International medical students/graduates, including
participants/graduates of Fifth Pathway programs, who need to
pass Step 2 CS to participate in the 2007 Match (in March 2007)
are strongly encouraged to apply for Step 2 CS and schedule their
testing appointments by July 1, 2006.
The 2006 Step 2 Clinical Skills Schedule for Reporting
Results, published by the USMLE Program, indicates that examinees
who take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2006, can expect to have their
results in time to participate in the 2007 Match. To maximize
your chances of obtaining a 2006 test date, you should apply as
soon as you are eligible and schedule a 2006 test date by July 1,
2006. (This means that, by July 1, 2006, you should have selected
a 2006 test date. The test date you select does not need to be on
or before July 1, 2006.)
At the time of this writing, the earliest available test dates
at all clinical skills evaluation centers are in late May or
early June 2006. Additionally, demand for test dates during the
second half of 2006 is expected to be unusually heavy. Finally,
test sessions at all test centers may be subject to scheduling
restrictions that may limit the number of test dates available to
you.
If, by July 1, 2006, you have not scheduled your 2006 test
date, it is possible that you will not be able to obtain a test
date in 2006. If you do not take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2006,
your result will not be available in time to participate in the
2007 Match.
Early registration and scheduling may offer a number of
benefits. If you plan to apply for Step 2 CS, you should consider
the following:
- The test dates available to you under the scheduling
restrictions can be viewed by accessing Step 2 CS Scheduling
from the ECFMG website. Since only registered applicants can
access Step 2 CS Scheduling, early registration will allow you
to monitor the test dates available to you.
- Applicants who schedule a testing appointment can change
the testing appointment without cost, provided they give more
than 14 days' notice. See Rescheduling in the ECFMG Information
Booklet.
- Applicants who take Step 2 CS early in the year and receive
a failing result are more likely to have the opportunity to
retake the exam in 2006 and receive their result in time to
participate in the 2007 Match.
Updated information on Step 2 CS Scheduling will be posted to
the ECFMG website as it becomes available. Individuals planning
to take Step 2 CS should monitor the ECFMG and USMLE websites for
the latest information.
From the The ECFMG(r) Reporter.
