Apply through the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) or the Educational Commission for Foreign Graduates (If you are in medical school outside of the United States) for Step 1 of the USMLE. Step 1 tests on subjects such as anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. It is an eight-hour exam with 322 multiple-choice questions. Study practice questions through the USMLE website and do not leave any answers blank as they will be marked as incorrect.
Graduate from medical school and apply to take Step 2 if you have passed Step 1. Step 2 assesses whether you can apply medical knowledge in a clinical setting under supervision. Study an exam review book or register for a review course. Practice with as many sample questions as possible that offer explanations before taking Step 2. The topics include pediatrics, surgery and psychiatry.
Complete your first year of residency and schedule to take Step 3 of the USMLE. This tests your understanding of biomedical and clinical science for practice in an unsupervised setting. It has an emphasis on patient management in ambulatory settings. Additionally, it is a 16-hour test divided over two days. Download and practice computer-based simulations from the USMLE website. This will help prepare you for the length of the test and also the types of questions that will be given. Hone your timing. The first day, you will have 336 multiple-choice questions divided into seven blocks and you will have 60 minutes to complete each block. The second day, you will be given 144 multiple-choice questions in four blocks and will have three hours to complete each block. Furthermore, there will be a focus on "Clinical Case Simulations" where you will be required to oversee patients, diagnose them and enter orders for prescriptions. Focus on practice questions in this area as well as lectures and downloads.