NBME’s Fee Assistance program for USMLE opens applications

Three 2025 application cycles will support students with demonstrated financial need 

As a part of NBME’s ongoing effort to assist medical students on their path to licensure, we have opened the first application cycle for the 2025 Fee Assistance program. Medical students with demonstrated financial need are encouraged to apply for a $680 award to be used toward the registration cost of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®). Through this initiative, NBME aims to reduce financial strain for learners with economic barriers and support their development. 

To help administer this program, NBME is partnering with National Medical Fellowships (NMF), a national nonprofit that has nurtured generations of medical practitioners by providing scholarships and professional training to advance health care workforce development to address the growing physician shortage. 

NBME’s Fee Assistance program will provide aid to approximately 1,300 medical students to offset their fees for USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examinations in 2025. This program is open to students with demonstrated financial need who meet all the following criteria: 

• Are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) approval.
• Are eligible to take the USMLE and are currently enrolled in an LCME- or COCA-accredited medical school in either the United States of America or a designated medical school in the Caribbean.
• Have registered for the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exam between the dates of January 1 and December 31, 2025.
• Have taken the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK exam between the dates of January 1 and December 31, 2025, prior to applying for the award.
• Are able to provide a valid USMLE ID number.
• Have not been referred to a disciplinary committee and found to have engaged in Irregular Behavior or otherwise found to have violated any policy related to any USMLE or NBME exam.

Medical students will have the opportunity to apply for this program during these cycles:

• April 1 - May 11, 2025
• July 14 - Aug. 24, 2025
• Nov. 14, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026

NBME will continue to iterate on this program in future years as we evaluate its process and impact. 

Applications for this cycle of NBME’s Fee Assistance program are open until May 11. Students can learn more and apply on NMF’s Scholarships and Awards webpage.