Is it possible to apply to US match without taking USMLE Steps?

[BlueCloud]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi,
This might be a ridiculous question. But is it possible to apply to the US Match without having taking any of the USMLE steps? I did not write any of the USMLE steps as I am a graduate of a Canadian medical school. I have however written both the MCCQE part I & part II. Will the US residency programs not even bother looking at me because I do not have a USMLE score?
Has anyone ever heard of a Canadian graduate being admitted to a US residency without having taken the USMLE steps? I know for a fact that for US State licensing requirements, having taken the MCCQE part I & part II is counted as equivalent to having completing all 3 steps of the USMLE. I just wonder if I will not be looked at by programs because I do not have a USMLE score that they probably use in their computerized filtering program during the application process.

 

[greatnt249]

Hi,
This might be a ridiculous question. But is it possible to apply to the US Match without having taking any of the USMLE steps? I did not write any of the USMLE steps as I am a graduate of a Canadian medical school. I have however written both the MCCQE part I & part II. Will the US residency programs not even bother looking at me because I do not have a USMLE score?
Has anyone ever heard of a Canadian graduate being admitted to a US residency without having taken the USMLE steps? I know for a fact that for US State licensing requirements, having taken the MCCQE part I & part II is counted as equivalent to having completing all 3 steps of the USMLE. I just wonder if I will not be looked at by programs because I do not have a USMLE score that they probably use in their computerized filtering program during the application process.

Given that the "L" in USMLE stands for "licensing," it seems highly improbable to match if you haven't completed any of the steps toward licensing.

 

[AlexMorph]

no step I score, no consideration by the program

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Agreed. It's just not possible to apply to the match with Canadian scores. In order to be an intern, you have to be issued a training license by the state in which you're located - and that requires USMLE or COMLEX scores. In my state, training from Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the UK is considered equivalent to a U.S. education for full licensure - you're not considered to be a "foreign grad" - but that's for physicians already licensed in the above countries. There is no provision in the law to issue a training license without U.S. scores. I'm sure we're fairly typical - if not a bit liberal in the special consideration we give to the historically British English-speaking countries.