary between subjects. All of whom, are M.D.’s who have qualified the Licensing Exams being taught.
