How to Submit a Request for Test Accommodations for USMLE

If you have a documented disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) you must notify the USMLE in writing each time you apply for a Step examination for which you require test accommodations.

What to Submit

  • Legible copies of all documents, not originals
  • Typewritten and signed letters and reports from professionals on their letterhead
  • Complete reports with all pages, signed and dated
  • All documents in English. You are responsible for providing certified English translations of non-English documentation
  • Childhood records if your request is based on a developmental disorder such as LD, dyslexia, ADHD
  • Documentation beyond self-report of your functional impairment
  • Documentation of your functional impairment in activities other than test-taking

What NOT to Submit

  • Original documents
  • Handwritten or unsigned letters from physicians or evaluators
  • Copies of reports with redactions or missing pages
  • Multiple copies of documentation (i.e., faxed and mailed copies of a document)
  • Duplicate documentation previously submitted to Disability Services
  • Previous correspondence from Disability Services
  • Research articles, your résumé or curriculum vitas
  • Staples, binders, page protectors, folders, or similar items

Contact Information

Test accommodation requests and inquiries should be directed to:

Disability Services
National Board of Medical Examiners
3750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3102
Telephone: (215) 590-9700
Facsimile: (215) 590-9422
e-mail: disabilityservices@nbme.org


SUBMIT REQUESTS AND DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL OR FAX ONLY