If you have been wondering how much USMLE Step 1 exam costs in Nigeria, you are on the right page. This post introduces this international examination and how much it goes for in Nigeria today.

United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is a three-step examination for medical graduates in the United States. The Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners sponsor the exam. Persons who intend to practice medicine in the United States or considering the possibility of practicing medicine in the Unites States are required to take USMLE. As a requirement, candidates are expected to pass all the three steps before they can be offered practicing license in the United States.

What is the cost of USMLE Step 1 in Nigeria?

USMLE is becoming one of the most common exams taken by medical students in Nigeria today. With a lot of medical practitioners aspiring to practice in the United States, a lot of people are beginning to look at the possibility of taking the international exam.

Like most international exams, the USMLE are in stages. As it stands, the first stage costs about $630, which is about N302, 400 when converted with a rate of $1 = N480. This fee is strictly between the three-month eligibility periods that started in November 1, 2018 – January 31, 2019 and ending October 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019.

Please note that you will be charged an additional $25 (N12, 000 at the same rate) if you submit a payment for registering and/or examinee records services that is uncollectible and reverted to the NBME.

Eligibility and Requirement of USMLE Step 1

USMLE is an international examination written in various countries. For Nigerians registering for the examination, the candidate is expected to be a medical practitioner or a medical student enrolled in a medical school that is officially recognized and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and must have met ECFMG requirement.

Test Centres

The USMLE Step 1 examination is conducted in various countries.  The USMLE Step 1 is taken at Prometric test centres all over the world. Prometric is the officially recognized testing agency for USMLE.  In Africa, there are only a limited Prometric centres. They are available in 4 countries which include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. Before now, there was a test centre in Nigeria. However, this centre was discontinued due to irregularities. As it stands, the closest Prometric centre for applicants in Nigeria is in Ghana.

What you should know about USMLE Step 1

The USMLE Step 1 evaluates your general understanding and application of core concepts of the medical sciences basics to the practice of medicine, with distinctive emphasis on principles and mechanisms essential health, disease, and modes of therapy. The Step 1 certifies mastery of not only the sciences that provide a basis for the safe and proficient practice of medicine in the present, but also the technical principles needed for upkeep of competence through continuous learning. Step 1 is fashioned according to a unified content outline that classifies basic science material along two core dimensions: system and process.

The Step 1 is an examination written in just one day. It is separated into seven 1-hour blocks and overseen in one 8-hour testing session. It is essential to know that the number of questions per block varies but all questions per block will not exceed 40. The total number of items on the total examination will also not exceed 280.

The USMLE Content Outline offers what to expect in terms of content for the examination. In addition, there are loads of other materials that can help candidates prepare for the examination in the best way possible. The USMLE Content Outline classifies content according to common principles and human organ systems. Exam questions are categorized in one of eighteen core areas, based on whether they focus on concepts regarded as important across organ systems or within distinct organ systems.

Recognized medical schools in Nigeria today  

• Abia State University Faculty of Medicine
• Afe Babalola University College of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine
• Ambrose Alli University College of Medicine
• Bayero University Faculty of Medicine
• Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University
• Benue State University College of Health Sciences
• Bingham University College of Health Sciences
• Bowen University College of Health Sciences
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University College of Medical Sciences
• Delta State University College of Health Sciences
• Ebonyi State University College of Health Sciences
• Ekiti State University College of Medicine
• Enugu State University of Science and Technology College of Medicine
• Gombe State University College of Medical Sciences
• Imo State University College of Medicine
• Kaduna State University Faculty of Medicine
• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)
• Lagos State University College of Medicine
• Madonna University College of Medicine
• Niger Delta University College of Medical Sciences
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University College of Health Sciences
• Oba Okunade Sijuade College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University
• Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University
• Obafemi Awolowo University College of Health Sciences
• University of Abuja College of Health Sciences
• University of Benin School of Medicine
• University of Calabar College of Medical Sciences
• University of Ibadan College of Medicine
• University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences
• University of Jos Faculty of Medical Sciences
• University of Lagos College of Medicine
• University of Maiduguri College of Medical Sciences
• University of Nigeria Faculty of Medicine
• University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences
• University of Uyo College of Health Sciences
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University College of Health Sciences