USMLE and boards

[ProteinTreasure]

Please someone explain the difference between USMLE and boards. When is the board exam needed? What exam is required for specialty? Is the specialty exam required before or after residency?

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[tacrum43]

Please someone explain the difference between USMLE and boards. When is the board exam needed? What exam is required for specialty? Is the specialty exam required before or after residency?

Sometimes the USMLE steps are called "the boards", especially Step 1.

However, being "board certified" refers to the specialty specific exam that you take after completing residency and/or fellowship (depending on the specialty).

 

[deuce924]

Exactly what Tacrum said.... STEP Exams are commonly referred to as "boards" because they are test you take to obtain you medical license. The Board Exam you take for your specialty is taken after you completed that specialty's residency or fellowship training program. That's why they use the expression "now you are eligible to sit for the boards"...

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Exactly. In the strictest sense, "boards" are the exam you take to obtain specialty certification. But it's common to refer to the USMLE as "boards." Not least because, even though it's the "U.S. Medical Licensing Examination," it's a product of the National Board of Medical Examiners. The test, in fact, used to be known as the NBME exam.

NBME also does the lovely shelf exams you take in third year, but calling those "boards" would probably be carrying things a bit far...