IMGS PARTICIPATING IN 2012 MATCH SHOULD APPLY FOR STEP 2 CS NOW

The ECFMG Reporter: Issue 166 - March 4, 2011

IMGS PARTICIPATING IN 2012 MATCH SHOULD APPLY FOR STEP 2 CS NOW

International medical students/graduates and graduates of Fifth Pathway programs who plan to participate in the 2012 Main Residency Match (in March 2012) are reminded that they must take Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) by December 31, 2011. As published in the 2011 Schedule for Reporting Step 2 CS Results, if you do not take Step 2 CS by December 31, 2011, your result will not be available in time to participate in the 2012 Match.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This deadline applies only to participation in the 2012 Main Residency Match. For updated information on deadlines to participate in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), which is expected to replace the post-Match Scramble in 2012, monitor the NRMP website at www.nrmp.org and the ECFMG website at www.ecfmg.org .

If you need to pass Step 2 CS to participate in the 2012 Match, you are strongly encouraged to apply for Step 2 CS now. If you do not register early and schedule a test date as soon as possible, you may not be able to obtain a test date in 2011.

At the time of this writing, the earliest available test date at any test center is in March 2011. It is expected that demand for testing appointments in the period from June through December will be high. Additionally, test sessions at all test centers may be subject to scheduling restrictions that may limit the number of test dates available to you.

To maximize your chances of obtaining a test date in 2011,

- Apply for Step 2 CS now, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

- Once registered, schedule your testing appointment as soon as possible. Scheduling conditions are expected to be most favorable from March through June.

Early registration and scheduling may offer a number of benefits. If you plan to apply for Step 2 CS, you should consider the following:

- All Step 2 CS sessions are opened 12 months in advance.

- Applicants registered for Step 2 CS can schedule and take the exam during the 12-month eligibility period that follows their registration. By registering early, applicants increase the likelihood they will be able to obtain a testing appointment for a preferred date/test center.

- Applicants who schedule a testing appointment can change the testing appointment without cost, provided they give more than 14 days' notice. See Rescheduling in the ECFMG Information Booklet.

- Applicants who take Step 2 CS earlier in the year and receive a failing result are more likely to have the opportunity to retake the exam in 2011 and receive their result in time to participate in the 2012 Match.

Updated information on Step 2 CS scheduling will be posted to the ECFMG website as it becomes available. Individuals planning to take Step 2 CS should monitor the ECFMG and USMLE websites for the latest information.