In the United States, this exam is called USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). In the UK, it is named as PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board). In Australia, an overseas medical graduate has to pass the exam set by the AMC (Australian Medical Council).

This medical licensing exam is a tough one and it requires a lot of grueling hours to prepare for it. Questions are usually MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) or EMQ (Extended Matching Questions). Questions are picked from every subject like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics & gynecology, preventive medicine and genetics. The division of subjects may vary depending upon the exams.

USMLE is divided into three parts – Step I, Step II and Step III. There are some overseas countries where a medical graduate can take the exam. In Step I, there is an exam of EMQ. Step II is again divided into 2 part – Step II CK (Clinical Knowledge) and Step II CS (Clinical Skills). One has to pass these two steps to gain a medical license to practice medicine in the US. Step II has to be taken in the US only. Step III is for the students who want to engage in a job which is independently awarded.

The PLAB has two parts – Part 1 and Part 2 or OSCE. Part 1 can be taken in outside UK but one has to come to the country to take the Part 2.