The clinical skills examination
is a separate component of
STEP 2
that uses
standardized patients to test
examinees' ability to gather
information from patients,
perform physical
examinations, and
communicate their findings
to patients and colleagues
Clinical Skills (CS)
12 patient cases: 15 minutes
for each patient encounter
plus 10 minutes to record
each patient note
Administered at six test
centers in the US – Atlanta,
Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, and Philadelphia (2)
One day test
session
For more information on
Step 2 CS, including
applications, practice
materials, and updates,
visit the
USMLE website
STEP 3
assesses the
examinee’s ability to apply
medical knowledge and
understanding of biomedical
and clinical science, essential
for the unsupervised practice
of medicine, with emphasis
on patient management in
ambulatory settings
Day 1: FOUNDATIONS OF
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
(FIP)
assesses the examinee’s
knowledge of basic medical
and scientific principles
essential for effective health
care
Day 2: ADVANCED CLINICAL
MEDICINE (ACM)
assesses
the examinee’s ability to
apply comprehensive
knowledge of health and
disease in the context of
patient management and the
evolving manifestation of
disease over time
Day 1 (FIP):
Approximately 235 multiple-
choice test
questions,
divided into six 60-minute
blocks, each containing
approximately 40 questions
Computer based –
administered at
Prometric
Test Centers
in the US
Day 2 (ACM):
Approximately 180 multiple-
choice test questions,
divided into six 45-minute
blocks, each containing
approximately 30 questions
Thirteen computer-based
case simulations (CCS). Each
simulation is allotted a
maximum of 10 or 20
minutes of real time
Computer based –
administered at
Prometric
Test Centers
in the US
One day test
session
One day test
session
For more information on
Step 3, including
applications, practice
materials, and updates,
visit the
USMLE website
www.usmle.org
10
2018 Bulletin of Information
OVERVIEW
-Approximately
eight hours
-Approximately
seven hours
-Approximately
nine hours
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE USMLE
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE USMLE?
Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS
To be eligible, you must be in one of the following categories at the time you apply AND on the day of your
examination:
• a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US or Canadian medical school program leading
to the MD degree that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), or
• a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a US medical school leading to the DO degree that
is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or
• a medical student officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school that is outside the US and
Canada, listed in the
World Directory of Medical Schools
as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, and
that meets other eligibility criteria of the ECFMG.
IMPORTANT
Individuals who passed Step 2 prior to the implementation of Step 2 CS are not permitted to take Step 2 CK, except
under the specific exceptions to the retake policy approved by the Composite Committee (see page 12). These
individuals are permitted to take Step 2 CS, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Individuals who were not required to pass Step 2 CS for Step 3 eligibility but who elect to take Step 2 CS and fail the
examination are not eligible for Step 3 until they have passed Step 2 CS (most recent administration) and meet all
other Step 3 requirements.
IMPORTANT
If you are dismissed or withdraw(n) from medical school, you are not eligible for the USMLE, even if you are appealing
the school’s decision or are otherwise contesting your status. If you are on a leave of absence, please check with your
registration entity before submitting your application; if you have already registered, check with them before testing.
Step 3
To be eligible for Step 3, before submitting your application, you must:
• obtain the MD degree (or its equivalent) or the DO degree from an LCME- or AOA-Accredited US or
Canadian medical school, or from a medical school outside the US and Canada that is listed in the
World
Directory of Medical Schools
as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements, AND
• pass Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS, AND
• additionally, for international medical graduates, obtain certification by the
ECFMG
.
IMPORTANT: The USMLE program recommends that, for Step 3 eligibility, applicants should have completed, or be
near completion of, at least one postgraduate training year in a US-accredited graduate medical education program
that meets state board licensing requirements.
www.usmle.org
11
2018 Bulletin of Information