Application Materials
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for Step 1, Step 2 CK and CS, or Step 3. Applications are available from the appropriate registration entity. You must use current application materials to apply.
Note: Click here for information on how to contact your registration entity to apply for a Step or Step Component. |
Applying for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS
Students and graduates of LCME-accredited programs and AOA-accredited medical schools should apply for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS by following the instructions at the NBME website. Review and follow the application instructions, complete your application, and submit it to the NBME.
Students and graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada should apply for Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS by following the instructions at the ECFMG website. Review and follow the application instructions, complete your application, and submit it to the ECFMG.
Applying for Step 3
To request information on Step 3 eligibility requirements and application procedures, follow the instructions at the FSMB website, or contact the FSMB or the medical licensing authority to which you wish to apply.
Note: Click here for information on how to contact medical licensing authorities. |
Application procedures for Step 3 vary among jurisdictions. You should begin inquiries at least three months in advance of the dates on which you expect to take the test.
After you obtain application materials, review and follow the application instructions to complete your application and submit it to the medical licensing authority or the FSMB as directed in the instructions.
The USMLE program provides reasonable accommodations for examinees with disabilities who are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you are a disabled individual covered under the ADA and require test accommodations, the following guidelines apply to you:
- You must obtain information regarding procedures and documentation requirements in advance of applying for each Step or Step Component. This information is available from the USMLE website, from your registration entity if you are applying for Step 1, Step 2 CK or Step 2 CS, or from the FSMB website if you are applying for Step 3.
- Your application and your request for accommodations and accompanying documentation must be submitted at the same time to the appropriate mailing addresses. If you are applying for Step 2 CS, review the informational materials available on the USMLE website before requesting test accommodations.
- When USMLE examinations are taken with test accommodations, score reports and transcripts may include an annotation that an accommodation was provided.
Obtaining an Eligibility Period for Step 1 and Step 2 CK
When applying for Step 1 or Step 2 CK, you must select a three-month period, such as January-February-March or February-March-April, during which you prefer to take the examination. A Scheduling Permit with instructions for making an appointment at a Prometric Test Center will be sent to you after your registration entity processes your application and determines your eligibility. The Scheduling Permit specifies the three-month eligibility period during which you must complete the examination. During peak periods, allow up to approximately four weeks for processing of your application. On receipt of your Scheduling Permit, you are able to contact Prometric immediately to schedule a test date.
Prometric schedules testing appointments for Steps 1 and 2 CK up to six months in advance of the assigned eligibility period. If your application is submitted more than six months in advance of your requested eligibility period, it will be processed, but your Scheduling Permit will be sent no more than six months before your assigned eligibility period begins.
If you are unable to take the test within your eligibility period, contact your registration entity to inquire about a one-time contiguous three-month eligibility period extension. A fee is charged for this service. Visit your registration entity’s website for more information. If you do not take the test within your original or extended eligibility period and wish to take it in the future, you must reapply by submitting a new application and fee(s).
http://www.prometric.com Use the Prometric website for up-to-date information on the locations of Prometric Test Centers and to schedule an appointment. |
Obtaining an Eligibility Period for Step 2 CS
Step 2 CS is offered regularly throughout the year; however, there may be occasional, brief periods when all centers are closed. In planning the timing of your application, see below for information on how Step 2 CS eligibility periods are assigned. You should be aware that demand for test dates/centers at certain times during the year may exceed the number of testing spaces available.
When you apply for Step 2 CS you are assigned a 12-month eligibility period that begins when processing of your application is completed. A Scheduling Permit with instructions for making a testing appointment is sent to you.
Your eligibility period will be listed on your Scheduling Permit. You must take the exam during your eligibility period. You can schedule a testing appointment for any available date in your eligibility period. Once your eligibility period is assigned, it cannot be changed. If you do not take the exam within your eligibility period, you must reapply to take the exam, including payment of the examination fee. Although you cannot change your assigned eligibility period, you can reschedule a scheduled testing appointment within your eligibility period (see Rescheduling). A fee is charged if a change is made during the 14 days before your scheduled appointment.
