While NEET PG just offers one exam, USMLE requires candidates to pass Steps I, II, and III over the course of three exams. Based on their combined scores from all three processes, students are assigned to the preferred stream. Keep in mind that the exams given for each phase are not solely theoretical. Additionally, they have useful applications.
Students must complete an eight-hour exam called Step I, which consists of multiple-choice questions. This test primarily aims to gauge how well students understand the fundamentals of science and how they might apply them in their medical practice. The first phase includes the first two years of the MBBS study period. It concentrates on subjects such as Fundamental Scientific Principles, Anatomy and Behavioral Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology & Pathology, Genetics, etc. The Step I of the USMLE is an eight-hour test that is divided into seven one-hour blocks in terms of length.
There are two elements to the USMLE Step II: Clinical Science (CS) and Clinical Knowledge. (CK). Students can only appear for the CK from India, it must be emphasized. For CS, they must fly to the USA and show up at the designated testing location. The USMLE Step III is also exclusively available in the USA. In this two-day test, the candidate's ability to manage patients in the real world is put to the test. There are numerous case simulations and multiple-choice questions in it. Step III can be taken at any time of the year, but an appointment must be made in advance.
Each exam will set you back about $1000. The problem, though, is that the student must organize travel to the US in order to take two exams. The type of visa they would receive is the main worry. Therefore, the majority of students enroll in a Masters programme in the US in order to finally obtain an F1 visa. They show up for the USMLE Step II CS and Step III during this stay. Additionally, it is becoming simpler to hunt for residency programmes. In their second year of the MBBS program, candidates can take the USMLE.
