United States Medical Licensing Examination

End of year update: USMLE research; potential structural changes
Posted: December 23, 2011
The USMLE continues to evolve in the manner described previously.  Step 2 CS changes anticipated for 2012 have been described.  Additionally, new literature interpretation items have already been incorporated in Step 2 and will soon appear in Step 3.  Other activities anticipated to occur in 2012 will continue in future years and have the potential to affect USMLE in significant and exciting ways.
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Changes to the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination
Posted: December 15, 2011
One of the recommendations emerging from the Comprehensive Review of USMLE (CRU) process is that USMLE consider ways to further enhance the testing methods used in the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examination. As previously announced in the 2012 Bulletin of Information, these enhancements are scheduled for implementation in mid-2012. These changes will be introduced in Step 2 CS for examinations delivered beginning June 17, 2012.
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Delay in score reporting for Step 3
Posted: November 30, 2011
Starting in mid-February 2012, a transition period will begin in which the number of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Computer-based Case Simulation (CCS) cases in current forms of the Step 3 examination will change.
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Changes to Step 3 examination beginning in mid-February 2012 / Updated Step 3 practice materials available
Posted: November 30, 2011
Changes to both the Multiple-Choice Question (MCQ) and the Computer-based Case Simulation (CCS) sections of the Step 3 examination will occur beginning in mid-February 2012.
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Update on copyright infringement suit against Optima University
Posted: November 16, 2011
As previously announced the sponsors of the USMLE program (the Federation of State Medical Boards [FSMB] and the National Board of Medical Examiners [NBME]) filed suit in the US District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleging copyright infringement by Optima University, a provider of USMLE review courses. On February 24, 2009 a US Marshal executed a court order to obtain the Optima prep materials from Optima's offices in McKenzie, Tennessee. In their filin...
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Change in minimum passing requirements for Step 3
Posted: October 20, 2011
 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 such review and any adjustments are posted at the USMLE website.

Relationship between 2-digit and 3-digit score scales for Step 3 scores now available
Posted: October 18, 2011
A table allowing users to look up the 3-digit score that corresponds approximately to a specific 2-digit score on recently administered Step 1 (since January 2010) and Step 2 CK (since July 1, 2010) examinations was posted in September 2011.

A table that allows users to look up the 3-digit score(s) that corresponds approximately to a specific 2-digit score on recently administered Step 3 (since May 1, 2008) examinations is now available. This table does not apply for results reported October 1, 2011 and later. Learn more »

Additional changes to USMLE procedures for reporting scores
Posted: October 03, 2011
As was reported previously, the USMLE program has begun the process of eliminating the reporting of results on the 2-digit score scale to parties other than the examinee and any state licensing authority to which the examinee sends results.

Because USMLE will continue to report the 2-digit score to examinees and to state licensing authorities, the program will be making changes in scoring procedures to minimize the impact of future shifts in the rela...
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Important information about Step 2 CS testing and score reporting in 2012
Posted: October 03, 2011
As noted in the 2012 USMLE Bulletin of Information, changes to the assessment of communication skills and patient note are planned in mid-2012. In order to introduce these changes to the examination, there will be no Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) examinations from May 20 through June 16, 2012.
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Relationship between USMLE’s 2-digit and 3-digit score scales
Posted: September 07, 2011
It was recently announced that starting July 1, 2011, USMLE would begin the process of eliminating the reporting of results on the 2-digit score scale to all score users except the examinee and the state licensing authority to whom results are reported at the examinee’s request. 

Other users of USMLE results who have focused on the 2-digit score scale in the past will need to transition to using the 3-digit score.  A...
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New attempt limit for USMLE examinations
Posted: August 25, 2011
The USMLE Program is introducing a limit on the total number of times an examinee can take the same Step or Step Component. When this limit takes effect, an examinee will be ineligible to take a Step or Step Component if the examinee has made six or more prior attempts to pass that Step or Step Component, including incomplete attempts.
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New rules on repeating USMLE examinations: time between examination attempts
Posted: August 11, 2011
The USMLE Program sets rules on how quickly examinees can repeat the same Step or Step Component. These rules will change for exam applications submitted on or after January 1, 2012.
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