Scholarships
NBME Educational Assistance Award for USMLE Fee Assistance
Established in 2024 by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), this assistance award will provide $680 awards to 1340 medical students who have registered and taken the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exam in 2025 to offset the cost of exam registration fees. Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need, provide a valid USMLE ID number, and have not been referred to a committee and found to have engaged in Irregular Behavior or otherwise reviewed for policy violations in relation to any USMLE or NBME exam. Applicants must also be eligible to take the USMLE and currently enrolled in an LCME (MD) or COCA (DO) accredited medical school in either the United States, or one of the following schools in the Caribbean:
- AUA (Antigua)
- Ross University, School of Medicine (Barbados)
- Matthews’ (British West Indies)
- Universidad de Iberoamérica (Costa Rica)
- Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo (DR)
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (DR)
- Universidad Católica Nordestana (DR)
- Universidad Central del Este (DR)
- Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) (DR)
- George’s University, School of Medicine (Grenada)
- University of the West Indies, The Mona Campus (Jamaica)
- Medical University of the Americas (St. Kitts-Nevis)
- American University of the Caribbean (St. Maarten)
The SPRING Application OPENS April 1, 2025 – Closes May 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
The SUMMER Application OPENS July 14, 2025 – CLOSES August 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
The FALL Application OPENS November 24, 2025 – CLOSES January 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
CLICK HERE TO START YOUR APPLICATION!
Student FAQs
Do I need to be registered/have purchased a permit and taken the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exam before applying to this opportunity?
Yes. Applicants need to be registered at the time of applying to provide their USMLE ID and have taken the exam by or before the application closes.
When should I submit an application?
- SPRING APPLICATION: If you take the exam in 2025 by or before May 11, 2025
- SUMMER APPLICATION: If you take the exam in 2025 by or before August 24, 2025
- FALL APPLICATION: If you take the exam anytime in 2025
*You do not have to take the test within the application window, just before the application closes*
If you took the test in April 2025 and missed the Spring application you are still eligible to apply for the Summer or Fall opportunity.
Will the Fee Assistance program be open to students applying for their 2nd or 3rd attempt?
Yes, the Fee Assistance program is open to anyone who is taking the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK in 2025. Review cycle dates above to ensure you submit your application in the appropriate cycle.
Why isn’t the NBME Educational Assistance Award for USMLE Fee Assistance showing up in my SMA portal?
Be sure your eligibility is up to date for the current academic year. You will be unable to see new opportunities until this is complete. Furthermore, if you are enrolled in a dual degree program, please select the dual degree option.
What criteria will NBME use to determine fee assistance eligibility?
NMF utilizes two reports for verification of financial aid and medical debt. All applications are scored using their rubric, and recipients are selected based on their verified debt amount:
- Financial Aid information from Institution
- Documentation of Loan History (current and undergraduate) from the National Student Loan Data System
Will schools be able to query to see which of their students received this funding?
No, NMF will not be informing schools if students receive this USMLE fee assistance and funds are routed directly to the student.
If I took the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK in 2024 or earlier, am I eligible to receive the fee assistance?
No the exam must be taken in 2025 to be eligible for these funds.
Is this a waiver for the cost of registering for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exams?
No, this is not a waiver it is a reimbursement. Applicants should already have taken the test by the time awardees are selected. Funds are routed directly to the student via direct deposit.
What will students need to apply?
Students will need to submit the following:
- Confirmation of test completion and USMLE ID
- Verification of Citizenship or Permanent Residence
- Official Enrollment Verification
- Financial Aid Information
- Loan History from studentaid.gov
Will applications be reviewed on a rolling basis?
No, the application review will begin once each cycle closes.
Is there any fee assistance offered for the COMLEX exams?
Unfortunately, not at this time. This fee assistance is only for students who have taken the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exams.
If you have any other questions regarding the NBME Educational Assistance Award for USMLE Fee Assistance, please reach out to USMLE@nmfonline.org