Overview

A clinical skills examination will become part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) in mid-2004. When this exam is implemented, USMLE Step 2 will consist of two separate components. The new clinical skills examination will be referred to as Step 2 Clinical Skills, or Step 2 CS. The current Step 2 will be referred to as Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, or Step 2 CK. Students and graduates of both U.S./Canadian and international medical schools will take Step 2 CS.

Currently, international medical students and graduates (IMGs) must pass the ECFMG® Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA®) to fulfill the clinical skills requirement for ECFMG Certification. When Step 2 CS is implemented, it will replace the ECFMG CSA as the exam that satisfies the clinical skills requirement for ECFMG Certification. Although the ECFMG CSA will not be administered after implementation of Step 2 CS, passing performance on the CSA will continue to be accepted by ECFMG for the purpose of ECFMG Certification. Passing Step 2 CS will be required in order to apply for Step 3 of the USMLE. IMGs should closely monitor this web page and the USMLE website at www.usmle.org for the effective date of this requirement. Passing performance on the ECFMG CSA will also satisfy this requirement.

The target date for beginning administration of Step 2 CS is June 1, 2004. IMGs will apply to ECFMG to take Step 2 CS, and registration is expected to begin in early 2004. Step 2 CS will be administered throughout the year at several locations in the United States. Applicants registered for Step 2 CS will be able to select test dates and locations, subject to availability.

The ECFMG CSA will be administered until spring 2004. There may be a brief period immediately prior to the implementation of Step 2 CS when the ECFMG CSA will not be administered. It is possible that all available CSA testing slots will be filled before all applicants registered for the CSA have scheduled their CSA test dates. Applicants who have not passed the ECFMG CSA prior to implementation of Step 2 CS can satisfy the clinical skills requirement for ECFMG Certification by passing Step 2 CS, provided that they meet the Step 2 CS eligibility requirements.

The transition from the ECFMG CSA to USMLE Step 2 CS will result in significant changes to some policies and procedures related to ECFMG Certification. IMGs who are certified by ECFMG or pursuing ECFMG Certification should be familiar with these changes. The table below compares selected policies, as they relate to the ECFMG CSA and USMLE Step 2 CS, with which IMGs should be familiar. As additional information regarding Step 2 CS becomes available, details will be provided on this web page and on the USMLE website.

It is essential that IMGs interested in ECFMG Certification, including those who have already passed or plan to take the ECFMG CSA, have an accurate understanding of the policies and procedures related to the transition to Step 2 CS. If you are interested in ECFMG Certification, refer to Resources on Step 2 CS below for important resources that you should monitor closely as the transition to Step 2 CS approaches.