Doctors going thru the USMLE Process?

[NikkiWicki 3]

Hey just seeing this thread. I tried to send you a PM but I can't send another one for an hour because I already sent two to other members/Doctors going through the USMLE process.

My Husband is going through the USMLE process and passed Step 2 CS on the first try recently. It took him 5 weeks to prepare for it and he passed with high performance. My SIL took a month to study for that step and also passed with high performance. So I think that Step is the easiest but it also the most expensive and would still take some preparation, at least a month to six weeks everyday. My dh will take Step 1 by September 30th so it could be sooner than that if he feels ready. That has taken the most time preparing but it's worth it to get a high score. So hang in there because the studying never seems to end. It's the first in a series of Steps to get to a medical residency step and even then the studying and training doesn't stop.

Hi! count me in! both me and my fiance are doing the USMLE. were both graduates from the philippines but were under K1 visa and still waiitng for K1. my fiance is actually taking the exam on the last week of August. its good to see doctors here! count me in!!!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Hi! count me in! both me and my fiance are doing the USMLE. were both graduates from the philippines but were under K1 visa and still waiitng for K1. my fiance is actually taking the exam on the last week of August. its good to see doctors here! count me in!!!

That's great! Which step is he going for at the end of August? Mine is going for Step 1 in August or September and he's already completed Step 2 CS on the first try. I wish you and your fiance the best!

[lierre 224]

Hi! count me in! both me and my fiance are doing the USMLE. were both graduates from the philippines but were under K1 visa and still waiitng for K1. my fiance is actually taking the exam on the last week of August. its good to see doctors here! count me in!!!

Your fiance's an immigrant sa US? Best of luck to him! He probably prepared really well for this Is your fiance joining the 2013 Match?

How about you? What's your timeline like?

Hello I am a foreign doctor as well. Before even meeting my husband I had applied for the Part 1 MRCOG which is a UK membership exam because at the time I thought I was going to continue specializing in the United Kingdom - life is funny. I had passed the exam but unfortunately it isn't going to benefit me at all in America. I have most of the Step 1 material but to be honest I haven't started studying for it because my mind is preoccupied with why USCIS hasn't looked at my I-130 application in 6 months. I received my USMLE ID# though which is a start but I want to sit for the exam next year when God willing I am settled with my husband so I haven't applied yet because I can only change the 3 month window once.

It's nice to see that there are other doctors applying for the USMLE's here, good luck to you all

Oh! So true!

Before meeting my husband, I thought I will be taking masters in public health!

I actually considered going the GRE (masters) route instead of USMLE, but our relationship had an added complication. He's currently owned by the US military and gets based overseas a lot. It seems like being a licensed US physician can get me a job as a civilian in the military than being a health science researcher! Haha

Are you going for the 2014 Match?

[lierre 224]

Hey just seeing this thread. I tried to send you a PM but I can't send another one for an hour because I already sent two to other members/Doctors going through the USMLE process.

My Husband is going through the USMLE process and passed Step 2 CS on the first try recently. It took him 5 weeks to prepare for it and he passed with high performance. My SIL took a month to study for that step and also passed with high performance. So I think that Step is the easiest but it also the most expensive and would still take some preparation, at least a month to six weeks everyday. My dh will take Step 1 by September 30th so it could be sooner than that if he feels ready. That has taken the most time preparing but it's worth it to get a high score. So hang in there because the studying never seems to end. It's the first in a series of Steps to get to a medical residency step and even then the studying and training doesn't stop.

Thank you! I sent a response just now. I've been very busy with my June wedding and preparing to move to my husband's current country base.

I am planning to take both written Steps while still not in the US. Hopefully I can still do the 2014 Match even if I will be taking the CS only when we get back to the US late next year.

How long has it been since your husband's med school graduation? What specialty is he considering getting into?

[Louza 10]

Oh! So true!

Before meeting my husband, I thought I will be taking masters in public health!

I actually considered going the GRE (masters) route instead of USMLE, but our relationship had an added complication. He's currently owned by the US military and gets based overseas a lot. It seems like being a licensed US physician can get me a job as a civilian in the military than being a health science researcher! Haha

Are you going for the 2014 Match?

Hello there! And yes if all goes well & according to plan, I hope to be done with Step 1, Step 2 CK & CS before the 2014 match.

