Description of Step 2 CS

Step 2 CS will assess the clinical and communication skills that are essential to diagnosing and treating patients and communicating with other health care professionals. The new exam will complement the current USMLE Steps, which measure medical knowledge and analytical skills.

Step 2 CS will be a one-day exam that mirrors a physician's typical workday in a clinic. Examinees will examine "standardized patients," people trained to portray real patients. Examinees are expected to establish rapport with the standardized patients, elicit pertinent historical information from them, perform focused physical examinations, answer questions, and provide counseling where appropriate. After each exam, examinees will record pertinent history and physical examination findings, list diagnostic impressions, and outline plans for further evaluation if necessary. The cases will cover common and important situations that a physician is likely to encounter in a general ambulatory clinic. Standardized patients are selected to represent a broad range of age, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.