USMLE and Your Medical School Training

Students at the UWSOM are required to pass Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) prior to graduation. The Step 1 exam is taken at the conclusion of the Foundations Phase of the curriculum. Step 2 CK is taken after completion of the required clerkships.

Performance on these examinations provides one method of comparing our students to those at other medical schools and thereby assessing performance relative to a national peer group. The successful completion of all three steps of the USMLE is necessary for obtaining a license to practice medicine. Board scores on these exams are a strong factor for programs as you start the application and interview process for Match.

The most current information regarding these exams (including content and scoring) can be found on the USMLE Bulletin.