Your plan to sit for the written Steps before coming to the US seems like a good one considering your husbands position. Good luck to you!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thank you! I sent a response just now. I've been very busy with my June wedding and preparing to move to my husband's current country base.

I am planning to take both written Steps while still not in the US. Hopefully I can still do the 2014 Match even if I will be taking the CS only when we get back to the US late next year.

How long has it been since your husband's med school graduation? What specialty is he considering getting into?

Hi! Congrats on your June wedding and getting ready to move! Where is your husbands current country base? Do you know when you'll be moving yet?

I encourage you to take Step 1 and Step 2 CK while in your home country. Being in a new place and having to adjust to a new country and marriage can be distracting. It seems it would be more comfortable in a familiar environment to study for the exams even with the nerves and excitement of moving. As long as you take Step 2 CS before the Feb. ROL deadline with enough time for the results to come back I think you can go for the residency interviews from Sept. - Feb. There is some debate about that though because the AMG's don't have to take CS before the application deadline in September but the programs like to see the IMG's have all three parts of the Steps. Some programs even filter them out if they don't have the results by the applications in September.

My Husband sat for his medical school exams at the end of 2006. The Dean of the medical school doesn't sign their medical diploma until a year after these exams so it will say 2007. They also have to complete a years worth of "doctor under training" after medical school to formally end their affiliation with the medical school as a graduate and that wasn't until March 2008. He did part of that in governmental hospitals, private hospitals and then his mandatory military duty began in the Egyptian Military so he finished the rest while serving. He continued practicing for the military duty until May 2009. It's a complicated process in Egypt so we could say he finished in 2006 when he took the exams, in 2007 when his Dean signs the diploma a year after the exams, in 2008 when he finishes his "doctor under training" for the medical school or in 2009 when he was released from his Military duty serving as a soldier doctor for them. For the purposes of the ECFMG we/they went with 2008 as it was the last known affiliation with his medical school, when he formally completed all his requirements. I'm not sure how the medical programs Stateside will look at it but I've been told there are some IMG friendly programs that consider 3-4 years is the average for an IMG to come to the States, adjust and complete all the Steps. My husband likes Ophthalmology, Cardiology and Orthopedics. However these are all highly competitive programs. Essentially he would go for Surgery ideally but realistically he would apply for Internal Medicine and Family Medicine since this seems to be where the most IMGs are accepted here. It will depend on his scores how many places we'll apply to. In Egypt he's a doctor of internal medicine and general surgery and he did private practice for a little over a year there before coming here and going for the USMLEs. We know of some paths where if he does Internal Medicine he can do a fellowship afterwards that involves surgery in the areas he's interested in. So we're also considering that route as a real possibility for when he wants to specialize.

If you want more information on practicing as a civilian in the military here I knows some wives married to military doctors and they might be able to give me some answers. Maybe more when you get closer to the date of applications for the match? I also know some websites if you have more "physician specific" questions where others are better able to help you.

What area is your specialty?

Edited July 20, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[lierre 224]

Hi! Congrats on your June wedding and getting ready to move! Where is your husbands current country base? Do you know when you'll be moving yet?

Thanks for the well wishes!

He is in Asia. He will be moving late 2013. We have to get this CR-1 thing all sorted before then so I can move with him.

Hello there! And yes if all goes well & according to plan, I hope to be done with Step 1, Step 2 CK & CS before the 2014 match.

Your plan to sit for the written Steps before coming to the US seems like a good one considering your husbands position. Good luck to you!

Thank you! I hope this plan works out.

What's your timeline like? Mine is this:

Nov 2012 - Step 1

March 2013 - Step 2 CK

Nov 2013 - Step 2 CS (since we're moving to US late Dec)

I've read up on getting a tourist visa, so I can take the CS exam at an earlier date, prior to the September residency application. BUT... I've also read that most US citizen spouses with pending immigration applications don't get approved for tourist visas.

Do you think I should risk applying for the tourist visa to take the CS?

I encourage you to take Step 1 and Step 2 CK while in your home country. Being in a new place and having to adjust to a new country and marriage can be distracting. It seems it would be more comfortable in a familiar environment to study for the exams even with the nerves and excitement of moving. As long as you take Step 2 CS before the Feb. ROL deadline with enough time for the results to come back I think you can go for the residency interviews from Sept. - Feb. There is some debate about that though because the AMG's don't have to take CS before the application deadline in September but the programs like to see the IMG's have all three parts of the Steps. Some programs even filter them out if they don't have the results by the applications in September.

