USMLE 2027 Fees Hold at INR 66,146 as November 1 Eligibility Opens

The USMLE program confirmed its 2027 application fees effective November 1, 2026. Indian MBBS graduates applying through ECFMG will now book under this new schedule. The FSMB has kept Step 1 and Step 2 CK at $695 (INR 66,146) each, flat, since 2026. Step 3 stays at $955 (INR 90,892), and India bookings carry an 18% GST surcharge.

• USMLE Eligibility periods ending in 2027 attract the new fees. The first window runs November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
• Indian candidates testing Step 1 in India pay $695 (INR 66,146) plus 18% GST. The combined cost reaches $820, or ₹79,540 at ₹97 per USD.
• Candidates testing outside the US and Canada add $205 (INR 19,510) for Step 1. Step 2 CK carries a $230 (INR 21,890) international surcharge instead.

The USMLE is the three-part American medical licence test. Every international medical graduate sits for it before entering US residency. Indian doctors form the largest IMG cohort in American hospitals. FSMB and NBME jointly run registration, scoring, and testing. ECFMG certification tops the three steps for anyone trained outside the US.

Also Read: USMLE exam for Indian Students

The 2027 USMLE Fee Schedule in Full

FSMB and NBME set three Step fees for 2027. Step 1 and Step 2 CK sit at $695 each. Step 3 stays at $955 and is taken only in the US. Fees are identical to the 2026 schedule.

Published USMLE application fees carry this schedule for every three-month eligibility period ending in 2027.

What an Indian IMG Pays for Step 1 in 2027

Base fees are only part of the Indian IMG bill. The full cost adds ECFMG certification, OET Medicine, surcharges, and GST. The India-specific maths splits into two paths.

OET Medicine lands at $587 on top for every pathway candidate. ECFMG verification and primary-source credential checks add further one-time fees. Prep stacks like UWorld and Amboss sit outside the official bill.

Why November 1 Matters for Eligibility Periods

USMLE registration runs through three-month eligibility windows. The 2027 fee schedule applies whenever a window ends in 2027. The first such window runs November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. The last 2027-fee window closes December 31, 2027.

Candidates who registered before November 1 keep the 2026 fee. Fresh applications from November 1 pay the 2027 fee instead. The FSMB confirms the band on its public fee page.

How Do Indian IMGs Register for the 2027 Cycle?

The registration pipeline runs through ECFMG certification for IMGs. Six concrete steps carry a candidate from application to Prometric seat.

1. Create an ECFMG Interactive Web Applications account.
2. Submit the USMLE/ECFMG certification application form.
3. Pick a three-month eligibility window ending in 2027.
4. Pay the $695 base fee for Step 1 or Step 2 CK.
5. Settle the 18% GST at checkout if testing in India.
6. Book the Prometric slot inside the eligibility window.

FSMB confirms ECFMG eligibility during the registration flow. Candidates should keep ECFMG and FSMB status in sync.

What Flat 2027 Fees Mean for Indian Candidates

Base Step 1 and Step 2 CK fees stay flat for a second cycle. OET Medicine, prep stacks, and travel costs have all risen. Indian candidates still shoulder the 18% GST that landed in December 2024.

Flat $695 pricing keeps per-Step cost near ₹80,000 for a second year. Candidates targeting the 2028 Match often book Step 1 by early 2027. The flat schedule gives that cohort pricing certainty through the Match race.

Indian MBBS graduates targeting the 2027 USMLE cycle have one planning window. Base fees stay at $695 for Step 1 and Step 2 CK. The first eligibility slot opens November 1, 2026. Candidates should lock dates before GST and surcharges stretch the final bill.

Action Plan for Indian USMLE Candidates:

1. Verify your ECFMG certification status this week.
2. Pick a 2027-ending eligibility window matching your Match timing.
3. Pay the $695 base fee plus 18% GST or $205 surcharge.
4. Book Prometric slots early as November windows fill fast.
5. Begin OET Medicine prep in parallel with Step 1 study.