ERAS NEWS: Additional Information On Delay In Score Reporting For USMLE Step 2 CK

ECFMG-ERAS News #5. Friday, August 12, 2011

To: IMGs Using ERAS(r)

From: ERAS Support Services at ECFMG(r)


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DELAY IN SCORE REPORTING FOR USMLE STEP 2 CK

REMINDERS FOR ERAS 2012 PARTICIPANTS

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DELAY IN SCORE REPORTING FOR USMLE STEP 2 CK

On June 16, 2011, an announcement was posted to the USMLE website at www.usmle.org introducing the new test items with an associated drug ad or abstract into the USMLE Step 2 CK examination starting on or around August 3. A description of the purpose of these new item formats is provided in the Comprehensive Review of USMLE update available on the USMLE website at www.usmle.org/General_Information/CRU/index.html .

Because of the large number of centers--more than 450 worldwide--and the need to deal with some amount of variation across centers in the process of making changes, the introduction date needs to be approximate. Although the transition occurs quickly at many test centers, there may be some locations where the implementation either starts early or takes longer to complete. The USMLE website announcement regarding the introduction of new item formats indicated that this transition would begin on or about August 3; there were some testing locations in which the transition occurred on August 2.

All examinations that include the drug ad or abstract format will be affected by the previously announced score delay. The target date for reporting Step 2 CK scores for most examinees testing during that time will be Wednesday, September 28, 2011.

This score delay does not affect your ability to apply to residency programs of your choice via ERAS. All residency program directors participating in ERAS will be notified of this Step 2 CK score delay. International medical graduates participating in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) 2012 Main Match will be required to meet the NRMP's examination requirements.

We recognize that this delay may inconvenience some examinees; however, USMLE is committed to processing results as quickly as possible for all its examinees and will do its best to complete the process as soon as possible.


REMINDERS FOR ERAS 2012 PARTICIPANTS

ERAS PostOffice Opens September 1

On September 1, 2011, ERAS 2012 participating applicants can begin applying to programs, and programs can begin downloading ERAS applications and supporting documents [with the exception of Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs), which become available to programs on November 1, 2011].

Utilize the ECFMG Letter Writer Portal (LWP)

ERAS Support Services at ECFMG highly encourages you to request that your letter writers upload your letters of recommendation (LoRs) electronically through the Letter Writer Portal (LWP). In order for a letter writer to upload an LoR on your behalf using LWP, you must send an electronic request to the letter writer using ECFMG's OASIS. LoRs submitted to ECFMG electronically through LWP are expected to take two weeks to process and become available at the ERAS PostOffice. LoRs submitted by mail or courier are expected to take up to four weeks from the date of receipt by ECFMG to become available at the ERAS PostOffice. For more information, visit the Letter Writer Portal Requests page on the ECFMG ERAS website at www.ecfmg.org/eras/lwp.html .

Providing Information about Your LoR Authors in AAMC's MyERAS

In order for ERAS Support Services at ECFMG to process and transmit your LoRs to the ERAS PostOffice--where they can be downloaded by program directors--you must login to the AAMC's MyERAS website and create an electronic list with specific information about your LoR Authors and finalize your LoR Authors. This electronic list is not viewable by program directors, but it assists ERAS Support Services in managing your LoRs. You can create your electronic list and finalize your LoR Authors in the "Documents" section of MyERAS under the "Letters of Recommendation" tab. If you have not created and finalized your list, you are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Repeat Applicants and LoRs

If you are identified as a Repeat Applicant at the time you request an ERAS 2012 Token, you have the option to reuse your LoRs. To reuse LoRs, you must select them through ECFMG's OASIS. If you select to reuse an LoR for ERAS 2012 through OASIS, do not submit a copy of the same LoR to ERAS Support Services via mail or courier for scanning; this will cause delays in uploading your LoR to the ERAS PostOffice. If you do not plan to reuse an LoR listed in OASIS or if you plan to submit an updated version of an LoR listed in OASIS, do not select the LoR to be reused in OASIS; this will cause delays in uploading your LoR to the ERAS PostOffice.

ERAS 2012 Residency Token Fee

The ERAS Token fee of $90 is non-refundable and non-transferrable. Before you request a Token, please ensure that you understand the ERAS process and that you need an ERAS 2012 residency Token.