So, you’ve heard a few people talking about the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and wonder what it’s all about. This series will give you a starting point to think about whether sitting the USMLE exams is right for you. 

Whilst it’s important to get advice from people about whether going to the US is for you or not, always remember that it’s a personal choice and no one can make the decision for you better than yourself. Here, we run through the main pros and cons to help with that all important decision.

After you have done a lot of thinking, if you are considering training in the US, then start making plans early. It’s much harder to get into a residency program as an IMG compared to a US graduate (and even harder if you choose an already competitive specialty), so preparation is key. Here we outline the main requirements to apply for residency.

A fellowship is a program that you can undertake during, or at the end of your specialty training. Fellowships can last from anywhere between 6 months and 2 years (sometimes even longer). The point of a fellowship is to gain expertise in a specific field within a specialty. For example, if you are training in plastics, you might do a fellowship in hand surgery. Or, if you are training in neurology, you might do a fellowship in movement disorders. Many people go the US for fellowships because a) a fellowship in a different country can offer experiences you may not get here and b) a lot of pioneering treatments and techniques come from US hospitals and research institutions. 

Here, we’ve answered some questions commonly asked by those considering the US and wanting to the USMLE. We cover “cost”, “step 3”, “how to get experience outside of elective time” and “resits”.