Please explain what all these tests are about?

[12hey12]

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Hello. I've been reading lots of posts around here and I was wondering if you guys can clarify what all of these tests are. I know you take Step 1 of the USMLE after the 2nd year, and step 2 the third year. When do you take step 3? What are the COMLEX exams? What about cs? nbdme (?)? shelf? any others. 😕 Some of these may not even be for MDs. Haha, I'm totally lost.

Are there any books out there that explain this whole process in med school?

 

[HiddenTruth]

Hello. I've been reading lots of posts around here and I was wondering if you guys can clarify what all of these tests are. I know you take Step 1 of the USMLE after the 2nd year, and step 2 the third year. When do you take step 3? What are the COMLEX exams? What about cs? nbdme (?)? shelf? any others. 😕 Some of these may not even be for MDs. Haha, I'm totally lost.

Are there any books out there that explain this whole process in med school?

The Steps are licencing exams to practice in the U.S for M.D's.
Step 1- end of 2nd year for most schools
Step 2 - usually by dec/jan of 4th yr (there is a written part to this, and a newely administered clinical skills [cs] component of this for U.S grads
Step 3 - in residency

COMLEX exams are the equivalent licensing exams for osteopathic (DO) scools. However, they can also take USMLE's to be more competetive for allopathic (MD) residencies. You can probably go to the nbme.org website and check out more info there. Hopefully this answered all your q's.

 

[12hey12]

Thanks for your reply. What about shelf exams? When do you take those, and what do they cover?