Path to a medical career
THE United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is an alternate pathway for Malaysian medical students to achieve their specialist career. As the premier test-prepping centre in the US, Kaplan prepares medical students worldwide for the USMLE.
Hareen Theivasigamany, Kaplan Medical’s programme specialist in Malaysia, provides free seminars and university talks on the declining number of medical physicians in the US and lack of specialists in Malaysia.
The flexible three-step specialist licensing examination allows students to sit for the first part of the USMLE exams in Malaysia. Upon completing the USMLE exams and residency, students can practise in various medical fields.
The beauty of the USMLE is that students can sit for the first professional exam while in medical school, allowing them to become an American Boards certified specialist by the age of 30. Its structure allows medical students to use the knowledge from study materials provided by Kaplan for their own medical degree.
Passing all four tests of the USMLE sequence is required to obtain a licence to practice medicine in the US.
To be eligible to take USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS, you must be a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school accredited or listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
To be eligible to take USMLE Step 3, you must obtain an MD or MBBS degree and must pass Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS.
Housemen and medical officers are also eligible for the USMLE exams.
After completing residency in the US, you can continue working as a specialist there or transfer to any country as the American Boards degree is recognised worldwide.
During residency you’re paid between US$4,000 and US$7,000 (RM16,340 and RM28,610) a month. An average specialist salary in the US is about US$200,000 to US$400,000 (RM817,440 to RM1.6bil) annually depending on the specialty. About 56.1% of international medical graduates received a residency position in the US (source: www.nrmp.org).
This month, Kaplan Medical will be visiting the northern and southern states of Malaysia for USMLE consultations
On March 25, Kaplan’s event will be held in Tower Regency Hotel (Ipoh), March 26 in Legend Inn Hotel (Taiping), March 27 in Continental Hotel (Penang), March 28 in Palm Inn Hotel (Butterworth) and March 29 in The Jerai Hotel (Sungai Petani) from 6pm to 9pm.
For the southern states, on March 25, Kaplan’s event will held be in RHR Hotel (Kajang), March 26 in Merrida Hotel (Klang), March 27 in Palm Hotel (Seremban), March 28 in Hotel Orkid (Melaka) and March 29 in Crystal Crown Hotel (Johor Baru) from 6pm to 9pm.
■ Call now to RSVP your seat and date for the Kaplan Medical Malaysia Tour. Contact Hareen at 016-377 2853 or email hareen.kaplan@gmail.com. You may also call 03-2166 2740 or 1800 222 939.
Nugrahan is located at Suite B-5-15A, 5th Floor Block B, Megan Avenue II, 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur. Also, visit https://www.facebook.com/nugrahanusmle