USMLE - One stop Guide Part - 2 : Expenses

 

USMLE

United States Medical Licensing Examination

Part - 2: Expenses

 

It is An Entrance exam by which You will Gain Entry Into united State as a RESIDENT DOCTOR; After which you have to complete your residency and Give Resident Exit Exam Which I will talk in a Different Blog.

Contents:

1. Personal StoryTime 
2. Expenses By Two Views
3. Conclusion

Personal Storytime:

I started Preparation thinking it would be only Around 5000$ Cost for the journey

But Oh Ma Gwaddd I was so wrong

I had to put hold on my preparation and Started Earning For straight 12 Months Then I collected the Money for the Exam

Thats why we need To know Expenses of Exam Beforehand

Expenses By Two Views:

A. EXPENSES BY INDIVIDUAL COSTS

1. Individual Stages Fees
2. Fees For Materials You Will Be Using During Preparation
3. ECFMG Pathway verification After Step 1 And 2 Before Submission
4. Costs for Submitting Applications
5. Costs While you are going to Interview

B. EXPENSES BY YEAR

1. Start to 6 Months
2. 6 Months to 1 Year
3. 1 Year to 1.5 Year
4. 5 Year to 2 Year
5. 2 Year to 2.5 Year

EXPENSES BY INDIVIDUAL COSTS

 

FEES For INDIVIDUAL Stages
ECFMG Application And Form 186	$150
Step 1	$975 + $180 (Surcharge fee)
Extension of eligibility period fee	$90 /exam
Step 2 CK	$975 + $200 (Surcharge)
Testing Region Change	$85 / change
Rescheduling Step 1/ Step 2 CK	$0 to $604 (depending upon the exam, testing, region, and date of cancellation)
Occupational English test (OET)	454 U.S dollars (587 AUD)
TOTAL (average)	$3100

 

Fees For Materials You Will Be Using During Preparation
Step 1 - UWORLD QBANK -  FIRST AID   -   NBMEs	$419 / 6 months     $55     $60 /exam x 6
Step 2 CK - UWORLD QBANK months -  NBMEs   - CMS forms	$419 / 6 months     $60 / exam x 3     $20 / exam
TOTAL (average)	$1700

 

ECFMG Pathway verification After Step 1 And 2 Before Submission
Pathway application	$900
Fee to verify a credential through EPIC	$100

 

 

 

 

Costs for Submitting Applications
ERAS Token	150$
USMLE Transcript	$85
ECFMG Certification	$75
ERAS Program Application Up to 10 programs / speciality - $99 (total) 11 to 20 programs / speciality - $16 (each) 21 to 30 programs / speciality - $20 (each) 31 or more/ speciality - 26$ each	if applying to 150 IM Programs [99$+(10 x 16$) + (10 x 20$) + (120 x 26$)] = 3579$
NRMP registration	$150
TOTAL (average)	$4100

 

Costs While you are going to Interview
1. Virtual Interview
Laptop	$800 - $1300
Accessories	$100 - $200
TOTAL (average)	Including laptop: $1500 Excluding laptop: $200
2. In-person interviews (Lets Say You Got 5 Interviews)
Travel to U.S	$1000 - $1300
Travel in the U.S, food and stay during interviews	$700 x 5 = 3500
TOTAL (average for 5 interviews)	$4600

 

 

Expenses per year

It’s Important to know that Expenses increases as per Time increases in USMLE Preparation

Like If you Start Today, You Only must spend only Few 100 Dollars

But At the End Like in Interview session You must Spend Few Thousand Dollars

Start to 6 months

At the Very Start of the journey expenses are Very Less.

Because They are usually for purchasing resources for USMLE step 1 exam and Submission for the form 186 process.

The amount that you need to Right Now would be around 700$

• Application Form 186 - $150
  
• UWORLD Subscription - $419 / 6 months
  
•  FIRST AID Book - $55
  

6 months to 1 year 

Here, the costs usually for applying to purchasing nbme’s and step 1 exam, costing 1500$

• Nbme’s - $360(60 x 6)
  
• Step 1 - $975 + $180
  

1 year to 1.5 years

Here, The costs are for step 2 ck preparation, exam and applying to clerkships which will cost around 3500$

• UWORLD QBANK - $419 / 6 months
  
• Nbme’s and CMS forms - $360
  
• Step 2 Exam Cost - $975 + $200
  
• Fees for Clinical rotations ($100-$300/university rotation), Immunizations, Malpractice Insurance($300-$350/month) and health insurance($100-$150) and other documentation for rotations – up to $1500
  

1.5 to 2 years

Here There will be lot of expenses as an IMG Which are for rotations, cost of living during rotation and applying to programs and cost around $17500

• USCE tuition - average of $1500 per rotation x 3 = $4500
  
• Flight charges = $1000-1200/round trip
  
• Accommodation - $600 to $800/month x 3 = $1800 - $2400
  
• Cost of living (food and other expenses) - $300 - $400/month x 3 = $900 - $1200
  
• ECFMG certification and Application (ERAS token, transcripts, cost to apply to programs etc.) =$6000
  

2 - 2.5 years

The costs are usually for interviews if any.

If interviews are virtual then it’s just 150$ as discussed above. Otherwise, the total costs may be around $4600

Conclusion:

Average Cost of Whole Journey Will be around $23000 to $ 25000

The total cost may vary depending on factors like number of cycles applied, having family in the U.S, paid vs nonpaid rotations, number of programs applied etc.,

You will realise that this is the best investment you have made in your life.

It takes some time to get the fruits, but the money and efforts are worth it if you have weighed the pros and cons of the U.S vs home country medical career for you

And decided to pursue the U.S residency journey. 

 

Thats All for this Blog, Hope i made your doubts Clear and Present this information in a Easy way to you Guys

I would like to know if i made any mistakes or if you wanna know anything else you can contact me through contact-us Page

Thank You Everyone to Read This Blog