USMLE for doctors in Southeast and East Asia
Doctors from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and the wider region sit USMLE every year. Here is where you can test, what it costs, and how to practise for the current exam format.
Where you can test
The Philippines supplies about 6% of the international graduates licensed in the US, according to FSMB census figures cited in a 2024 BMC Medical Education study. Several countries here have their own testing region, so choose carefully.
| Region to select | Countries with Prometric centres |
|---|---|
| Asia | Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, as well as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Hong Kong |
| China | People’s Republic of China (other cities than Hong Kong) |
| Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Thailand | Thailand |
| Japan | Japan |
| Korea | Korea |
| Taiwan | Taiwan |
Source: ECFMG testing regions, updated 22 December 2025. Centres can change, so confirm with Prometric before you choose.
What the exam costs
| Exam | Exam fee | Test-delivery surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | US$ 695 | US$ 210 | US$ 905 |
| Step 2 CK | US$ 695 | US$ 235 | US$ 930 |
| Step 3 | US$ 955 | None (US test centres only) | US$ 955 |
Sources: fsmb.org and the ECFMG fees page, checked October 2026. Fees can change, so confirm when you register.
Practise with the Qbank
3 months
about US$ 20 a month
6 months
about US$ 15 a month
12 months
about US$ 11 a month
24 months
about US$ 8 a month
Step 2 CK and Step 3 plans are on the pricing page.
Past papers and syllabus
USMLE does not release past papers, and remembered exam questions are unlawful to share, so none are used here. Study the official content outline for each Step as your syllabus, and practise with original questions written to it.