Scheduling Your USMLE Exam with Prometric

The process has three parts: register and pay, receive a scheduling permit with your eligibility period, then book a date and test center with Prometric inside that window. You cannot test without the permit, and seats are not guaranteed, so schedule early in your eligibility period.

Step by step #

1. Confirm eligibility. See USMLE eligibility for IMGs.
2. Register for the Step. Since January 12, 2026, FSMB manages USMLE services for IMGs, and the Bulletin tells IMGs to apply through the FSMB website. ECFMG still decides eligibility for ECFMG certification.
3. Choose an eligibility period during the application. The Bulletin does not state a fixed length on the page we reviewed, so read the application instructions for your Step.
4. Receive your scheduling permit by email once registration is complete. It contains your eligibility period.
5. Book with Prometric. Use the permit details to choose a date, time and center.
6. Test within the eligibility period, with matching identification.

Where and when seats are available #

Prometric administers Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 3 at its centers. Step 1 and Step 2 CK are offered in many countries. Step 3 is given only in the United States and its territories, which matters for travel and visa planning. See B-1/B-2 for interviews and exams.

• Dates are first-come, first-served.
• Scheduling may not be open more than six months before the test date.
• Popular months and centers fill early, so schedule near the start of your window if you need a specific date.

Rescheduling, extending and losing a registration #

Current fee amounts are on the official fee pages. Do not rely on secondary sources that quote figures from past years. See total cost of matching for the full budget.

Planning your date #

1. Decide the date you want to test, based on your study plan and the application timeline.
2. Add a buffer so a reschedule would not push the exam outside the window.
3. Check whether you need a visa to travel, and how long it takes.
4. Choose your eligibility period so your target date sits in the middle, not at the end.

See when to take each Step.

Test-day problems #

Report problems on test day, including not completing your exam for any reason, to Test Administration Services within 10 days of the testing date, as the USMLE Common Questions page advises. Keep any confirmation numbers from Prometric.

Practice session #

USMLE offers a practice session at a Prometric center so that you can get used to the environment. It is worth considering if you have not used a computer-based testing center before. Details are on the official Step pages, for example Step 2 CK.

Mistakes to avoid #

• Registering before you know you can afford to reschedule.
• Choosing an eligibility period that ends just after your planned date.
• Assuming a permit from the old process is valid for new registrations, or that old guides are still correct after the 2026 transition.
• Not checking name and ID requirements before the day.