Obtaining an Eligibility Period for Step 3
Step 3 eligibility periods are assigned immediately once your application has been processed and approved. Time for processing will vary depending on the particular medical licensing authority and the volume of applications. Check the FSMB website for more detailed information on processing times. Upon complete processing of your Step 3 application and confirmation of eligibility, a Scheduling Permit will be sent to you with instructions for making an appointment at a Prometric Test Center. On receipt of your Scheduling Permit, you should contact Prometric immediately to schedule the test dates. The Scheduling Permit specifies the eligibility period (beginning immediately and extending for approximately 90 calendar days) during which you must complete the examination. If you are unable to take the test within your eligibility period, contact the FSMB to inquire about a one-time contiguous three-month eligibility period extension. A fee is charged for this service, and some restrictions may apply. Visit the FSMB website for more detailed information. If you do not take the test within your original or extended eligibility period and wish to take it in the future, you must reapply by submitting a new application and fee(s). The USMLE Step 3 fee is non-refundable and non-transferable from one eligibility period to another or from one application to another.
Scheduling Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3
Testing Regions
Step 1 and Step 2 CK are administered in the United States and Canada and in more than 50 other countries. International testing locations are distributed among defined international testing regions. There is an additional international test delivery surcharge.
Your Scheduling Permit
Your Scheduling Permit will be sent to you when the processing of your application is complete. You should verify the information on your Scheduling Permit before scheduling your appointment. Your Scheduling Permit includes the following:
- your name and mailing address,
- the examination for which you registered,
- your eligibility period,
- your testing region,
- your Scheduling Number,
- your Candidate Identification Number (CIN).
Note: You will not be able to take the test if you do not bring your Scheduling Permit to the test center. Please keep it in a secure location. If you lose your permit, contact your registration entity immediately. A fee may be charged to issue a replacement, and you may be required to reschedule your appointment. |
Note: Your Scheduling Number is needed when you contact Prometric to schedule test dates. It differs from your Candidate Identification Number (CIN), which is your private key, and is needed to test. Prometric does not have access to your CIN. |
Scheduling Test Dates
When applying for the USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3 or scheduling test dates, please keep the following in mind:
- You must have your Scheduling Permit before you contact Prometric to schedule a testing appointment. Appointments are assigned on a "first-come, first-served" basis; therefore, you should contact Prometric to schedule as soon as possible after you have received your Scheduling Permit.
- You may take the test on any day that it is offered during your assigned eligibility period, provided that there is space at the Prometric Test Center you choose.
- Prometric Test Centers are closed on major local holidays.
- USMLE Steps 1, 2 CK, and 3 are not available during the first two weeks of January.
- The busiest testing times in the Prometric testing network in the United States and Canada are May through July and November through December.
- Some, but not all, Prometric Test Centers are open on weekend days. When you schedule your Step 3 test dates, the two days on which you take the test must be consecutive days unless the center is closed on the day that follows your first day of testing. In that event, Prometric will assign you to the next day the center is open for your second day of testing. In all other cases, you must take Step 3 on two consecutive days at the same test center.
Your Scheduling Permit includes specific information for contacting Prometric to schedule your test date(s) at the test center of your choice.
http://www.prometric.com Use the Prometric website for up-to-date information on the locations of Prometric Test Centers and to schedule your test. |
You will be required to provide information found only on your Scheduling Permit. When you schedule your appointment, you will receive the following specific information:
- the confirmed test day(s), date(s), and time;
- the address and telephone number of the Prometric Test Center where you will test; and
- your Prometric Confirmation Number.
After you schedule your testing appointment, you can print a confirmation of your appointment from the Prometric website. Scheduling a testing appointment for a specific date at a Prometric Test Center is not a guarantee that the scheduled test time or location will remain available. The Prometric Test Center at which you are scheduled may become unavailable after you have scheduled your appointment. In that event, Prometric will attempt to notify you in advance of your scheduled testing appointment and to schedule you for a different time and/or center. However, on rare occasions, rescheduling your appointment for a different time or center may occur at the last minute. To avoid losses you would incur as a result, you should try to maintain flexibility in your travel arrangements. You are encouraged to confirm your testing appointment a week prior to your test date.
If you are unable to keep your testing appointment on the scheduled date(s) or at the scheduled location, you may change your date(s) or center by following the instructions on your Scheduling Permit for contacting Prometric. You will need to provide your Prometric Confirmation Number when you reschedule.
To avoid a rescheduling fee, you must cancel or reschedule your appointment at least five business days before your appointment. If you are testing in the United States or Canada, you must cancel or reschedule by noon Eastern Time at least five business days before your appointment. If you are testing outside the United States or Canada, you must cancel or reschedule by noon local time of the Regional Registration Center for your testing region at least five business days before your appointment. If you provide less than five business days' notice, Prometric will charge you a fee to reschedule your test date(s). Your rescheduled test date(s) must fall within your assigned eligibility period.