Yes, sadly, this is what I fear might happen if I don't take the CS early enough.

Do you think that my getting a permanent resident card would make the programs want to interview me even if I haven't passed the CS yet?

If you want more information on practicing as a civilian in the military here I knows some wives married to military doctors and they might be able to give me some answers. Maybe more when you get closer to the date of applications for the match? I also know some websites if you have more "physician specific" questions where others are better able to help you.

What area is your specialty?

Oh! This will be awesome. Are their spouses civilian doctors? Can you please ask which specialty offers more civilian jobs in the military?

About "physician specific" questions, I do believe I am a member of the sites you're referring to.

I finished med school internship last 2009. I haven't gone into training here in my country since I have been involved more with health science research rather than clinical training. But, I have been also working as a general practitioner. My plan is to go into either Family Medicine or Psychiatry. Those are my interests.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Thanks for the well wishes!

He is in Asia. He will be moving late 2013. We have to get this CR-1 thing all sorted before then so I can move with him.

Thank you! I hope this plan works out.

What's your timeline like? Mine is this:

Nov 2012 - Step 1

March 2013 - Step 2 CK

Nov 2013 - Step 2 CS (since we're moving to US late Dec)

Ours is

May 2012 - Step 2 CS(first try) (passed with high performance)

Sept 2012 - Step 1

Feb 2013 - Step 2 CK

Sept 2013 - Apply for the match

He's planning on doing Step 3 also before the applications but we don't know if he will study both Step 2 CK and Step 3 in tandem because they both use the same books focusing on different sections. He's got one observership in the States and after Step 2 CK he can apply for better jobs in the medical field with the intention of going for the match. Before that though I think it should be a priority to get a couple of externships in his field of interest. Though there is some debate they like for you to also have six months of USCE or United States Clinical Experience. Still and observership and externship is better than nothing due to extenuating circumstances.

I've read up on getting a tourist visa, so I can take the CS exam at an earlier date, prior to the September residency application. BUT... I've also read that most US citizen spouses with pending immigration applications don't get approved for tourist visas.

Do you think I should risk applying for the tourist visa to take the CS?

While it's not typical to be approved for a tourist visa it's not impossible while waiting for your immigration application for it to happen. It's country specific but I think they consider extenuating circumstances such as the purpose of your visa which would really be for business since you are taking the CS. You can also show you have intentions of coming back to Asia because your husband will be stationed there and it where you will anyways. I think you have a good possibility for approval.

I think December will be fine for taking your exam because the results come within 8 weeks and you should have them before the rank order list (ROL) deadline which is sometime mid-Feb. This year it was Feb. 22nd but I've seen it as early as Feb. 17th. It's important to have all three scores before this date. Otherwise you will not be ECFMG certified and it wouldn't matter if you were accepted and matched at one of the places you interviewed. You wouldn't be eligible for the position because you didn't make the deadline and you'd have to wait another year to cycle before the next match. AMGs done have to worry about the CS like IMGs do.

Ask some of the older VJ members from your country if they ever remember someone getting a tourist visa while having a pending immigration status. They may have more specific insight.

Yes, sadly, this is what I fear might happen if I don't take the CS early enough.

Do you think that my getting a permanent resident card would make the programs want to interview me even if I haven't passed the CS yet?

Absolutely! If they don't have to worry about your immigration status the less headache it is for them thus making you the more desirable candidate. It's one of the top three things they consider when looking at and IMG applicant. However, remember many programs will filter out your application with an automated system before anyone ever lays eyes on it. Not everyone is on board with that program though because of budget or lack of awareness. If that's the case though you might not want to interview at their program. It may be very malignant and the program from hell.

Oh! This will be awesome. Are their spouses civilian doctors? Can you please ask which specialty offers more civilian jobs in the military?

Sure! I believe most of them a military doctors in different branches. However, they've looked in various options doing the military route including civilian doctors. Plus some of them have done residency's working in civilian hospitals. Let me know if you have anymore questions for them.

About "physician specific" questions, I do believe I am a member of the sites you're referring to.

I finished med school internship last 2009. I haven't gone into training here in my country since I have been involved more with health science research rather than clinical training. But, I have been also working as a general practitioner. My plan is to go into either Family Medicine or Psychiatry. Those are my interests.

