USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge

The exam is administered in a 9-hour single-day computer-based session.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/skmc/student-resources/alpha-omega-alpha/guides/usmle-step-2.html|title=USMLE Step 2|access-date = 31 May 2021 |publisher =Thomas Jefferson University }} The session is divided into eight one-hour blocks of questions, a 15 minute tutorial and a 45 minute break.{{Cite web|url=https://med.nyu.edu/education/md-degree/md-curriculum/stage-four-career-preparation|title = Stage Four: Career Preparation | access-date = 31 May 2021 |publisher = New York University}} The 15-minute tutorial at the beginning of the exam is optional. The 45 minutes allowed for breaks can only be taken between sections at the discretion of the test taker. Both the unused tutorial time and time saved from finishing a test block early is added to the break time.{{cite web|access-date =31 May 2021 |website = USMLE.org |url =https://www.usmle.org/pdfs/step-2-ck/Step2CK_Content_early_2020.pdf|title =Content Description and General Information}} The test is administered at the Prometric testing sites.{{Cite web|url=https://uthsc.edu/medicine/medical-education/usmle.php|title=USMLE Information|access-date = 31 May 2021 |publisher = University of Tennessee Health Science Center}}

Prior to 2020, the Step 2 exam consisted of both the CK ("Clinical Knowledge") portion, as well as a CS ("Clinical Skills") exam. However, the CS exam was put on hold in May 2020, and permanently discontinued in January 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-04 |title=USMLE Step 2 CS canceled: What it means for medical students |url=https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/usmle-step-1-2/usmle-step-2-cs-canceled-what-it-means-medical-students |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=American Medical Association |language=en}}

Step 2 CK includes test items in the following content areas: internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, preventive medicine, psychiatry, surgery, other areas relevant to provision of care under supervision.{{Cite web|url=https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/student-life/academic-services/step2.html|title=Step 2 Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills|access-date = 31 May 2021 |publisher = Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine}}

Most Step 2 CK test items describe clinical situations and require that you provide one or more of the following: diagnosis, a prognosis, an indication of underlying mechanisms of disease, the next step in medical care, including preventive measures.

Step 2 CK is an integrated examination that frequently requires the interpretation of tables and laboratory data, imaging studies, photographs of gross and microscopic pathologic specimens, and results of other diagnostic studies. Step 2 CK tests the aspiring physician's knowledge of medicine putting special emphasis on the principles and mechanisms underlying disease, and the therapies needed to address them.{{cite book

|title= Step-Up to USMLE Step 2 CK |edition = 5th

|vauthors = Ganti L, Rosario J, Lebowitz D, Vera A|at = Preface}}

The Step 2CK scores are reported in a 3 digit format with a range between 1 and 300. As of July 1, 2025, the passing score is 218.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmle.org/change-step-2-ck-passing-standard-begins-july-1-2025|publisher = Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates|title=Change to Step 2 CK Passing Standard Begins July 1, 2025

|date=12 July 2025}}

As of academic year 2020-2021, the mean CK score was 246 with a standard deviation of 15 for first-time takers from accredited medical schools in the United States and Canada.{{cite web

|title=USMLE Step Examination Score Interpretation Guidelines

|url = https://www.usmle.org/sites/default/files/2022-01/USMLE%20Step%20Examination%20Score%20Interpretation%20Guidelines_1_10_22%20%28PF%20Transition%29.pdf#:~:text=USMLE%20Score%20Interpretation%20Guidelines%20Description%20of%20Examinations%20Step,mechanisms%20underlying%20health%2C%20disease%2C%20and%20modes%20of%20therapy.