Scheduling Step 2 CS
Step 2 CS is administered at five clinical skills evaluation centers: Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Your Scheduling Permit
After your registration for Step 2 CS is complete, your registration entity will issue you a Scheduling Permit. The Scheduling Permit contains the following:
- your name and mailing address,
- your USMLE identification number,
- your eligibility period,
- instructions for scheduling your testing appointment,
- a description of the identification required for admission to the testing center, and
- other important information.
Scheduling Test Dates
Follow the instructions on your Scheduling Permit to schedule your test date(s) at the test center of your choice. To browse available test dates in your eligibility period at each of the five test centers, you can use on-line Step 2 CS Scheduling. Before accessing Step 2 CS Scheduling, you should review the important information in How Test Dates Become Available.
http://www.usmle.org Use the USMLE website and click on the Step 2 CS Information Page for the up-to-date calendar. |
After you confirm your testing appointment, you will be able to print a confirmation notice from the scheduling system. The confirmation notice includes your scheduled test date, arrival time, test center, and other important information. If you lose the confirmation notice, you can reprint it by accessing Step 2 CS Scheduling on the website of your registration entity.
How Test Dates Become Available
- Test dates are opened so that dates will be available throughout your 12-month eligibility period.
- Additional test dates are opened, depending on demand. These dates are opened in ways that maximize operational efficiency at all centers and may not reflect examinee demand for particular test dates and/or centers.
- Testing appointments are available on a “first- come, first-served” basis (although some scheduling restrictions may be imposed). It is possible that you will not be able to obtain a testing appointment for the first time period and/or center you prefer.
- The availability of testing appointments will change frequently as a result of examinee scheduling, rescheduling, and opening of additional test dates.
- It is possible that testing appointments will become available for a time period and/or center that you prefer after you have scheduled an appointment for a different time period and/or center. In this event, you can change your scheduled test date and/or center. See rescheduling fees.
- Although you can monitor available test dates for your preferred time period and test center, availability is not guaranteed. You must take the exam during your eligibility period; if the exam is not taken during the eligibility period, you must reapply and pay the full exam fee in order to take the examination.
Rescheduling Test Dates
If you have a scheduled testing appointment and are unable to take the exam on your scheduled test date or at your scheduled test center, you can cancel your scheduled testing appointment and reschedule for a different date and/or center, subject to availability. A fee may be charged for this service depending on how much notice you provide when canceling your appointment. To cancel or reschedule, follow the instructions on your Scheduling Permit for accessing Step 2 CS Scheduling.
Before canceling and/or rescheduling a scheduled testing appointment, you will have the opportunity to review available test dates at all testing locations. Your rescheduled test date must fall within your assigned eligibility period. There is no limit on the number of times you can cancel and reschedule your testing appointment. However, a rescheduling fee is charged for each rescheduled testing appointment that does not meet the notice requirements. Any change to a scheduled testing appointment constitutes rescheduling.
You can cancel and reschedule at the same time, or you can cancel and reschedule later. You can cancel and/or reschedule at any time through the end of the day before your scheduled test date. However, no canceling or rescheduling is allowed beginning at 12:00 AM, Eastern Time in the United States, on the scheduled test date until it is confirmed that you did not take the exam (typically one to two days). If you do not cancel and you miss your scheduled testing appointment, you can reschedule after this confirmation period.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you cancel without rescheduling or miss your scheduled testing appointment, there is no guarantee that testing appointments during your eligibility period will be available at a given test center, or at any test center, when you attempt to reschedule. If you do not reschedule within your eligibility period, you must reapply, including payment of the exam fee, to take the exam. |
There is no fee to cancel a scheduled testing appointment; the fee, if applicable, is due at the time of rescheduling. However, the date that you cancel your appointment, using Eastern Time in the United States, will determine whether you pay a rescheduling fee and the amount of this fee.
- If you cancel more than fourteen calendar days before (but not including) your scheduled test date, there is no fee to reschedule.
- If you cancel during the fourteen-day period before (but not including) your scheduled test date, your fee will be $150 when you reschedule.
- If you miss your scheduled testing appointment without canceling, your fee will be $400 when you reschedule.
If you are unable to keep your scheduled testing appointment, you should cancel your appointment as soon as possible to avoid a rescheduling fee, regardless of whether you are ready to reschedule.
Summary of Process In summary, to take Steps 1, 2 CK, 2 CS, and 3, you must meet the eligibility requirements and do the following:
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http://www.usmle.org/bulletin/2006/applying.htm
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