Announcements

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Step 2 CS examinees will be required to type patient notes on a computer beginning mid-2011

Currently, examinees taking the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination can handwrite or type (on a computer) the patient note that is completed after each patient encounter. Beginning in mid-2011, all examinees taking the Step 2 (CS) examination will be required to type the patient note. Examinees will not be permitted to handwrite the note, unless technical difficulties on the test day make the patient note typing program unavailable.
Posted March 18, 2010 [–] Click HERE to close answers

Examinees should be prepared to type the patient note if they anticipate taking a Step 2 CS examination beginning mid-2011. A simulation of the computerized patient note program, which examinees may use to practice typing the patient note, is available on the USMLE website. Examples of typed patient notes will be added to the website; please check back for updates.

The effective date for this requirement has not yet been determined.  Examinees are advised to monitor the USMLE website for updates.



New Message added to Step 3 Break Screens if Break Time is Exceeded

Beginning with Step 3 examinations in March 2010, if an examinee uses all of the allotted break time in an examination day, enhanced warning text will appear on the screens that display between exam blocks.  The warning is displayed in two red boxes, each containing a “counter” to display how much break time has been exceeded.  However, if the warning message appears and the “counter” does not appear to be moving or shows “0”, examinees should rely on the Day Time Information and Exam Overview provided to manage their time.


USMLE® Eligibility Period Extension Fee Waiver Discontinued, Effective June 1, 2010

Beginning in April 2009, the sponsors of the USMLE program agreed, in response to concerns about the spread of pandemic novel H1N1 influenza, to waive their fees for eligibility period extensions.
Posted February 18, 2010 [–] Click HERE to close answers

This temporary fee waiver was intended to give examinees flexibility in scheduling examinations during the influenza outbreak. Since that time, the USMLE program has continued to monitor the situation for any significant changes in the course of the pandemic that might warrant further action in order to protect the health of our examinees, staff and the general public. Recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/) and the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) indicate that the overall incidence of novel H1N1 influenza has declined in almost every region in the world.  Flu activity is relatively low at this time. The USMLE program has reviewed this information and agreed to discontinue the temporary fee waiver for eligibility period extensions.

Therefore, applications for eligibility period extensions received after May 31, 2010 will require payment of the eligibility period extension fee. In addition, examinees will be subject to the eligibility period extension restrictions in place prior to April 2009 (i.e., examinees will be permitted only one, 3-month eligibility period extension, contiguous with the original eligibility period). The fee and restrictions apply to both already registered examinees as well as examinees who will register in the future.

If you have any questions, please contact the organization with whom you registered or will register:

ECFMG      (215) 386-5900      info@ecfmg.org
FSMB         (817) 868-4041      usmle@fsmb.org
NBME        (215) 590-9700      usmlereg@nbme.org

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or believe you may have been recently exposed to an influenza patient, you should reschedule your examination.



Delay in USMLE Step 3 Score Reporting

Most score reporting of Step 3 results occurs within four weeks of testing.  However, because of necessary modifications to the test item pool, there will be a delay in reporting for some examinees testing beginning in late February 2010.  The target date for reporting Step 3 scores for most examinees testing from late February through early April will be Wednesday, April 28, 2010.  It is possible that scores will be available earlier than this date; please check this website for updates


Change in Minimum Passing Requirements for Step 1

As stated in the USMLE Bulletin of Information and as explained in a previous posting to the USMLE website, the level of proficiency required to meet the recommended minimum passing level for each USMLE Step examination is reviewed periodically and may be adjusted at any time. Notice of such review and any adjustments are posted at the USMLE website.
Posted December 10, 2009 [–] Click HERE to close answers

At its December 2009 meeting, the Step 1 Committee conducted such a review for USMLE Step 1. During the meeting, the Step 1 Committee considered information from multiple sources, including: 1) results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted with three independent groups of physicians in 2009; 2) results of surveys of various groups (e.g., state licensing representatives, medical school faculty, samples of examinees) concerning the appropriateness of current pass/fail standards for Step examinations; 3) trends in examinee performance; and 4) score precision and its effect on the pass/fail decision.

As a result of its review, the Step 1 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 1 from 185 to 188. The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 1 examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after January 1, 2010. 
 



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