Step 3 and Fellowships

[Unty]

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Are there any fellowships which do not require passing Step 3 results or do they all do since they require medical licensure?

Thanks.

 

[cliquesh]

Sorry, I can't answer your question, but I was wondering if step 1, 2, and/or 3 scores are used in the applicant selection process for fellowship?

 

[sirenomelia]

Sorry, I can't answer your question, but I was wondering if step 1, 2, and/or 3 scores are used in the applicant selection process for fellowship?

I thought most residencies require completion of step 3 by the end of PGY1 year anyway.

 

[KCShaw]

I've heard people say they were asked about Step scores on their fellowship applications, but personally I never saw it nor had to, that I recall. I still suspect that those "fellowship" applications were recycled applications for residents and still had a request for Step scores (maybe just Step I?) as a result. Technically I suppose one doesn't have to have passed Step 3 to do a fellowship, though I don't know that for sure, but you do need a state license somewhere to take the boards -- so it's potentially still a big problem going forward.

 

[1 Path]

Are there any fellowships which do not require passing Step 3 results or do they all do since they require medical licensure?

Thanks.

First a general comment-For pathology taking Step 3 any time other than your first year of residency (or earlier if your state allows) is a TERRIBLE mistake. Essentially nothing you learn during pathology residency will help you pass Step 3, and the entire time you are in pathology residency you are forgetting details of managing diabetes/hypertension/etc which are heavily tested on Step 3. In addition, even if you have perfect retention of what you learned in medical school, there are always new meds/preferred treatment protocols/etc, so not only are you forgetting what you once knew, even what you remember is becoming out of date. I took Step 3 at the end of my first year (passed easily) and recall many "I used to know that, now I'm guessing" questions.

More to your question, my impression is that most fellowships probably do not explicitly require that Step 3 has been passed, but if they notice you haven't taken/passed Step 3 it may raise a 'red flag' for your application. The obvious exception would be those fellowships (mostly general surgical pathology) where you sign out at least some of your own cases; since you cannot bill without a medical license, you cannot for any practical purpose sign out cases without a medical license, and thus would be ineligible for these fellowships.

My advice would be to take and pass Step 3 as soon as possible-there is no downside and it will only get harder the longer you wait. Get Step 3 out of the way so your focus can be residency and AP/CP boards.

 

[Ombret]

Ditto all of the above. You may find some fellowship that will accept you without Step 3, but you need to pass it sometime and the time is now. You cannot take pathology boards without Step 3, because you have to have applied for a permanent license (in any state; but all require Step 3) to be board-eligible.

I can certainly imagine some scenario where an AP- or CP-only resident might have to apply for fellowship as a PGY-2, yet previously put off Step 3 for some moderately legitimate reason (I don't know, maybe temporary insanity). Fine--apply for fellowship and tell the programs you are taking Step 3 really soon--and then do it!

 

[flowho]

Most of the clinical fellowships require that you be state license eligible. Also I think ACGME required all to have passed STEP 3 by the end of second year. Many (not all) of them also require that you be Pathology Board eligible by the start of fellowship. The exceptions are the combined fellowship/res like AP/NP