[Posted October 24, 2008]

The USMLE Bulletin of Information describes the eligibility criteria for taking USMLE Step examinations. With respect to the requirement that Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) must be taken and passed in order to be eligible for Step 3, the current examination requirements are as follows:

In order to be eligible to register for USMLE Step 3, the examination requirements for students and graduates of LCME-accredited medical school programs or AOA-accredited medical schools include passing Step 1 and Step 2. Such individuals must pass Step 2 CS as part of the examination requirements for Step 3 if they:

1. have medical school graduation dates in 2005 or later, or
2. graduated from medical school prior to 2005 but did not pass the CK component of Step 2 taken on or before June 30, 2005.

The USMLE Composite Committee has determined that after June 30, 2012, all graduates of LCME- and AOA-approved medical schools/programs will be required to take and pass Step 2 CS in order to be eligible for Step 3. This requirement will apply to individuals who graduated from medical school in 2004 or earlier and who passed Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) on or before June 30, 2005.

[Posted September 25, 2008]

As part of routine reporting, examinees who fail Step 2 CS receive graphical feedback intended to represent relative strengths and weaknesses on subcomponents of the examination. Subcomponents represented in this feedback have included:

• Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE)- Overall
  • ICE - Data Gathering
  • ICE - Patient Note
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) - Overall
• Spoken English Proficiency

Starting with Step 2 CS results reported on October 8, 2008, feedback on the CIS subcomponent will be expanded to include three additional categories:

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS) - Overall
  • Questioning Skills
  • Information-sharing Skills
  • Professional Manner and Rapport

A description of all of the Step 2 CS subcomponents can be found in the USMLE Bulletin of Information

[Posted July 15, 2008, Updated September 11, 2008]

A new version of the software used to deliver the computer-based USMLE Step examinations is scheduled to be introduced in mid-August 2008. Migration to the new version will occur first in the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination. The migration is expected to begin at a small number of test centers on August 14, and will then be phased in at remaining test centers throughout the remainder of August and into September. If you plan to take the Step 2 CK examination in mid-August 2008 or later, you should familiarize yourself with both the current test delivery software (FREDv1) and the new (FREDv2) version.

Orientation and practice materials using both the current and new versions of the software are available for downloading by clicking here.

The change to the test delivery software will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores will be comparable to those of exams using the older software. Because of this change, as well as routine modifications to the test item pool, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores for some examinees. The normal turnaround time for reporting scores to Step 2 CK examinees is 3 to 4 weeks. The target date for reporting Step 2 CK scores for most examinees testing from mid-August through late September will be Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

Note to Step 1 and Step 3 examinees: Migration of Step 1 and Step 3 to the new test delivery software (FREDv2) will occur in 2009. Please monitor the USMLE website announcements section to check for changes in test delivery software, and to access orientation and practice materials.

[Posted September 4, 2008]

The 2009 USMLE Orientation Materials are now available on the USMLE website.

These materials include practice materials using both the new NBME test delivery software (FREDv2) and the older test delivery software (FREDv1).

For Step 2, the 2009 materials are available only in the FREDv2 format.

Migration of Step 1 and Step 3 to the new test delivery software will occur in 2009. Step 1 and Step 3 examinees should monitor this announcements page to check for more information about the dates of changes to test delivery software.

[Posted August 20, 2008]

USMLE recently began the migration of the Step 2 CK examination to new test delivery software. This new test delivery software includes a calculator function; however, a problem has been identified with the calculator function and an updated calculator function will be installed as soon as possible. While we are working to fix the problem, examinees may find that the calculator function has been disabled during their exam. An announcement will be posted to the USMLE website when the updated calculator function is available. In the meantime, examinees are advised to not to use the calculator function.

Please note that the calculator function is included as a generic feature of the test delivery software and is not necessary for taking the Step 2 CK examination; there are no test items that require complex mathematical computations.

[Posted July 30, 2008]

We are aware that many examinees prefer using earplugs to block out the distraction of ambient noise while taking examinations. Although USMLE prohibits the possession of personal items in the testing room, primarily because of the challenge that particular items can present to the maintenance of security, USMLE has decided, effective immediately, to begin allowing examinees to bring and use soft-foam earplugs during the Step 1, 2 CK, and 3 under the following conditions:

• The soft foam earplugs must be out of the packaging and ready for inspection by test center staff during check in.
• Earplugs must be left at the workstation during all breaks.

Examinees who bring earplugs to these USMLE examinations must realize that if they violate the conditions stated above, then they will be denied use of the earplugs. Further, if based upon inspection, the test center staff have any concerns about the earplugs, then the test center staff may prevent the examinee from using the earplugs during testing.