The USMLE program is closely monitoring the guidance of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the spread of the novel Coronavirus and its associated disease, COVID-19. We are aware that examinees are scheduled to take USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals and obligations. However, given the unique, human-to-human delivery mode of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.
Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) Test Center Closures
All CSEC test centers are temporarily closed. We hope to resume operations of all centers on June 1, 2020. Given the fluid nature of this situation, please be aware that this date is subject to change. Please monitor www.usmle.org and USMLE social media for updates.
Change to the Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling System and Impact to Examinees
The suspension in testing has resulted in the cancelation of a large number of testing appointments. In order to manage the large number of examinees impacted by the CSEC center closures, scheduling functionality in the Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling system has been temporarily suspended.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are an examinee impacted by the CSEC closure and USMLE Step 2 CS suspension, please direct any inquiries to Step2CS-Covid.inquiries@ecfmg.org.
- Canceled Appointments
If your appointment was canceled as a result of the suspension of Step 2 CS testing, you will be contacted by April 17, 2020. All examinees scheduled to test from March 16 through May 31 will have their eligibility period extended to March 31, 2021. This extension will be done automatically, requiring no action on the part of the examinee. - Scheduled Appointments
If you have an appointment scheduled AFTER May 31, 2020, you can review your scheduling information and you can cancel an appointment. However, if you cancel your appointment, you will not be able to reschedule until scheduling functionality is restored. PLEASE NOTE: Before canceling your appointment, be advised that you will not be able to reschedule until scheduling functionality is restored. - Recently Registered
If you recently registered for Step 2 CS but have not yet scheduled an appointment, you will not be able to schedule until scheduling functionality is restored. - Planning to Register
If you plan to register for Step 2 CS but have not yet done so, please be aware that the application processing and registration continues. However, once your application is accepted, you will not be able to schedule until scheduling functionality is restored.
We do not have an estimated timeline of when scheduling functionality on the Step 2 CS Calendar and Scheduling System will be restored. As soon as we have more information, we will update examinees via the USMLE website and social media.
Score Reporting
Changes to the Step 2 CS score reporting schedule will be necessary as a result of the CSEC test center closures. Updates will be posted to the USMLE website. Results for examinees who tested before March 16, 2020 will be reported on schedule, beginning April 29, 2020 through May 27, 2020.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time. The USMLE program is actively working with other organizations in medical education and regulation to minimize disruption to examinees during this unprecedented situation.
Additional information on USMLE’s response to COVID-19 and some frequently asked questions are available here.
For more information on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on ECFMG|FAIMER programs and what we are doing in response, please visit our COVID-19 (Coronavirus) web page.
(posted March 13, 2020; updated Apr 3, 2020)
