NBME Subject Exams

NOTE: Neurosurgery clerkship examinations are being administered IN-PERSON as of Spring 2023.

All other NBME clerkship exams will be given with remote proctoring. This means:

  • You will not be required to travel to a testing site for NBME exams.
  • All students will check-in for NBME exams at 8:30am PT (7:30 AT; 9:30 MT)

​​​​​General Information

All required clerkships use exams from National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) as the final exam for the clerkship. Most clerkships use clinical subject exams; the Neurosurgery clerkship uses a customized NBME exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

All required clerkship exams will occur on the last Friday of the clerkship.

Please refer to the clerkship exam schedule guidelines.

Yes. All students must certify their computers to run the NBME secure browser prior to exam day.

Please refer to the Instructions for Remote Proctored Exams webpage.

Please refer to the Exam Environment Policy page to see what you are allowed to have with you during exams.

You will need a government-issued photo ID (i.e., driver’s license, passport, or military ID) to show your proctor as part of the check-in process.

You will also need your 7-digit UW student ID number to log into the exam software.

When students arrive on time at 8:30AM Pacific Time for remote proctored exams, they are usually in the exam by 9:00AM. For most of the clinical subject exams, the exam length is 2 hours and 45 minutes. If you receive accommodations for extended exam time, your exam will be longer. More details can be found in the Subject Exam Timing Chart on the NBME website.

Please refer to the Exam Reschedule Policy webpage.

The NBME webpage on clinical subject exams has content outlines for each of the exams. The Neurosurgery Clerkship can provide details of the content of their customized exam.

When you download the secure browser and complete the certification process, you will be able to go through a tutorial with the software and take a short practice exam.