Posted: June 23, 2026

The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE ®) program will reduce the number of Step exam administrations each year beginning in 2028. While together the three Step exams will only be administered over a total of 45 days each year, the USMLE program will expand the number of testing centers and reserve seats exclusively for USMLE examinees at those centers. 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.  

The USMLE program has produced a planned 2028 calendar to indicate the number of administrations across all three Step exams. The dates were selected through rigorous analysis of historical testing patterns in the U.S. and globally for each Step exam, along with consideration of medical education and licensure milestones.  

The transition to Designated Testing Dates will help the USMLE program better manage factors that could threaten score validity. Moving from an on-demand model to a limited number of testing days will allow the USMLE to better control secure test content, minimizing the possibility that exposed content can be reproduced, shared, and unfairly impact the test performance of examinees.  

For more than 30 years, the Step exams have assessed an examinee’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.  State medical boards use USMLE outcomes to inform licensure decisions, and physicians who have passed the USMLE have demonstrated they meet a rigorous and reliable standard.    

The USMLE program is committed to transparency and providing support throughout the transition to Designated Testing Dates. In July and August 2026, the program will host a series of community engagement sessions to answer questions and provide guidance on how to navigate this change. 

Please monitor the Designated Testing Dates Information Hub for updates and frequently asked questions.  The USMLE program will release more information on the transition to Designated Testing Dates quarterly.  

The United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) is a joint program of FSMB and NBME.