The co-sponsors of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®), the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and NBME, have announced that the USMLE program will reduce the number of Step exam administrations each year beginning in 2028. This exam administration model, which the USMLE program calls Designated Testing Dates, is designed to further strengthen exam security, uphold the integrity of the assessments and support fairness. With this change, all Prometric testing centers available for USMLE testing will be exclusively reserved for the Step exams on Designated Testing Dates.
Why is this change necessary? Designated Testing Dates provide additional safeguards that reduce security risks and promote fairness for examinees by limiting opportunities for unfair advantage. The transition to Designated Testing Dates will strengthen exam integrity, support standardization, and protect the value of exam results used for medical licensure in the United States.
In this section, you will find:
USMLE Designated Testing Dates Announcements
USMLE Designated Testing Dates Community Engagement Sessions
Frequently Asked Questions about the Transition to Designated Testing Dates