Who cares about step III?

[Guillemot]

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Does score matter for anesthesia fellowships or jobs or anything else? Im going to take it sometime during my intern year probably.


I know ITE and board exams are important but have not seen anything mentioned on step III.

 

[IlDestriero]

The only people that care about step 3 are the state licensing boards.
If you fail it, I guess you're residency director will care.

 

[rsgillmd]

Does score matter for anesthesia fellowships or jobs or anything else? Im going to take it sometime during my intern year probably.


I know ITE and board exams are important but have not seen anything mentioned on step III.

I second what IlDestriero said. I took mine in September of my intern year. To take it early was one of the best pieces of advice I received while on the interview trail. Study for it, but don't stress about it. If I can pass it while working as a medicine intern, I'm sure you'll be fine. You can probably imagine how much dedicated studying time I really got in for it.

 

[lord_jeebus]

No one cares. Applied to about 10 fellowship programs (pain) and only one of them even wanted to know my USMLE scores.

 

[RussianJoo]

I would have to say the opposite. I think they matter to a certain extent for fellowships. My friend applied to pain this year and they all wanted step scores, I applied to CT and they also wanted step scores. It seems like more people are applying for fellowships every year so more things in your application are becoming important. For example some programs I applied to on their website didn't list ITE scores as something that needed to be submitted with the application, but when I called to ask if my application was complete and if they received everything they would reply and say that we haven't received your ITE scores. So I would have to say everything matters, some things matter more but I think they look at everything.

 

[pie944]

Does not matter.

Took it as a CA3.

Fellowship process was not a problem. On the applications I put "To be taken PGY- 4 year." Even the program that required it to be considered for a spot said it wasn't necessary when I inquired.

 

[chessknt]

As fellowship becomes more competitive I suspect Step scores will start to matter more as a lazy way to filter/differentiate candidates beyond the current measures.

 

[Per4mer8]

Does not matter.

Took it as a CA3.

Fellowship process was not a problem. On the applications I put "To be taken PGY- 4 year." Even the program that required it to be considered for a spot said it wasn't necessary when I inquired.

So you did no moonlighting and had no state license? I know if your program has only internal moonlighting you don't need your script license/state license but my program actually requires a state license for CA-1 year.

 

[pie944]

So you did no moonlighting and had no state license? I know if your program has only internal moonlighting you don't need your script license/state license but my program actually requires a state license for CA-1 year.

Had a temporary license my entire residency.

Never moonlighted in residency.

In hindsight should have taken the exam as an intern. At the time money was tight, CA1 and CA2 year apathy took over.

 

[aneftp]

Does not matter.

Took it as a CA3.

Fellowship process was not a problem. On the applications I put "To be taken PGY- 4 year." Even the program that required it to be considered for a spot said it wasn't necessary when I inquired.

Wow, you waited till your PGY-4 year?

I'd usually recommend just getting Step 3 out of the way in the 2nd half of your PGY-1 year.

The ABA voids written board scores if you do not obtain a valid medical license (I believe by August 31th of the year you take the written exams).

It doen't relate to Step 3 per se. But you need Step 3 scores in order to obtain a medical license. And it takes anywhere between 3 weeks and 3 months in most cases to get a medical license.

No medical license by August 31th means the ABA will void your written test regardless if you passed it or not. True story. I know 2 people who had their ABA written boards voided because they failed to obtain a valid medical license by August 31.

 

[Reignmaker]

medicine intern - taking it tomorrow - can't wait to get it behind me so that I can move on to anesthesia already! Hopefully it goes well!

 

[sevoflurane]

I took step 3 before my first day of residency.

That's a golden nugget y'all.

 

[Yo GabbaPentin]

I took step 3 before my first day of residency.

That's a golden nugget y'all.

Step 3 is pass/FAIL IMO.

Food for thought. During my chief year, I interviewed a handful of applicants from competitive surgical subspecialties who were FIRED for failing step three. They embarrassed their egomaniac PD.

