step 3

[Miss Nevada]

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I posted a similar question in the step 3 forum, but no responses in about a week....

Does anyone know how step 3 factors into fellowship (IE medicine subspecialty) matching? is it primarily whether or not you passed or can the actual score help/hurt you? And is any other MS4 thinking about taking it before internship starts?

thanks

 

[MSI-Scrub]

I posted a similar question in the step 3 forum, but no responses in about a week....

Does anyone know how step 3 factors into fellowship (IE medicine subspecialty) matching? is it primarily whether or not you passed or can the actual score help/hurt you? And is any other MS4 thinking about taking it before internship starts?

thanks

I asked an IM upper level of mine about what he thought about this issue. He told me you have to have permission from your PD to take Step 3 (I don't know if this is true) so if you don't know where you're going, you can't take it yet. He also said if he were going into anything other than IM, he might consider taking it early in intern year. Otherwise, as an IM intern, he says NOV/DEC is just perfect because you've experience the steep learning curve of intern year but you're not yet too far away from Peds, OBGYN, etc stuff you learned.

Have you heard different advice?

 

[elwademd]

He told me you have to have permission from your PD to take Step 3 (I don't know if this is true) so if you don't know where you're going, you can't take it yet.

it depends on the requirements in your state, and you need to have graduated from medical school.

http://www.fsmb.org/m_usmlestep3.html

http://www.fsmb.org/usmle_elistep3.html

The USMLE program requires the following to be completed prior to submitting a Step 3 application:

• Obtain an M.D. degree (or its equivalent) or a D.O. degree (or its equivalent).
• Pass both USMLE Steps 1 and 2 (CK and CS).
• If a graduate of a foreign medical school, obtain certification by the ECFMG or successfully complete a "Fifth Pathway" program.
• Meet the requirements for taking Step 3 imposed by the individual licensing authority to which you are applying to sit Step 3.

 

[argh]

some states (Illinois comes to mind) require completion of intern year before taking it. You have to have a sense where you're applying for a license anyway because you send the application for step 3 to a specific state medical board rather than the other rip-off artists you sent the money and application for steps 1 and 2 to.

 

[Roadrunner]

As previously stated, it depends on your state as to whether you need to complete an intern year or have residency program approval before taking Step 3. In Kansas for example, you have to have verification from a residency program to even apply to take the exam --so obviously med students are excluded.

But beyond this issue, I would highly advise against taking Step 3 before internship or even before you've completed most of intern year. I just took the exam after finishing my intern year and the knowledge and experience I gained as an intern helped me tremendously. As far as I know Step 3 scores are not really considered for fellowship application --you just need to have passed so that you can be a licensed physician. There are many other factors that are much more important that USMLE scores for fellowship application, which have been elucidated on other threads.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Step 3 registration is really strange.

Each state has it's own individual rules about who can take it and when. Luckily, those rules are all located on the FSMB website here.

Now here's where things get REALLY interesting:

You have to be sponsored by a state to take Step 3. For most states, you don't need to live, work, get a license, or train there to do so. Also, you don't need to take the exam in that state either -- you can sign up to take it anywhere. Hence, if you want to take Step 3 after graduating from medical school but before starting residency, you actually can.

So, you can be a resident in NY, register for Step 3 by being sponsored by North Dakota, and take the exam in Honolulu HI if you want.

As for the original question, any step score you have will be used as part of the fellowship selection process. Since all applicants will have STep 1 and 2 scores, those are more "helpful". If you have stellar Step 1/2 scores, I suggest waiting to take Step 3 until after the fellowship match. If your Step scores are less than ideal, a good Step 3 can really help -- study during your summer off, then take it early in your PGY-1.

Some states have no PGY experience required to sign up for Step 3, so you can take it anytime you want. Arkansas is an example of such a state -- first alphabetically!

 

[buckley]

Yup...it is strange alright...
But just to help those who want to take it before internship, sign up under CONNECTICUT. You dont have to live there. You dont have to do residency there. You dont have to apply for a state license there. Just put it down on the paper. That has been the golden rule passed down...

 

[buckley]

Add...very important...You dont have to take the exam there too 🙂