USMLE Examination Requirements and Policies

To advance from year 2 to year 3, in addition to successful completion of all courses, the student must take and pass USMLE Step 1.  The Step 1 examination must be taken no later than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the 3rd year.  If the student fails to achieve a passing score for the Step 1 examination, the student will be removed from clerkship education and will retake the examination.   The student may be permitted to complete the clerkship that the student has started at the discretion of the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and the Vice Dean for Medical Education.  After re-taking the Step 1 Examination, a student may conditionally re-enroll in clerkship education pending receipt of the score if the student’s initial score on the examination was not more than 4 points lower than the passing score.  Otherwise, a pass score must be recorded to advance to year 3 and enroll in clerkship education.

A passing score on the USMLE Step 2 CK and CS examinations is required for graduation.

The CK and CS examinations must be taken prior to the beginning of November of the senior year.  Failure to register passing scores on both exams prior to certification for the NRMP match may require NYMC to remove the names of such candidates. Exceptions to this policy will be made by the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs.  (The policy requiring a pass score on the CS exam as a condition of graduation becomes effective for the spring 2012 graduation.)

USMLE Step 1 should not be attempted prior to completion of the second year curriculum. 

USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS should not be attempted prior to completion of the third year curriculum.

NYMC will certify students to sit for each USMLE examination no more than 3 times.  Three failures on USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CS, or Step 2 CK will result in dismissal from the College.

In addition to the USMLE Exams, a passing score on the Comprehensive Clinical Exam is required for graduation.