United States · Licensing examWhat is the USMLE pass rate for first-time takers?
Step 2 CK figures cover the academic year from July 2024 to June 2025. The Step 3 DO figure is based on 129 people, so it moves a lot from year to year. Students from Canadian schools are counted with schools outside the U.S. from 2025 on; before that they were grouped with U.S. schools.
| First-time takers | Step 1 (2025) | Step 2 CK (2024-25) | Step 3 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. MD schools | 93% | 98% | 96% |
| U.S. DO schools | 89% | 96% | 97% |
| Schools outside the U.S. | 75% | 90% | 88% |
Pass rates for repeat takers
If you’re retaking a Step, these are the rates to plan around, not the first-time ones. Retake rules and attempt limits are on their own page.
| Repeat takers | Step 1 (2025) | Step 2 CK (2024-25) | Step 3 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. MD schools | 71% | 70% | 77% |
| U.S. DO schools | 79% | 69% | Not reported (fewer than 5) |
| Schools outside the U.S. | 54% | 64% | 63% |
How hard is the USMLE?
USMLE doesn’t rate its own difficulty, so pass rates are the closest measure, and on those Step 1 has the lowest of the three. In 2025, 91% of all U.S. MD takers passed Step 1, against 96% on Step 3 (98% on Step 2 CK in 2024-25). For all takers from schools outside the U.S., it was 72%, 87% and 85%.
USMLE says you typically need to answer about 60% of questions correctly to pass. The pass mark is a fixed standard, so the rates can rise or fall in any year without the exam getting easier or harder.
Pass rates in 2024
For comparison, in 2024 the first-time pass rate for U.S. MD students was 91% on Step 1 and 97% on Step 3, and for the 2023-24 year 98% on Step 2 CK. First-time takers from schools outside the U.S. passed at 73%, 89% and 89%.
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Sources: USMLE and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.