National clinical assessments

Background

The American system of qualifying doctors requires three sittings of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). Step 1, taken after the second year of medical school, is written and tests basic science knowledge. Step 2, taken between third and fourth years of medical school, is part written and part pass or fail clinical skills assessment. Step 3, taken during residency, is written and involves computer based patient cases. After completion of all the exams, the doctor applies for licensure in an individual state.

The National Board of Medical Examiners reconstructed the step 2 last year. It was initially a written only clinical knowledge test. They added the clinical skills component in June 2004. The clinical skills exam is an eight hour test with 11 or 12 standardised patient encounters, each lasting 15 minutes. It is offered at five sites (Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston). Medical students graduating in 2005 and beyond are required to complete both portions of the step 2. Foreign medical graduates seeking licensure in the United States must complete the same exams.

For

There are more than 50 independent medical licensing agencies,1 …