Question: Who are the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)?
Answer: After the second year of medical school, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) administers the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE-1) to all medical school students. The test determines if the student is competent enough to practice medicine. Over 90% of students pass these exams despite their extreme difficulty. Each state issues its own medical license according to State rules.
The three-part USMLE examination consists of:
- Part 1: Students are tested on their knowledge of the basic medical sciences is during the end of the second year of medical school.
- Part 2: During the fourth year, students are tested on their ability to apply medical knowledge during the care of patients (while under supervision).
- Part 3: Students are tested on their ability to apply medical knowledge during unsupervised medical care. The test is taken during the first year of residency.