Don't F around, becaused if you get FIRED from a residency program, then you are truly F'D

So if you have trouble finding motivation to study for OB and other exciting aspects of step 3, just remember the three F's;

FAIL, FIRED, F**KED

 

[urge]

Competitive fellowships care.

Some anesthesia residencies care. They will not promote you from ca1 to ca2, or ca2 to ca3.

It is better to take it as an intern.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Competitive fellowships care.

Some anesthesia residencies care. They will not promote you from ca1 to ca2, or ca2 to ca3.

It is better to take it as an intern.

What about if your residency is in a state that doesn't allow you to take step III until you finish your intern year?

 

[rsgillmd]

What about if your residency is in a state that doesn't allow you to take step III until you finish your intern year?

Doesn't matter. I paid my money to Connecticut and took my test in NJ. There are other states also that are not as restrictive.

 

[urge]

What about if your residency is in a state that doesn't allow you to take step III until you finish your intern year?

Really? You need to ask such question?

I would start studying really hard if I were you.

 

[Ronin786]

Really? You need to ask such question?

I would start studying really hard if I were you.

😕

 

[Dwindlin]

Really? You need to ask such question?

I would start studying really hard if I were you.

Not sure what's with the dick response. It isn't as clear as you think, this question gets asked a lot.

 

[urge]

What about if your residency is in a state that doesn't allow you to take step III until you finish your intern year?

I found you a study partner:

Not sure what's with the dick response. It isn't as clear as you think, this question gets asked a lot.

You are welcome!

 

[Ronin786]

I honestly can't understand the link between knowing when Step III is given in certain states and your clinical knowledge level.

 

[Dwindlin]

I found you a study partner:



You are welcome!

Wow, haven't been burned that bad since grade school. That hurts man. 🙄

 

[R-35]

Just go ahead study and take it your intern year. You should have enough knowledge left over to pass it easily your intern year. USMLEworld qbank was enough for me to pass it >85th percentile.

 

[Gern Blansten]

 

[IlDestriero]

I 2 months
II 2 weeks
III #2 pencil

That study method has worked for a couple generations of medical students.

 

[Gern Blansten]

I 2 months
II 2 weeks
III #2 pencil

That study method has worked for a couple generations of medical students.

Soon, no one will know what you are talking about with the #2 pencil. I guess you could use the pencil to punch the computer keys...🙂

 

[Guillemot]

Okay, so the gestalt of what ive read seems to be: Score matters, but not much. If I have time then I should try to do well. If I dont have time I should just take it anyway to get over with it.

 

[Yo GabbaPentin]

Okay, so the gestalt of what ive read seems to be: Score matters, but not much. If I have time then I should try to do well. If I dont have time I should just take it anyway to get over with it.

You are ALMOST right on that. A PASSING score matters.

It terms of competitive fellowships, NOTHING matters more than networking and connections. The majority could not care less what your Step III score is. If they DO care, then I highly advise you to find a different program, as that program is full of "special" people.

 

[gasattack3]

I 2 months
II 2 weeks
III #2 pencil

That study method has worked for a couple generations of medical students.

I'm not sure this applies these days. If anyone just walks into Step III with that in mind, I'd suggest the failure rate would be very high. In fact, just the computer simulation section essentially requires that you PRE learn the program so you're not fumble f.cking around during the exam and wasting valuable time.

This exam is an annoyance, but like others have said, USMLE World works good.

 

[IlDestriero]

Yes, you're right, you need to spend ~30 minutes the night before learning the program.
And then sharpen a number 2 pencil.
And maybe stretch your hunt and peck index finger a little.

 

[45408]

What about if your residency is in a state that doesn't allow you to take step III until you finish your intern year?

Doesn't matter. I paid my money to Connecticut and took my test in NJ. There are other states also that are not as restrictive.

This. You just register in another state. That's how everyone at my program does it. Got my license without a hitch.