Step III timing?

[IdontTakeCall]

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MS4 here, 2 rotations to go, graduation in 3 months. Starting an EM residency July first, how long should I wait for stepIII? I know alot of people who took it in June before intern year started. My top programs have alot of ICU months intern year so not sure how easy it will be to study. Will I be at a real disadvantage if I start studying now and plan to take it in the last 2 weeks of June right before I start residency? There wasn't much talk on this idea in the step III forum so I figured I'd ask my soon to be seniors. Thanks

 

[lawj]

MS4 here, 2 rotations to go, graduation in 3 months. Starting an EM residency July first, how long should I wait for stepIII? I know alot of people who took it in June before intern year started. My top programs have alot of ICU months intern year so not sure how easy it will be to study. Will I be at a real disadvantage if I start studying now and plan to take it in the last 2 weeks of June right before I start residency? There wasn't much talk on this idea in the step III forum so I figured I'd ask my soon to be seniors. Thanks

My understanding is that most people don't take step 3 until towards the end of intern year.

 

[tkim]

I'm assuming that you're talking about COMLEX since you can't take the USMLE until after intern year. If you feel ready to take Step III then I would take it right after you graduate. Your school should update the NBOME pretty soon after graduation and if you time it right, you can take just before intern year starts. Planning to take it somewhere during intern year or beyond sucks and is another thing to read during that miserable thing known as residency.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/574821/Medicine/comlex3.pdf

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/574821/Medicine/Cram%20Pages.pdf

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/574821/Medicine/SampleExamL303.pdf

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/574821/Medicine/simmonsquestions.pdf

 

[IdontTakeCall]

Yeah my understanding is interns who are not in an IM or FP residency generally take them early in their intern year as they are spending every moment reading EM or Surg or Rads material depending on what field they are in, not general stuff that the stepIII tests. And yes, I'm referring to the COMLEX step III I've never taken any usmle step, don't see any reason to now as I only need the comlex for my licensure. I think I'll try and study between now and June and try and take it in late june then I'll be done totally with this crap and I'll get my license as soon as I complete my intern year.

 

[Apollyon]

I'm assuming that you're talking about COMLEX since you can't take the USMLE until after intern year.

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

The second tab shows requirements for USMLE Step III, and 19 states don't require any GME to take it.

 

[IdontTakeCall]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't need the usmle to get my license in any state as a DO if I have passed all of my COMLEX steps right? The only reason I'm trying to get the comlex 3 done now is that I'm under the assumption that once it's done Im all set to apply for licensure so I can start moonlighting the first day my program says it's allowed. That and I want to spend my 3 years reading EM stuff and preparing for the EM boards, not step 3 crap.

 

[tanzaniancane]

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

The second tab shows requirements for USMLE Step III, and 19 states don't require any GME to take it.

Agree with Apollyon. I will have to take my Step III in the beginning of intern year so that I can get visa paperwork taken care of. From speaking to folks and reading the requirements, one can definitely "take it in" states that do not require 1 full year of ACGME residency done. Some interns at my home institution have already taken theirs - so definitely doable!

 

[tkim]

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

The second tab shows requirements for USMLE Step III, and 19 states don't require any GME to take it.

Correct as usual. I confused the requirement for taking step III versus licensure, which does require completion of intern year every state at the minimum. I recall some interns in my class registering for USMLE step III in states that didn't require completion of the intern year. How foggy the memory becomes.

 

[tkim]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't need the usmle to get my license in any state as a DO if I have passed all of my COMLEX steps right? The only reason I'm trying to get the comlex 3 done now is that I'm under the assumption that once it's done Im all set to apply for licensure so I can start moonlighting the first day my program says it's allowed.

You only need to complete all COMLEX steps in order to apply for a license.

You can't apply for your license until after completion of intern year.

That and I want to spend my 3 years reading EM stuff and preparing for the EM boards, not step 3 crap.

You'd be surprised how much 'step III crap' appears on the yearly inservice and written boards. Consider: we do peds, ob/gyn, medicine, psych, and must be aware of potential surgical conditions. Step III prep = inservice prep = written boards prep. I reread B&W for step III and the inservice and it helped.

 

[Apollyon]

Correct as usual. I confused the requirement for taking step III versus licensure, which does require completion of intern year every state at the minimum. I recall some interns in my class registering for USMLE step III in states that didn't require completion of the intern year. How foggy the memory becomes.

Hell, it happens all across the continuum - remember when you were a pre-med? I don't. Likewise, basic science is LONG GONE. Clinicals - huh? Then, steps during residency? WHAT-eva!

 

[IdontTakeCall]

Thanks guys, I'm thinking I'm gonna study over the next few months and see how I'm feeling come June-July. If I feel ready I'll take it then, especially if I end up being one of he first years who draws ICU rotations towards the beginning of the intern year.