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USMLE Step 2

The USMLE Step 2 is administered by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to assess whether a medical student or a graduate of a foreign medical school can apply their knowledge of clinical sciences for the provision of patient care (under supervision). Among the clinical tasks included in the USMLE Step 2 tests are preventative medicine, disease mechanisms, differential diagnosis and basic principles of patient management. At Step 2, it is important to measure the student's ability to use basic patient-centered skills as a foundation for his or her safe and competent practice of medicine.

The content of the Step 2 USMLE is divided into two distinct sections:

  1. USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) is a one day, 9 hour, computer-based exam composed of eight question sets designed to test a student's knowledge of the clinical sciences needed for the competent practice of medicine. The USMLE 2 CK can be taken throughout the year at any Prometric center worldwide. The number of questions that the student answers correctly is used to calculate the score for both three-digit and two-digit scales.
  2. USMLE Step 2 CS (Clinical Skills) is a one day, simulated patient-based exam designed to test a student's ability to communicate with patients in a clinical setting. Step 2 CS uses actors to create a doctor's typical day at a clinic, office or hospital. The USMLE 2 CS exam must be taken in the United States at one of five Clinical Skills Evaluation Centers (Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia or Houston). The USMLE Step 2 CS is comparable to the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE exam administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). For more information on the Step 2 clinical skills USMLE exam, click the preceeding title.

The collective Step 2 (CS and CK) measures the student's understanding of the basic principles of clinical sciences needed for health promotion and disease prevention as well as their ability to apply that knowledge to real-life clinical situations.

Scoring well on the USMLE Step 2 is considered to be slightly easier than USMLE Step 1, but it is probably the more important of the two tests for acceptance to a competitive residency. At PASS Program South, we offer a 4-week, 6-week or 8-week test preparation review course designed to empower doctors with the knowledge that will change their medical future and the patients they touch throughout their career. For additional information about preparing for the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, USMLE Step 2 CS, USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX-USA, contact PASS Program South at (904) 209-3140. Master it. Don't memorize it.