Step 1

Kaynak : ECFMG
Baglantı Adresi :http://www.ecfmg.org/2010ib/ibexam.html#prep

Step 1

ECFMG serves as the registration entity for international medical students/graduates taking Step 1 and Step 2 (CK and CS). This means that ECFMG processes your application and payment, determines your eligibility, and notifies you of the outcome of your application. The NBME serves as the registration entity for students/graduates of U.S. and Canadian medical school programs accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and U.S. medical schools accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

For eligible Step 1/Step 2 CK applicants, ECFMG forwards registration information to NBME, and NBME issues the exam scheduling permits. Scheduling and test centers for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK are provided by Prometric. Prometric serves as the test delivery entity for all examinees taking Step 1/Step 2 CK. Step 1 and Step 2 CK are delivered at Prometric test centers worldwide. ECFMG is not responsible for errors or any associated computer problems that may occur in issuing Step 1/Step 2 CK scheduling permits or in delivering these exams. These functions are the responsibility of NBME and/or Prometric.

For eligible Step 2 CS applicants, ECFMG issues the exam scheduling permits. The Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC), a collaboration of ECFMG and NBME, is responsible for delivery of the Step 2 CS exam. Step 2 CS is delivered to all examinees at regional CSEC Centers in the United States.

NBME is responsible for determining the results of USMLE exams and for issuing the score reports. ECFMG notifies international medical students/graduates when their Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS score reports are available and provides them with secure, web-based access to the score reports.

Step 1

Step 1 and Step 2 CK are delivered at Prometric test centers worldwide. Prometric’s test centers are grouped into distinct testing regions. Within each region, Prometric has a central office known as the Regional Registration Center. A list of Prometric testing regions is available on this website.

When you complete your application, you must choose the testing region where you want to take the exam. If you apply for both Step 1 and Step 2 CK at the same time, you can choose the same testing region for both Step 1 and Step 2 CK, or you can choose a different testing region for each exam. Although you will choose a testing region when you apply, you will not choose a particular test center within that region until you schedule your testing appointment. You can take the exam at any test center in your testing region that offers USMLE, provided there is space available on the date you choose. The test centers available for USMLE are subject to change. To obtain current information on test centers in specific testing regions, visit the Prometric website or follow instructions on the scheduling permit for contacting Prometric.

If you are unable to keep your testing appointment at the test center you select, you can reschedule for a different test center within your testing region, subject to availability. To avoid a rescheduling fee, you must cancel or reschedule at least five business days before your scheduled testing appointment. See Rescheduling.

Step 1
When you apply for Step 1 or Step 2 CK, you must select a three-month period, such as January-February-March, February-March-April, etc., during which you would like to take the exam. This three-month period is referred to as your eligibility period. If you apply for Step 1 and Step 2 CK at the same time, you can select the same eligibility period for both Step 1 and Step 2 CK, or you can select a different eligibility period for each exam. You must take the exam during the eligibility period assigned to you. You can take the exam on any day that it is offered during your assigned eligibility period, provided there is space available at the test center that you choose.

When choosing your eligibility period, remember that: Prometric test centers are closed on major local holidays; Step 1 and Step 2 CK are not offered during the first two weeks in January; and the busiest testing times in the United States/Canada testing region are May through July and November through December. Your eligibility period will not be adjusted to compensate for dates when the exams are not available.

To obtain a specific eligibility period:

ECFMG must receive your complete application by the 24th day of that eligibility period, and
The processing of your application must be completed by ECFMG by the 25th day of that eligibility period.
Example: On May 3, an applicant selects the May-June-July eligibility period for Step 1 and submits her application. The processing of the application is completed by ECFMG on May 23. The applicant is assigned the May-June-July eligibility period that she selected on her application.
Keep in mind that delays or interruptions in postal service may delay delivery to ECFMG of materials needed to complete your application.

If you are a medical school graduate whose medical education credentials have been primary-source verified by ECFMG; a graduate of a medical school that does not participate in EMSWP and your medical education credentials have not been primary-source verified by ECFMG; or a student enrolled in a medical school that does not participate in EMSWP, it typically takes three weeks from receipt of a complete application for ECFMG to complete the processing of your application.

If you are a graduate of a medical school that participates in EMSWP and your medical education credentials have not been primary-source verified by ECFMG or if you are a student enrolled in a medical school that participates in EMSWP, ECFMG cannot complete the processing of your application until your medical school verifies your graduate/student status through EMSWP. ECFMG will make your record available to your medical school and request verification typically within three weeks of receipt of a complete application. The time needed to complete the processing of your application is contingent upon your medical school’s response to the EMSWP verification request.

For all applicants, although you can select an eligibility period as late as the 24th day of that eligibility period, there is no guarantee that you will be assigned that eligibility period, since the processing of your application may not be completed by the 25th day of the eligibility period. If the processing of your application is not completed in time to assign the eligibility period you select, you will be assigned to the next eligibility period. The eligibility period assigned to you will be listed on your scheduling permit. You must read the editions of the ECFMG Information Booklet and the USMLE Bulletin of Information that pertain to the eligibility period in which you take the exam.

Example: On July 23, an applicant selects the July-August-September eligibility period for Step 2 CK and submits his application. The processing of the application is completed by ECFMG on August 12. The applicant is assigned the next eligibility period, August-September-October.
As shown in both examples, you will be able to obtain an eligibility period that has already begun, or that will have begun by the time you are registered and your scheduling permit is issued. Your assigned eligibility period will not be adjusted to compensate for days that have already passed.
If you are unable to take Step 1/Step 2 CK during the three-month eligibility period assigned to you, you may request a one-time extension. You may extend your eligibility period only through the next, contiguous eligibility period (the next eligibility period that does not overlap with your original eligibility period).

Example: An applicant’s original eligibility period is April-May-June 2010. The eligibility period may be extended only through July-August-September 2010.
You may request an extension on-line using IWA. Payment of the appropriate fee must be submitted with the request. If you take the exam during your original eligibility period or if you do not take the exam, you will not receive a refund or credit of the eligibility period extension fee.

You may request an extension of your eligibility period only once for each exam registration. You may request an extension of your eligibility period only after your eligibility period has begun. Requests received at ECFMG more than 25 days after the end of the original eligibility period will not be processed. For specific information on deadlines, refer to IWA.

Additionally, you must continue to be eligible to take the exam during the extended eligibility period (you must still be officially enrolled in a medical school located outside the United States and Canada that is listed in IMED and the “Graduation Years” for your medical school must be listed as “Current,” or you must be a graduate of such a medical school and your graduation year must be included in the school’s IMED listing). See Eligibility for Examination.

If your eligibility period is extended, NBME will issue a new scheduling permit reflecting the extension. You can obtain the new scheduling permit by accessing IWA. You must bring the new scheduling permit to the test center on the date of your exam.

If you have a scheduled appointment during your original eligibility period and need to cancel and reschedule the appointment for your extended eligibility period, you must cancel or reschedule at least five business days before your scheduled appointment to avoid a rescheduling fee. Requesting an extension of your eligibility period does not cancel a scheduled appointment. See Rescheduling.

If you are unable to take the exam during your original or extended eligibility period or you are unable to extend your original eligibility period, you must reapply, including payment of the appropriate fee(s), to take the exam.