Choosing the right USMLE Step 1 live prep course is the most important decision you will make on your journey towards passing. You will be spending countless hours studying, so it’s crucial to find the USMLE course that best fits your learning style and background. The difference between successfully passing or failing the USMLE Step 1 exam largely depends on how well your study materials prepare you for it. Using a review course that isn’t a good match for your learning style can cause you to score lower or even fail your exam, costing you months of study time and additional exam fees. CRUSH is here to make sure that doesn’t happen! Here’s the good news: we have personally researched and reviewed all the USMLE Step 1 prep courses below to make it easier for you! The comparison chart will help you decide which online course best fits your needs. Some of the links on this chart are affiliate links, meaning I get small commission (used to fund this website) when you purchase by clicking through. Don’t worry though, by using the USMLE promo codes and USMLE review course discounts you’ll get the best possible deal.

Best Live-Online USMLE Step 1 Courses

USMLE Step 1 Live Online Courses COMLEX Pass Program Review Best USMLE Prep Courses USMLE Live Prep Course
RANKINGS

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OVERALL RATING ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
COMPANY Pass Program USMLE Kaplan USMLE MedSmarter USMLE NYCS USMLE PREP
DIFFERENTIATOR One-on-One Personalized Tutoring Most Comprehensive Course Features Customizable Schedule and Study Materials Best Value For Live & Live-Online
PRICE  $4.390  $3,999 $2,799  $1,899
DISCOUNTS None None None
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION 8 Weeks of Live-Online Instruction 7 Weeks of Live-Online Instruction 7-8 Weeks of Live-Online Instruction 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks
COURSE FORMAT Class Options 8:30am-5pm EST (Monday-Friday) Class Options 11am-9pm EST  (7 Days a Week) Class Options During AM EST (Monday-Friday) Class Options 11am-9pm EST  (7 Days a Week)
PASS GUARANTEE
STUDENT SUPPORT Dedicated Instructor Email Support Instructor Email Support Pre-Assessment and Consultation Dedicated Instructor Email Support
ONLINE ACCESS PERIOD 4 or 8 Weeks 7 or 14 Weeks 7-8 Weeks N/A
READ MY FULL ANALYSIS Read Full Review Read Full Review Read Full Review Read Full Review
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1. PASS PROGRAM USMLE LIVE ONLINE COURSE

Pass Program Best USMLE Prep Course

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

Help When You Need It: There is a great team of instructors that are ready and willing to help with any question you have. Of course they will not tutor you, but if you’ve missed a key concept, you may reach out and get detailed answers in 10-20 minutes.
Access: The USMLE Pass Program by Edumind includes 1 year of access. This is something that other providers have cut back on so keep an eye out when you’re comparing with other courses. It is very important to ensure you have all the time you need and so you don’t have to buy another course after yours expires.
Entertaining Lectures: Francis is a teacher that knows how to motivate students. His classes will actually keep you engaged and even excited at times.
Not Too Long Or Too Short: Lessons pacing is ideal, not too little, not too long. This ensures you get just enough information but overwhelmed.

The Bottom Line: The USMLE prep course created by Pass Program has been tailored to meet the needs of students by being engaging and informative. Lessons aren’t too long or too short, and the instructors are helpful and entertaining.

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2. KAPLAN USMLE LIVE ONLINE COURSE

kaplan usmle step 1 USMLE review

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

Large Question Bank and Video Collection: Kaplan Medical’s USMLE Step 1 course give students access to a large number of exam-like questions in a Qbank and include an extensive video library with 2,000+ questions. Cut hours off of your review time by watching videos at 1.5x their regular speed. The high-quality videos are informative and entertaining, making the large body of material less daunting.
Diagnostic Exams, Quizzes, and Practice Exams: There are many opportunities for students to test themselves on the knowledge they must master before they sit for the exam. Diagnostic tests, shorter quizzes and full-length simulated exams give students practice and targeted feedback on their ability and performance.
Mobile Friendly: All lectures can be viewed from your iPhone an Android device, making it easy to get your study hours in, no matter where you are located. The Step 1 Qbank includes a free app for you to work on practice questions and check answers as well.
International Student Friendly: Kaplan Medical has first-rate options for International Students who are preparing to apply for a residency program in the USA. Live, Live Online and On Demand options are supplemented by immersive In Center learning opportunities and study centers with state-of-the-art facilities, computers, internet access, and helpful staff to answer questions.

The Bottom Line: In addition to their vast library of practice questions, video content, and simulated exams, Kaplan offers a more convenient USMLE test prep experience with their full mobile compatibility.

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3. Medsmarter USMLE Live Online Course

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

 Individual Assessments: You’re probably used to the idea of taking a pre-exam assessment with your prep course. However, MedSmarter goes one step further by scheduling a consultation with your instructor before you start the course. This way, you’ll have a clear idea of what you need to focus on over the next seven to eight week period.

A La Carte Pricing: If you’re not interested in paying for a full course, MedSmarter has some alternative options for you. Use their A La Carte page to choose from 17 different classes to only focus on the specific knowledge area you want to study— saving you both time and money!
Proven Results: There are many ways to prove the effectiveness of MedSmarter’s USMLE class. You can start by checking out their Testimonials page, which shows verified reviews from many satisfied students. Alternatively, you can see some more testimonials on their official YouTube channel from former students who have made tremendous progress in their nursing careers.
Limited In-Person: MedSmarter offers in-person classroom sessions for USMLE Level 1 prep, but they only have one location in Georgia. Unless you’re already located nearby or are willing to commute, this severely limits the availability for most nursing students in the country. Maybe they’ll be able to offer more in-person options like Kaplan in the future.

