MS3 Class Information – Nov. 10, 2022

Time to register and plan for Step 2 CK

It’s time to register for Step 2 CK! The deadline to take the Step 2 CK is June 30, 2023, or 12 weeks following the end of your Patient Care Phase (third-year clerkships) for students who have expanded. Students must pass all Patient Care Phase clerkships, including any remediation, before taking Step 2 CK. Below you will find information on registering and preparing for Step 2 CK.

Registration Process:

  1. Log into NBME website: NBME Log In [apps.nbme.org]
  2. Register to take Step 2 CK
  3. Select a 3-month eligibility period including your Step 2 CK deadline:
    • June 30, 2023 or
    • 12 weeks following the end of Patient Care Phase for expanded students
  1. Pay exam fee of $660 (Financial Aid [education.uwmedicine.org] disbursed for fall quarter includes your registration fee)
  2. Wait for the UWSOM Registration Office to verify enrollment online through the NBME system (can take up to 2 weeks).
  3. After the UWSOM Registration Office verifies enrollment, a scheduling permit will be sent from NBME via email to sign up for a Step 2 CK test date through Prometric.
  4. Choose a Step 2 CK exam date within the eligibility period including June 2023 
    • Step 2 CK exam dates become available through Prometric as early as 6 months in advance. *Availability may vary by site

*Note: Most students will not need to complete a new CID form, unless:

  • Student has had a name change since sitting for Step 1, or
  • 5 years have passed since completion of CID form (mostly MSTP students)

Registration Questions: 

  1. Visit the Academic Support Website [education.uwmedicine.org] for more information on Step 2 CK
  1. For questions regarding NBME policies or payment please contact NBME directly: (215) 590-9500
  2. For questions regarding enrollment, graduation dates or other UWSOM concerns please contact the Registration Office: somreg@uw.edu 

Additional Steps for MSTP Students:

  • You will likely need to fill out another Certification of Identification Form (CID)
  • Upload your CID online and a copy of your ID to this Microsoft Form: CID Form  [forms.office.com]
  •  The registration team will process your CID form and email it to USMLE registration
  •  It can take up to 3-4 weeks to receive your scheduling permit
  • Please turn in your CID form by November 30, 2022

*Note: Delays in registering for and taking Step 2 CK may create delays in progressing in the curriculum, prohibit participation in the residency application process, and may require an extension of your graduation date.

Testing Accommodations:

Test Preparation and Study Plans:

  • Once you’ve completed the registration process, you may schedule an appointment with your learning specialist
  • Meet with your learning specialist to make your individualized study plan:

Step 2 CK Facts: 

  • Step 2 CK [usmle.org] assesses an examinee’s ability to apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science essential for the provision of patient care under supervision and includes emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention
  • Step 2 CK is a one-day examination. It is divided into eight 60-minute blocks and administered in one 9-hour testing session. The number of questions per block on a given examination will vary but will not exceed 40. The total number of items on the overall examination will not exceed 318
  • The examination also includes a minimum allotment of 45 minutes of break time and a 15-minute optional tutorial. The amount of time available for breaks may be increased by finishing a block of test items or the optional tutorial before the allotted time expires
  • Step 2 CK Content Outline: Review Content Outline Here [usmle.org]

Please reach out to somreg@uw.edu for all registration-related questions and to somlearn@uw.edu for all resource and study planning questions.

logo for syllabus to specialty

Missed the recent Syllabus to Specialty Faculty Panel  Talks?

For excellent advice and insight into the following fields, watch the recordings of the Syllabus to Specialty Faculty Panels that occurred during the recent Foundation Integration Week. Panels were organized and sponsored by UWSOM Career Advising.

Recording of the Pathology, Radiation Oncology & Radiology panel

  • Oliver Chang, M.D., acting assistant professor, UW Dept. of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
  • Molly Blau, M.D., assistant professor, UW Dept. of Radiation Oncology
  • Ethan Hua, M.D., clinical assistant professor, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, UW Dept. of Radiology

Recording of the Dermatology, Family Medicine & Internal Medicine panel

  • Deepti Gupta, M.D., clinical adjunct, UW Dept. of Medicine, Division of Dermatology and associate professor, UW Dept. of Pediatrics
  • Viet H. P. Nguyen, M.D., faculty physician, Swedish First Hill Family Medicine Residency
  • Nina Tan, M.D., acting instructor, UW Dept. of Internal Medicine

ICYMI Compliance deadline for data stewardship is Nov. 15

UW Medicine and UWSOM require medical students learn how to properly safeguard confidential information and practice good data stewardship. This requirement includes concurrent degree/MSTP students and students on a leave of absence.

Please complete the UW Privacy, Confidentiality, and Information Security Agreement requirement in the To-Do List of your UW71 Castlebranch account [mycb.castlebranch.com]. Review the presentation “UW Medicine Data Stewardship” here or in Castlebranch. You can follow the instructions in Castlebranch to meet the UW Medicine data stewardship requirements.

You must upload a signed form to your UW71 CastleBranch Compliance Tracker by Nov. 15. Please make sure your UW student ID number is on the form. Please monitor your submission to make sure it is approved.

Career Advising Student Advisory Board – Tip of the Month

As you know, third year is busy! Something you can do to thank your future-self is to make and edit your CV whenever you have some down time (e.g., month off, “chill” rotation). Having a solid CV is necessary for away rotation applications in the Spring, and you’ll use this info almost word-for-word in Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) when you’re applying. Check out our CV page for videos and templates.

It is helpful to start mapping out 4th year with the schedule in Excel from Career Advising’s 4th Year Career Planning webpage [education.uwmedicine.org]. Ask for clerkship permission, if required, ASAP and try to meet with Career Advisors [education.uwmedicine.org] and Specialty Advisors [education.uwmedicine.org] proactively! Be sure to look use the new Course Catalog [education.uwmedicine.org] to see which Sub-internships (Sub-I’s), Advanced Patient Care (APC) clerkships and electives you might want to take in fourth year. 

  • Reviewed by Career Advising Student Advisory BIPOC board member L’Oreal Kennedy. Originally written by BIPOC alum Shanelle Briggs.

In case you missed it, here is last week’s newsletter for MS3s.

Have a great week!