USMLE Step 1 Registration

The USMLE certification registration, application and instructions for completing them are available online at the NMBE website. 

Please apply using your UB email as part of the verification process by our office is to confirm you being an active medical student.  

Login using your USMLE ID and password or select “Create Account” to obtain your USMLE ID and password.

Class of 2028 USMLE Step 1 must be taken by Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026

You will select December-February or January-March as the three-month eligibility period in which you plan to take the exam.

If you wish to request any accommodations during the test administration, you must provide additional information required by the NBME Office that includes specific, current documentation related to the requested accommodation. See NBME website for more information.

If you have any questions about this, please contact the Office of Student and Academic Affairs prior to registering for Step 1.

Payment for Step 1 must be made directly to the NBME during registration by using a credit card.

After payment has been submitted for your exam, you will receive an email that states your application has been processed, but is still in incomplete status. Your EXAMS page will show a “Pending” registration status for the USMLE Step 1 Exam until your Certification of Identification and Authorization form is processed.

1. Note the “Action Required” banner. Click the “Complete and mail” link to obtain your Certification of Identification and Application Authorization form.
2. Click on “PRINT” from the website and this will bring up a completed PDF file of your “Certification of Identification and Authorization Form”
   
3. Verify information on the form.
4. Next, check off “I authorize the NBME to accept my NBME on-line services password” on the bottom half of the form.  If you do not accept, you must complete the form each time you apply for an exam.
5. NBME requires a handwritten signature by each applicant. If you are able to, submit your handwritten signature digitally and upload the form to the upload link below (after saving the PDF file to your local drive with file renamed with your complete Last name and First name, e.g.: Smith, Jane.)
   
   • If you are unable to digitally sign the form, you will need to print the form out, sign it and re-upload the form to the link below.
     
   • If you do not have access to a printer, please upload unsigned form to the link below and come to our office in Suite 1200 to physically sign off on the form which we can assist with printing.
     
6. Office of Student and Academic Affairs will digitally affix your 2x2 clinical ID photo onto the Certification of ID and Authorization form and verify your student status by completing and signing under the “Authorized School Official” section.

• Enrollment status verification on your Step 1 registration is addressed routinely. It takes an overnight after your submission before it shows up on the administrative end for the registrar to verify. No need to reach out to our office.
  
• At that point, your scheduling permit will be sent to you from the NBME. This will confirm the three-month window in which you will schedule your exam date.

To schedule your examination test location and date, visit the Prometric, Inc. website at www.prometric.com. Please be sure you meet the specified deadline for registration for the examination.

You may not schedule your exam until you receive a Scheduling Permit, which will not be issued until six (6) months in advance of your Eligibility Period (for most, this means after Dec. 1). You will receive a separate email from the NBME when this becomes available.