|access-date = 9 September 2022

|website = USMLE.org }}

Approximately once every four years, the USMLE decides whether to change the recommended minimum passing score. At its May 2014 meeting, the Step 2 Committee conducted a review for USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and decided to raise the Step 2 minimum passing score to 209 for students taking the test after July 1, 2014.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 2022, the passing score was increased to 214, with an implementation date of July 1, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecfmg.org/news/2022/04/12/change-to-step-2-ck-passing-standard-begins-july-1-2022/|publisher = Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates|title=Change to Step 2 CK Passing Standard Begins July 1, 2022

|date=12 April 2022}} In 2025, the passing score was increased to 218, with an implementation date of July 1, 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmle.org/change-step-2-ck-passing-standard-begins-july-1-2025|publisher = Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates|title=Change to Step 2 CK Passing Standard Begins July 1, 2025

|date=12 July 2025}}

USMLE provides each test taker with a score report that includes information on their performance on various physician tasks, disciplines and systems.{{cite web |access-date =31 May 2021 |website = USMLE.org |url = https://www.usmle.org/pdfs/transcripts/Step2CKExamineeReportContentAreasPage.pdf |title = Step 2 CK Score Report }}

The USMLE Step 2 CK score is one of many factors considered by residency programs in selecting applicants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/a-guide-to-usmle-scores|title=A guide to USMLE scores |access-date= 9 September 2022 |website =wolterskluwer.com}}{{Cite journal|url=https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/advising-medical-students-for-the-match-a-national-survey-of-pedi|doi=10.1016/j.acap.2015.03.009|title=Advising Medical Students for the Match: A National Survey of Pediatrics Clerkship Directors|year=2015|last1=Ryan|first1=Michael S.|last2=Levine|first2=Leonard J.|last3=Colbert-Getz|first3=Jorie M.|last4=Spector|first4=Nancy D.|last5=Fromme|first5=H. Barrett|journal=Academic Pediatrics|volume=15|issue=4|pages=374–379|pmid=25922334|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2649612|doi = 10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.2924|title = US Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Score in Dermatology Resident Selection|year = 2017|last1 = Jayakumar|first1 = Kishore L.|last2 = Lipoff|first2 = Jules B.|journal = JAMA Dermatology|volume = 153|issue = 11|pages = 1193–1194|pmid = 28832874|pmc = 5817479}}{{Cite journal|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0b013e31818d20ae|doi = 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31818d20ae|title = Resident Selection Protocols in Plastic Surgery: A National Survey of Plastic Surgery Program Directors|year = 2008|last1 = Janis|first1 = Jeffrey E.|last2 = Hatef|first2 = Daniel A.|journal = Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery|volume = 122|issue = 6|pages = 1929–1939|pmid = 19050546| s2cid=205964627 |url-access = subscription}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(09)00844-6/fulltext|doi = 10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.034|title = Ophthalmology Resident Selection: Current Trends in Selection Criteria and Improving the Process|year = 2010|last1 = Nallasamy|first1 = Sudha|last2 = Uhler|first2 = Tara|last3 = Nallasamy|first3 = Nambi|last4 = Tapino|first4 = Paul J.|last5 = Volpe|first5 = Nicholas J.|journal = Ophthalmology|volume = 117|issue = 5|pages = 1041–1047|pmid = 20110128|url-access = subscription}}{{cite web |url = https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/national.resident.matching.program/viz/PDSurvey2020-Final/Desktoptablet | title = Results from the 2020 NRMP PD Survey |access-date = 31 May 2021|publisher = National Resident Matching Program}} Along with the USMLE Step 1, this test is a standardized measure of all applicants. The median USMLE Step 2 scores for graduates of U.S. Medical Schools for various residencies is published periodically by the NRMP in their "Charting Outcomes in the Match" documents{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrmp.org/main-residency-match-data/|title = Main Residency Match Data and Reports |access-date = 31 May 2021 |publisher = National Resident Matching Program|website = nrmp.org}}

USMLE Step 1’s pass/fail status in 2022 is likely to enhance the effect of USMLE Step 2 CK on residency matching, since it will remain as the sole standardized factor in the residency application process.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1931720420302063|doi = 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.06.013|title = Binary Reporting of USMLE Step 1 Scores: Resident Perspectives|year = 2021|last1 = Rajesh|first1 = Aashish|last2 = Asaad|first2 = Malke|last3 = Sridhar|first3 = Monica|journal = Journal of Surgical Education|volume = 78|issue = 1|pages = 304–307|pmid = 32600888| s2cid=220271055 |url-access = subscription}}

• USMLE Step 1
• USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills
• USMLE Step 3

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{{Medical education in the United States}}

Category:Medical education in the United States

Category:Standardized tests in healthcare education

Category:United States Medical Licensing Examination