In the United States and its territories, the individual medical licensing authorities ("state medical boards") of the various jurisdictions grant a license to practice medicine. Each medical licensing authority sets its own rules and regulations and requires passing an examination that demonstrates qualification for licensure. Results of the USMLE are reported to these authorities for use in granting the initial license to practice medicine. The USMLE provides them with a common evaluation system for applicants for initial medical licensure. The USMLE is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
FSMB is a national non-profit association with membership consisting of 70 medical
licensing authorities in 50 American states, the District of Columbia, Guam,
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the US Virgin
Islands. The FSMB and the NBME are the sponsors of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™).
ECFMG is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1956. The ECFMG promotes quality health care for the public by certifying international medical graduates for entry into US graduate medical education, and by participating in the evaluation and certification of other physicians and health care professionals. Through its program of certification, the ECFMG assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to enter residency or fellowship programs in the United States that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).