USMLE and MBBS Degree: Practice as a Medical Doctor in the USA

MBBS & USMLE

Lead My World has now instituted USMLE preparatory classes with a MBBS degree program at the International School of Capital Medical University Beijing, Peoples Republic of China. It is important to talk about what USMLE stands for, not from the standpoint of the abbreviation but the VALUE of it. It basically brings MBBS (A 6 year undergraduate clinical medicine degree, Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) graduates to work in the United States, shoulder to shoulder with MD degree holding doctors if they pass all three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) with distinction. Here are some informative facts about the USMLE;

United States Medical Licensing Examination is a qualifying test for practicing Medical Doctors in the United States. This examination is endorsed and sponsored by the FSMB - Federation of State Medical Board and the NBME - National Board of Medical Examiners

 USMLE is a platform to evaluate and assess the ability to comprehend the principles and methodologies of diagnoses/treatment concepts. The test is comprised of three major steps   

Step 1

An examination to assess a candidate’s clinical knowledge and understanding of;

• ·         Scientific concepts in basic medicine
• ·         Principles and methodology or mechanisms of body health, disease, and different modes and options of treatment and therapy.
• ·          Fundamental and scientific knowledge of competent practice of medicine
• ·         Comprehensive knowledge of System and Processes

Step 2

·         In this examination, a candidate is tested on his/her application of knowledge and skills as it relates to the clinical science’s understanding and its supervised application for patient care.

• ·         Knowledge and skills of human health protection, health promotion, and disease prevention.
• ·         Basic rules of clinical sciences and basic patient-centered skills and medical practice.

Step 2 CK- Clinical Knowledge

Clinical Knowledge is based on an integrated material outline that organizes clinical science along two dimensions: Medical Doctor’s practice and disease categories.

• ·         This one day exam is also divided into blocks.
• ·         The test format can vary with each block.
• ·         Each block will have a maximum of 45 items which will be displayed in the beginning of the test.
• ·         Total items of the blocks will not exceed 355
• ·         A total of one hour is allotted for each block

Step 2 CS- Clinical Skills

This is one of the most important components of the USMLE. In this segment, examinees are tested on their clinical skills ranging from bedside manners, gathering data from the patients, physical examination, to communication skills of conveying facts to the patients and colleagues alike. The examiners watch each step of the candidate with very critical and minuet observation.

Step 3

In this final step of examination, candidates are assessed on their ability to apply their CK and CS of biomedical and clinical science.

·         Candidates are observed for the unsupervised practice of medicine.

·         The emphasis of this test is on patient management in an ambulatory setting. 

·         Passing of this exam can lead a candidate to acquiring a license to practice medicine without supervision.

·         The test items are case studies and real patient situations designed by Medical Experts, State Board Members, Medical Academic experts, and nonacademic experts.

·         Evaluation of tasks, patient’s issues and the severity of conditions, their solutions.

·         Patient centered case studies of a clinical encounter+assessment and physician’s judgment.

·         Since the applied science and clinical fundamentals have been observed in step 1 and 2, the prognoses justification is assessed in step 3 as it relates to its rational and justification.

Examination format:

·         It is comprised of 8 hour daily testing for 2 days.

·         First day an examine has to answer 336 Multiple Choice Items (MCI)

·         These MCIs are divided into 7 blocks with 48 items  in each block 

·         Abstract or Pharmaceutical associated items may differ in the number of items per block.

·         2^nd day of testing is comprised of 144 MCI divided into 4 Blocks of 36 items. Total time to complete the tasks is 3 hours for these blocks.

·         There are 12 case simulations with a 4 hour completion time.

National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)

NBME was founded in 1915. NBME is an independent, non-profit organization, serving through its high-quality assessments of healthcare professionals.

USMLE was developed by NBME and is managed by it. The purpose of licensing exams is to test the core competencies of an individual to practice Medicine in the USA. It is important to note that NBME and FSMG co-sponsor the United State Medical Licensing Exams in collaboration with Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). NBME also sponsor PLAS, Post Licensure Assessment System for evaluation of already licensed Medical Doctors. This extends a new common standard between American and International Graduate Doctors.  

Certification as NBME Diplomat

The requirements for NBME Certification as a Diploma are as follow;

·         Successful completion of USMLE's 3 steps or a combination of parts & steps.

·         MD degree from an accredited medical school of LCME, Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

·         Accreditation Counsel on Graduate Medical Education, ACGME’s accredited Internship in Canada

I will be delighted to answer any further questions about USMLE or the MBBS degree program at CCMU. Please contact me at Najam@Leadmyworld.com

 Najam Hasan