June 2010

• Change in Minimum Passing Requirements for Step 2 CK
  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 the review and any resulting adjustments are posted at the USMLE website.

At its June 2010 meeting, the Step 2 Committee conducted a review of minimum passing requirements for Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK). During the meeting, the Step 2 Committee considered information from multiple sources, including: 1) results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted in 2010 with two independent groups of physicians; 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 2 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 2 CK from 184 to 189. In addition, the Committee decided to closely monitor performance trends in the coming year and to re-examine minimum passing requirements in 2011. The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 2 CK examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after July 1, 2010.

May 2010

• Expanded Testing Capacity at Philadelphia CSEC Center Beginning in July 2010
  Beginning in July 2010, the Philadelphia Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) Center will have expanded capacity to deliver Step 2 CS examinations.  Additional testing sessions will be held in an adjacent building located at 3700 Market Street.   Examinees who schedule a testing appointment at the Philadelphia CSEC Center will be assigned to either the existing or new location.  The confirmation notice that examinees receive after scheduling will indicate to which address the examinee should report for his/her testing session.
  • Test Center:
    Philadelphia 3624

  Test Center Address:
  Science Center 3624 Market Street, 3rd Floor
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  USA

  OR

  • Test Center:
    Philadelphia 3700

  Test Center Address:
  3700 Market Street, 2nd Floor
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  USA

• Important Announcement Regarding Fifth Pathway Certificates and USMLE Step 3
  Currently, the USMLE program accepts either a valid Standard ECFMG Certificate or a valid Fifth Pathway certificate (issued through December 31, 2009) from international medical graduates for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements. The governing committee of the USMLE program and the USMLE parent organizations (the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners) have determined that the USMLE program will cease acceptance of Fifth Pathway certificates for the purpose of meeting Step 3 eligibility requirements, effective January 1, 2017. Individuals who hold valid Fifth Pathway certificates, and are otherwise eligible, may use their Fifth Pathway certificates to meet Step 3 eligibility requirements, and may apply for Step 3, through December 31, 2016.

Individuals holding Fifth Pathway certificates that are not accepted by the USMLE program for purposes of meeting Step 3 eligibility will be required to obtain ECFMG certification in order to be eligible for Step 3.

If you hold a valid Fifth Pathway certificate but have not completed the full USMLE sequence, you should remain mindful of the December 31, 2016 deadline, after which use of your Fifth Pathway certificate to meet Step 3 eligibility requirements will not be permitted.

Information on Step 3 eligibility requirements is found at the USMLE website www.usmle.org.

• The Step 2 Committee is scheduled to assess the minimum passing score for the USMLE Step 2 CK examination at its meeting on June 9, 2010
  The USMLE program recommends a minimum passing level for each Step. Medical licensing authorities may accept the recommended pass/fail result, or they may establish their own minimum passing requirements. The USMLE Step Committees are responsible for establishing and monitoring these standards. These committees are made up of physicians and scientists who bring educational, licensing, and practice perspectives to this process. Every three to four years the Step Committees are asked to complete an in-depth review of standards.

The Step 2 Committee is scheduled to assess the minimum passing score for the USMLE Step 2 CK examination at its meeting on June 9, 2010. In its review of the minimum passing score, the Step 2 Committee will consider information from multiple sources, including:

• Results of content-based standard setting exercises conducted with two independent groups of physicians in 2010;
• Results of surveys of various groups (eg, state licensing representatives, medical school faculty, samples of examinees) concerning the appropriateness of current pass/fail standards for Step examinations;
• Trends in examinee performance;
• Score precision and its effect on the pass/fail decision.

The decision of the Step 2 Committee will be posted at the USMLE website. If the Committee determines that a change is appropriate, the new recommended minimum passing score will become effective for all examinees who take a Step 2 CK examination on or after July 1, 2010.

April 2010

• USMLE Fees Adopted for the 2011 Test Cycle
  The United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) Budget Committee adopted the following fees for the 2011 test cycle at its April 16, 2009 meeting: Step 1, $530; Step 2CK, $530; Step 2CS $1,130 and Step 3, $740. (Note: Some variation in fees may occur based on the registering entity and the location where the USMLE is administered.) For more information, please contact FSMB's Examination Services department at (817) 868-4041 or by e-mail at usmle@fsmb.org.

February 2010

• 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. This temporary fee waiver was intended to give examinees flexibility in scheduling examinations during the influenza outbreak. Learn more.
• 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. Additional information can be found by clicking on this link: http://www.usmle.org/examinations/step3/Step_3_break_time_exceeded_announcement_final.pdf

January 2010

• 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.