To learn more about the services, programs, and resources available to help you prepare for these exams, visit our Student Development Office.
USMLE Step 1
Students are required to take the USMLE Step 1 prior to the first day of the Transition to Clerkship Block in your Clerkship Year. See Section 3B: Timing of USMLE Examinations in the policy for more information.
USMLE Step 2 (CK & CS)
You must take and pass Step 2 CK and take Step 2 CS in order to graduate. See Section 3 F: Timing of Step 2 Exams in the policy for more information.
USMLE Step 2 CK
Students are strongly encouraged to take Step 2 CK early and in time for the NBME to release your score to ERAS on September 15, when residency programs begin downloading applications. At the very latest, make sure your score is available by October 1, when the MSPE is released. This is when Residency programs may begin to review applications. An increasing number of residency programs are using Step 2 CK in addition to Step 1 when deciding whom to invite for interviews. Step scores are usually available 3-4 weeks after taking the exam.
USMLE Step 2 CS
Students are strongly encouraged to take Step 2 CS before November 5. An increasing number of residency programs want assurance that students have passed Step 2 CS before rank lists are made in February. For more information, see Planning for Step 2 CS on the NBME website. Additionally, consider signing up for email notifications from the NBME to learn when preferred testing dates/sites become available. Typically, all students who take their exam by December 31st receive their score prior to the Match List deadline.
To learn the dates when your score will be reported, consult the NBME Score Reporting Schedule – Step 2 CS.
You may register up to 6 months in advance of the exam date. Early sign-up is recommended to get the date/location you prefer. Sites fill-up fast. The exam is only administered in the following five (5) states:
- Los Angeles, California
- Houston, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Exam Resources
- NBME Licensing Services (Schedule, Scores)
- USMLE.org
- USMLE World (Test Bank)
- Kaplan USMLE (Test Bank)
USMLE Step 2 CS Practice Materials
- Step 2 CS Content Description and General Information [PDF]: Includes samples of good and bad notes.
- Orientation video (NOT AVAILABLE): You will be shown this before the exam, but it is worth looking at ahead of time.
- Patient Note Interactive simulation: Practice writing notes ahead of time (pretty cool!).\
- Sample Patient Notes