Step 2
USMLE Step 2 is designed to assess whether medical school students or graduates can apply
medical
knowledge, skills and understanding of clinical science essential for provision of patient care
under
supervision. US medical students typically take Step 2 during the fourth year of medical school.
Step 2
is further divided into two separate exams.
Step 2-CK
The USMLE-Step 2-CK ("Clinical Knowledge") is the nine-hour long multiple-choice portion of the
second part of the United States Medical Licensure Examination. It assesses clinical knowledge
through a traditional, multiple-choice examination. In contrast to the USMLE Step 1, the focus
is much more on clinical application of medical knowledge. It assesses the ability to apply
medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science essential for the provision of
patient care under supervision. The USMLE Step 2 is generally taken during the 4th year of
medical school by medical students The subjects included in this exam are clinical sciences like
Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Step 2-CS
USMLE Step 2 CS is designed to assess clinical skills through simulated patient interactions, in
which the examinee interacts with standardized patients portrayed by actors. Each examinee faces
12 Standardized Patients (SPs) and has 15 minutes to complete history taking and clinical
examination for each patient, and then 10 more minutes to write a patient note describing the
findings, initial differential diagnosis list and a list of initial tests. Administration of the
Step 2-CS began in 2004. The examination is only offered in five cities across the country :
Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles
