Policy Statement
All students are required to take and pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK to meet graduation requirements.
Policy Requirement
Step 1 exam requirements
- Students are required to take Step 1 exam during the designated Step 1 study and examination period. Exceptions are rare and granted at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs based on the student’s personal circumstances.
- Any Step 1 exam failure may prompt an academic remediation leave of absence (LOA) that will extend until the student posts a passing score for the failed exam. Academic remediation LOAs do not extend the one-year time frame for passing nor extend the six-year matriculation to graduation requirement.
- Students must post a passing score for Step 1 after a failure prior to reentry into clerkships.
Step 2 CK exam requirements
The deadline for taking Step 2 CK is June 30 following the clerkship phase, including students who are going out on a leave of absence for dual-degree students and those completing a research year.
Exceptions are rare and are granted at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs based on the student’s personal circumstances. If a student does not meet this requirement, the student may not be verified by the KSOM to participate in the residency match application process.
Exceptions are rare and are granted at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs based on the student’s personal circumstances.
General requirements for Step 1 and Step 2 CK exams:
- A passing score for any Step exam must be posted within one year of the student’s first attempt. Students not meeting this requirement will be considered for dismissal from the KSOM. This timeline may or may not be extended for official medical or personal LOAs at the discretion of the Student Performance Committee (SPC).
- To be verified for a second attempt of a Step exam, students are required to meet with one of the LEAD (Learning Enhancement and Academic Development) team members.
- Students are allowed a maximum of three attempts to post a passing score of any Step exam within one year of the first attempt of that exam. Failure to pass any Step exam on the third attempt will prompt an administrative withdrawal.
- Students are responsible for all testing fees and registration processes that are necessary to meet the KSOM examination deadline requirements.
- SPC will determine examination deadlines for students after a second failure of a USMLE Step exam. Failure of the student to abide by examination deadlines set by SPC will place the student at risk for dismissal from the KSOM.
- Step exam failures may result in a delay in graduation.
- All Step exam failures are reported to SPC by the Associate or Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
Reviewed and Approved: April 5, 2023
Medical Education Executive Council