USMLE vs PLAB vs MCCE vs AMC

Too many doctors and medical students are searching to practice medicine abroad so they are always comparing between USMLE, PLAB, MCCEE and AMC to practice medicine in USA, UK, Canada and Australlia respectively and here it is a complete comparison between all of them, I wish it will be informative for you.

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USMLE

Eligibility:

Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS:
To be eligible, you must be in the following category at the time of application:

• A medical student officially enrolled in a medical school outside USA and Canada listed by IMED after passing the academic phase.
• A graduate of a medical school outside USA and Canada listed by IMED.

Step 3:
Prior to submitting your application, you must:

• Pass Step 1, Step 2 CK
• Obtain certification by the ECFMG

Syllabus:

Step 1:

• Anatomy
• Behavioral sciences
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Interdisciplinary topics, such as nutrition,
• Genetics and aging.

Test items commonly require you to perform one or more of the following tasks:

• interpret graphic and tabular material
• identify gross and microscopic pathologic and normal specimens
• apply basic science knowledge to clinical problems.

Step 2 CK:

• Internal medicine
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Pediatrics
• Preventive medicine
• Psychiatry
• Surgery
• Other areas relevant to provision of care under supervision.

Most Step 2 CK test items describe clinical situations and require that you provide one or more of the following:

• A diagnosis
• A prognosis
• An indication of underlying mechanisms of disease
• The next step in medical care, including Preventive measures.

Step 2 CS:

Step 2 CS assesses whether you can demonstrate the fundamental clinical skills essential for safe and effective patient care under supervision.
There are three subcomponents of Step 2 CS:

• Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE)
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS)
• Spoken English Proficiency (SEP).

Step 3:

Step 3 is organized along two principal dimensions:

• Clinical Encounter Frame
  • 20%–30% Initial care
  • 50%–60% Continued care
  • 15%–25% Emergency care

• Physician Task
  • 8%–12% Obtaining history and performing physical examination
  • 8%–12% Using laboratory and diagnostic studies
  • 8%–12% Formulating most likely diagnosis
  • 8%–12% Evaluating severity of patient's problems
  • 8%–12% Applying scientific concepts and mechanisms of disease
  • 45%–55% Managing the patient
    • health maintenance
    • clinical intervention
    • clinical therapeutics
    • legal and ethical issues

Step 3 content reflects a data-based model of generalist medical practice in the United States.

Exam Format:

Step 1 and Step 2 CK:

• Step 1 and Step 2 CK are each one-day, multiple-choice exams that are administered by computer.
• Each exam consists of multiple-choice questions divided into 60-minute blocks.
• The Step 1 testing session lasts approximately 8 hours.
• The Step 2 CK testing session lasts approximately 9 hours.

Step 2 CS:

• Step 2 CS is a one-day exam that consists of 12 simulated patient cases.
• The Step 2 CS testing session lasts approximately 8 hours.

Step 3:

Test includes 2 formats:

• Multiple choice questions (MCQ)
• computer-based case simulations (CCS): a testing format that allows you to provide care for a simulated patient.

You decide which diagnostic information to obtain and how to treat and monitor the patient's progress.

The computer records each step you take in caring for the patient and scores your overall performance. This format permits assessment of clinical decision-making skills in a more realistic and integrated manner than other available formats.

Exam Dates:

All Examinations are Set All over the Year, register through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (www.ecfmg.org), which will review your application and once it is approved provide you with available testing dates.

Fees:
Step 1 - $930

Step 2 CK - $945

Step 2 CS - $1,375

Step 3 - $745


PLAB

Part 1:

Requirements:

• Primary Medical Qualification:“Bachelor of Medicine”
• IELTS Score 7.5

Exam Format

• 200 Extended Matching Questions (EMQ)
• Single Best Answer (SBA) questions

"It lasts 3 hours."

Syllabus

• The main emphasis is on clinical management and includes science as applied to clinical problems:
  • Internal Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Psychiatry

• Examination is confined to core knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to conditions commonly seen by Senior house officers (SHO), to the generic management of life-threatening situations & important rare problems.

• Four groups of skills will be tested in approximately equal proportions:
  1. Diagnosis
  2. Investigations
  3. Management/Treatment
  4. Accident & emergency medicine

Examples: Abdominal, chest and head injuries (isolated or multiple injuries), bites and stings, burns, chest pain, collapse, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), eye problems, shock, trauma.

Exam Dates:
Held 3 Times per year

“March - July – September”

Fees - £ 145

PART 2:

Requirements:

Passing Part 1

Exam Format:

14-station of Objective Structure Clinical Examination (OSCE)

"It lasts for 1:40 min"


Syllabus:

Practical skills,You will be assessed on your ability to perform common practical procedures.

The practical skills may include:

• Checking blood pressure
• Performing vene-puncture
• Inserting a cannula into a peripheral vein
• Giving intravenous injections
• Mixing and injecting drugs intravenously
• Giving I.M. & S.C. injections
• Basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (adult and child)

Communication skills: Tested by observing the interaction between the candidate and another person, usually a simulated patient or the examiner.
Your approach to the patient will be assessed all through the examination, but in some stations communication will be the main skill for which you will be awarded marks.

Communication skills

• Explaining diagnosis, investigation and treatment
• Involving the patient in decision-making
• Communicating with relatives
• Communicating with other healthcare staff
• Breaking bad news

Exam Dates:

Held around 15 times per year
"Every Month may be twice"

Fees - £ 430

MCCEE:

Requirements

MCCEE:

• Completed Credentials.
• International medical graduates & students in their final clinical year.

MCCEQ1:

Passing the MCCEE.

MCCEQ2:

Passing MCCEQ1


Syllabus:

• Clinical Knowledge at the level of a new medical graduate
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Obstetrics & Gynecologists
• Ethics and epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine and Community Health

Exam Format

MCCEE:

4 hours, 180 MCQs Computer-Based Examination.

MCCEQ1:

• One-day, computer-based test
  • 3 ½ hours in the morning session 196 MCQs
  • 4 hours in the afternoon session for the clinical decision making component
  [60 cases, with 1:5 short-menu and short-answer write-in questions]

Max: 80 Questions


MCCEQ2:

3-hour Objective-Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

• Couplet stations
  The five-minute couplet stations involve a five-minute clinical encounter and a five-minute post-encounter probe.
  • Five-minute clinical encounter:
    Obtain a focused relevant history or conduct a focused physical examination.
  • Five-minute post-encounter probe:
    Each clinical encounter station is followed by a five-minute written station called the post-encounter probe where the candidate will, for example, perform some of the following tasks:
    • Record findings from the clinical encounter just completed.
    • Provide a differential diagnosis.
    • Interpret x-rays, computed tomography images, laboratory results, etc.
    • Detail an initial investigation or management plan.
• Ten-minute stations
  assess the candidate's ability to obtain a history and/or conduct a physical examination, to demonstrate interviewing and communication skills and/or to apply management skills.

Exam Dates:

MCCEE:
Held 3 times a year
“Mars – September - October” Held 4 times a year

MCCEQ1:
“April - May - October - November” Held 2 times a year

MCCEQ2:
“May - October”

Fees:

MCCEE:
application fees: $ 250
exam fees: $ 1,300

MCCEQ1:
exam fees: $ 780

MCCEQ2:
exam fees: $ 1,950

AMC:

CAT MCQ:

Requirements:

· Primary Medical Qualification:“Bachelor of Medicine”

· Internship 'Basic Clinical Training'

Exam Format:

· Computer-administered multi-choice question examination delivered in one 3.5 hour session.

· Consists of 150 A-type MCQs (one correct response from five options)—120 scored items and 30 (non-scored) pilot items.

Syllabus:

· The principles and practice of medicine in the fields of Adult Health – Medicine [35] – Surgery [25], Women's Health - Obstetrics & Gynecology [15], Child Health[15], Mental Health [15] and Population Health & Ethics [15]. The majority of the multiple choice questions reflect common clinical conditions in the Australian community. In order to achieve a satisfactory level of performance, a candidate will require a knowledge of:

1. Pathogenesis

2. Clinical features

3. Investigative findings

4. Differential diagnosis

5. Management and treatment.

*[25] Number of questions assigned for each branch in the exam.

Exam Dates:

Held continuously all over the year depends on your scheduling.

Fees:
1st time Application: AUD230
Exam: AUD2,100


Clinical Examination:

Requirements:

• Submitted all required documentation
• Pass the AMC MCQ Examination

Exam Format:


· Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE): multidisciplinary structured clinical assessment consisting of a 16-component multistation assessment (+ 4 rest stations).

Each station will be of 10 minutes duration

Syllabus:

· It assesses clinical skills in:

1. Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics, general practice and psychiatry.

2. It also assesses ability to communicate with patients, their families and other health workers.

· Scoring will be structured, with individual aspects of each station specified under the following broad headings:

1. History

2. Physical examination

3. Investigations

4. Diagnosis/differential diagnosis

5. Therapeutics/management

6. Counseling/patient education

7. Clinical procedures.


Exam Dates:


The AMC has grouped the clinical examination into 4 separate series per year " Which are decided by the council every year"

Fees:

AUD2,850

Find More Info In Our Free Forums:

1- USMLE Forum
2- PLAB Forum
3- MCCEE Forum
4- AMC Forum

Still hesitating try our free quiz it may help you: What Is The Best Country To Practice Medicine In For You?

 

Excellent topic, I see all medical students here in Egypt have this question USMLE or PLAB.

This topic can help them to decide

 

Informative Post.