The Bottom Line: True to their namesake, MedSmarter is a smarter way to prepare for your nursing exams. They’ll guide you through a specialized schedule while giving you the freedom to choose whatever courses you want— with a guarantee that you’ll do great on exam day!

4. NYCS USMLE PREP LIVE-ONLINE

USMLE Live Prep Course

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

Live Instruction: While many online courses offer ridiculously expensive prep materials without any actual live instruction, this company goes the extra mile to ensure any students who want to can access a physical classroom. Although it may take some time and money to figure out transportation and lodging, this option is indispensable for some students who learn best in this way.
Tutoring: In addition to a robust online and in-person educational course, students who desire additional education can pursue extra tutor hours. These instructors can provide valuable one-on-one education for all steps of the exam, with those studying for the Step 2 CS portion having the option of practicing with a Standardized Patient for a relatively affordable cost.
International Education: Students who are outside of the United States can still take advantage of this preparation course and achieve their dreams of a rewarding career in medicine. Even if they can’t make it to the physical testing center in India, the Spoken English course can provide them with a valuable opportunity to brush up on their bedside manner.
Live Online: On one hand, the live online course conducted through Skype is a great way for students to foster a personal relationship between their instructors and fellow students. However, the lack of archived lectures or separate chat rooms for discussion make for a somewhat disorganized format. Additionally, the instructors can be difficult to understand at times due to their thick accent and poor sound quality.

See the best On-Demand USMLE Step 1 Prep Courses here.

USMLE Live In-Person Step 1 Prep Courses

1. MedSmarter Test Prep

Best USMLE Live Course

OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★

Located in Atlanta, GA 30096, USA

Enroll Anytime: While other courses make you wait, MedStarter doesn’t. Continuous enrollment means that you can start the MedSmarter USMLE program at anytime. This is a huge advantage bcause you’ll have no downtime.
Experienced Instructors: MedSmarter’s faculty has experienced professionals who have taught around the world including the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Middle East, and South Asia.  Their instructors hold MDs and/or PhDs, and have years of experience in preparing future physicians for the USMLE.
  • 6 to 7-week comprehensive review course to prepare for USMLE Step 1 Exam
  • Subject and System-Based Teaching approach
  • Small Class Sizes
  • 1 on 1 Study Plans
  • Test Taking Strategies
  • Exam Related Anxiety / Stress Management
  • Time Management
  • Study Lab Available for Self Study
  • Coffee and Tea Provided
  • End of Course Self Assessment

For a limited time get $500 off MedSmarter USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MEDSMARTER

The MedSmarter courses are for students who are interested in a more focused and individualized approach to studying for their USMLE prep.  The programs can be best described as a “hybrid” of tutoring and class room learning.

Classes are offered Monday thru Friday, usually from 9:30 AM t0 3:00 PM (depending on the subject/topic some classes may be longer or shorter).  A typical day consists of lectures, u-world questions, and group discussions.  Students are asked to subscribe to UWorld Qbank.

The Step 1 and Step 2 CK courses are continuous enrollment, meaning students can enroll at any time and start classes at beginning of the next subject/topic. The Step 1 Course is 6-7 weeks and Step2 CK course is 4-5 weeks.  The difference in weeks is due to accommodating for any holidays that may come up during a cycle.

For Step 2 CS, the scheduling is based on the students’ needs.  They ask students to enroll at least 2-3 weeks prior to wanting to attend the review program so that they may schedule the standardized patients and instructors accordingly.  They also advise students to leave at least a one week gap in completion of the course and the actual exam date; to ensure time to overcome any weaknesses identified.

  • 5 Day CS Course: Monday thru Friday, with a Mock Exam on Saturdays
  • 3 Day CS Course: Wednesday thru Friday, with a Mini-Mock on Saturdays

Med/Smarter USMLE Reviews:

“In my opinion MedSmarter is the way to go.  Kaplan and falcon do help with content knowledge and have a lot of books and resources but that’s it.  You don’t get the focused, INDIVIDUALIZED, review that is necessary for you to succeed. 

 

MedSmarter is a great prep program if you’re interested in a focused and more individualized approach to studying for your USMLE Step exams.  I am a detail oriented individual with a lot of knowledge however I did not know how to focus that knowledge on exams.  I often choose detailed answers when they are looking for commonly tested topics.  MedSmarter reviews all the details necessary to be successful on the exam, but They make sure to tell you what you need to know, and for me they were extremely helpful with test taking skills!!! I improved my score from original assessment to actual test over 25 points. I also finished blocks with 10-15 minutes left because I was confident in the answers. I picked and moved on. Even on the exam! It was crazy how well I improved and how easy the questions were after opening my eyes to how to take the test.   I am forever indebted to them for helping me be successful on my step 2ck as I have graduated Med school and well on my way to securing a residency position!! 

 

At the end of the day if you want content knowledge any program will work, but if you want someone to understand and point out your strengths and weaknesses and work with you to improve those strengths and eliminate weakness MedSmarter is the way to go!!”

GET SARTED WITH MEDSMARTER

 

Best Live-Online USMLE Step 1 Prep Courses

Best USMLE Step 1 Prep Courses Price
Pass Program USMLE 4,390
Kaplan USMLE 4,000
Med Smarter LIVE USMLE 2,299