Research will look good and I don't think it matters which country you did it in. They like 2-3 years. Anymore than that they wonder why are you applying for residency when you belong in a lab. Psychiatry would be a good field with plenty of opportunity. You'd have good chances with family medicine too. There are over 500 programs in the States to apply to for your residency including military. I don't know about doing a residency in the military in another country such as Asia though.

Sorry for the typos and spelling. Heading to bed now.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[Louza 10]

Thank you! I hope this plan works out.

What's your timeline like? Mine is this:

Nov 2012 - Step 1

March 2013 - Step 2 CK

Nov 2013 - Step 2 CS (since we're moving to US late Dec)

I've read up on getting a tourist visa, so I can take the CS exam at an earlier date, prior to the September residency application. BUT... I've also read that most US citizen spouses with pending immigration applications don't get approved for tourist visas.

Do you think I should risk applying for the tourist visa to take the CS?

I want to take the exams after moving to the US. My timeline roughly looks like this:

Step 1 June 2013

Step 2 CK Jan 2014

Step 2 CS June 2014

Errrr looking at it now maybe I won't make the 2014 match after all.

I swear learning under the British System for this entire time & having to suddenly switch to the American one is really a tough transition. If it wasn't for Dr A<3O I would still be a bit lost. I think at this rate I'd be up for the 2015 match..that seems like such a long time to me but what can I do? Steps exams aren't offered in my country & I would have to travel abroad for them..I can't do this now because my petition is at the NVC stage & I will still have to travel to Egypt for my interview.

Sometimes I wonder why I never considered sitting for the Steps in the first place!

I guess you could try applying for a tourist visa it wouldn't hurt but whether you get approved or not because of the IR1/CR1 is the question. Getting rid of the written Steps now is your best option..I agree with the good doctor's wife!

Edited July 20, 2012 by Louza

[NikkiWicki 3]

That's great! Which step is he going for at the end of August? Mine is going for Step 1 in August or September and he's already completed Step 2 CS on the first try. I wish you and your fiance the best!

He is doing step 1 in august 28! thank you! wish all the best for you and your fiance too!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I want to take the exams after moving to the US. My timeline roughly looks like this:

Step 1 June 2013

Step 2 CK Jan 2014

Step 2 CS June 2014

Errrr looking at it now maybe I won't make the 2014 match after all.

I swear learning under the British System for this entire time & having to suddenly switch to the American one is really a tough transition. If it wasn't for Dr A<3O I would still be a bit lost. I think at this rate I'd be up for the 2015 match..that seems like such a long time to me but what can I do? Steps exams aren't offered in my country & I would have to travel abroad for them..I can't do this now because my petition is at the NVC stage & I will still have to travel to Egypt for my interview.

Sometimes I wonder why I never considered sitting for the Steps in the first place!

I guess you could try applying for a tourist visa it wouldn't hurt but whether you get approved or not because of the IR1/CR1 is the question. Getting rid of the written Steps now is your best option..I agree with the good doctor's wife!

Yep, from that schedule you'll be ready for applications in 2015.

He is doing step 1 in august 28! thank you! wish all the best for you and your fiance too!

Sending you both my best wishes!

[NikkiWicki 3]

Your fiance's an immigrant sa US? Best of luck to him! He probably prepared really well for this Is your fiance joining the 2013 Match?

How about you? What's your timeline like?

yup. he went back to the philippines just to go to medical schl. actually I plan to move first to US before doin all my schedule for the usmle. my fiance is telling me to take the exam in december. hoping that our k1 would come in sept. its very hard to wait and at the same time plan. what can u suggest about my case?

Edited July 22, 2012 by nixandrei

[ainsn 13]

My husband will also be taking the USMLE when he arrives to the US. Right now he's finishing med school abroad and we're still waiting for his IR1 visa to get approved. What preparations should he take before leaving his home country? I know he will need recommendations and updated transcripts from his medical college, what else?

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I see you found the other thread. I would recommend beginning the process of registering with the ECFMG while he's still in his home country and has access to his medical school to get everything they need.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I came across this article in the NYT's online. It's about the process foreign doctors have to go through to practice medicine in the States. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know or have experienced for ourselves first hand already, but I thought it might be helpful, and perhaps more articulate, for others to read about the process that are seeking information.

Path to United States Practice Is Long Slog to Foreign Doctors