Introduction

Why Computer-based Testing?

When Did CBT Begin?

CBT Registration: Some New Policies and Procedures

An Overview of Registration & Scheduling: What You Need to Do

Examinees with Documented Disabilities

Format of Computer-based Step 1 & Step 2

Minimum Passing Scores

How to Prepare

Directory of Services

Glossary

• Registration Entity and Test Delivery Entity
• Eligibility Period
• Testing Region
• Examination Fee and International Test Delivery Surcharge
• Scheduling Permit
• Application and Payment

Registration Entity and Test Delivery Entity

Registered applicants for computer-based Step 1 or Step 2 need to communicate with two organizations, ECFMG and Prometric. As was the case under paper and pencil administration, ECFMG acts as your registration entity. Upon receipt of your completed application and payment and determination that you are eligible, ECFMG will notify the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) of your eligibility. The NBME, one of the USMLE parent organizations, will mail your scheduling permit within two weeks of this notification.

Tip: If the beginning of your eligibility period is more than six months away, your scheduling permit will not be mailed until approximately six months before the beginning of your assigned eligibility period.

Although your scheduling permit will be mailed by NBME, you should contact ECFMG if you have questions or concerns about this document.

The scheduling permit is your authorization to contact Prometric, the test delivery entity, to schedule your testing appointment. Prometric is the organization that will actually administer the exam to you in one of its test centers. When you contact Prometric, its representatives will be able to tell you what locations and dates are available to take the exam. They will also schedule your testing appointment. You will also contact Prometric if you need to reschedule your testing appointment within your three-month eligibility period.

After you take the exam, your scores will be mailed to you by ECFMG. You will continue to contact ECFMG for services such as duplicate score reports and USMLE transcripts, as well as for information on any aspect of the ECFMG certification process.

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Instead of registering for an exam administered on a specific date, you will choose a three-month period during which you would like to take the exam. You must select this three-month period on the application form that you send to ECFMG. This three-month period is referred to as your eligibility period, since you will only be eligible to take the exam during the three-month period assigned to you. You may take the exam on any day that it is offered during your assigned eligibility period, provided that there is space at the test center you choose.

Tip: If there is no space available at your first choice of test center on the date that you want, you can ask about space at other centers (if available) on that date. You can take the exam at any test center offering USMLE, provided that the center is located in the testing region that you selected.

If you apply for both Step 1 and Step 2 on the same application form, you can choose the same eligibility period for both exams, or you can choose a different eligibility period for each Step.

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Similarly, instead of selecting a specific test center, you will choose a geographical region in which you would like to take the exam. This geographical region is called your testing region. You must enter this testing region on the application form that you submit to ECFMG.

You may take the exam at any Prometric test center in the testing region that offers USMLE, provided that space is available on the date that you request. You may not change your testing region once it has been assigned.

A list of testing regions and Prometric test centers is included with the ECFMG Information Booklet. However, since the list of test centers offering USMLE is subject to change, you should review the list of testing regions and test centers on this web site or visit the Prometric web site for current information on the test centers available in particular testing regions before you select a testing region. Once you have received your scheduling permit, you can contact Prometric directly for current information--simply follow the instructions for contacting Prometric on your scheduling permit.

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Applicants for the former paper and pencil exams were charged one fee for each of these exams. For the computer-based Steps, the total fee consists of the examination fee plus the appropriate international test delivery surcharge, if applicable.

All applicants must pay the examination fee. The amount of the examination fee is listed in the USMLE application materials. If you choose a testing region other than the United States/Canada, you must also pay the international test delivery surcharge for the international testing region that you select. These surcharges currently range from US$100 to US$270 depending on the testing region you select. The surcharges represent the additional cost of offering Step 1 and Step 2 by computer in locations outside of the United States and Canada. If you choose to take the exam within the United States or Canada, you do not need to pay a surcharge.

You must send full payment of both fees with your application to ECFMG. If you do not send full payment with your application, your application will be returned to you.

Tip: If you apply for both Step 1 and Step 2 on the same application form, you must send full payment of these fees for both exams or your application will be returned to you.

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After you are registered by ECFMG for computer-based Step 1 or Step 2, ECFMG will notify the NBME of your eligibility. The NBME will mail your scheduling permit within two weeks of this notification. The scheduling permit is your key to the next step in the process: scheduling your own testing appointment with Prometric. The scheduling permit is a very important document, and you should be careful not to lose it. You cannot schedule your testing appointment or take the exam without it. Although your scheduling permit will be mailed by NBME, you should contact ECFMG if you have questions or concerns about this document. If you lose your scheduling permit, you should contact ECFMG immediately.

Tip: If the beginning of your eligibility period is more than six months away, your scheduling permit will not be mailed until approximately six months before the beginning of your assigned eligibility period.

The scheduling permit contains the following information:

• Your name and mailing address;
• The exam for which you registered--either Step 1 or Step 2 (If you register for both Step 1 and Step 2 on the same application form, you will receive two separate scheduling permits, one for Step 1 and one for Step 2.);
• Your eligibility period--the three-month period during which you are eligible to take the exam; and
• Your testing region--the geographical region in which you will take the exam.

It also contains two important numbers:

• Your Scheduling Number-- you must provide this number when you contact Prometric to schedule your testing appointment; and
• Your Candidate Identification Number (CIN)--you must enter your CIN into the computer at the Prometric center on the date of your test in order to unlock your exam. You must keep this number confidential. For your own protection, do not share your CIN with anyone.

Your scheduling permit tells you how to contact Prometric to schedule a testing appointment or get current information on the test centers offering USMLE in your testing region. The contact information included on your scheduling permit will vary, depending on whether you register for the United States/Canada testing region or an international testing region. The information included for both cases is summarized below.

When you schedule your testing appointment, you will receive specific information from Prometric. This information will consist of your confirmed test date and time, the address and telephone number of the test center and your Prometric Confirmation Number. The scheduling permit includes space for you to write down this information. Be sure to record all of this information on your scheduling permit. Do not write anything else on the permit. If you need to reschedule your testing appointment with Prometric, you will need the Prometric Confirmation Number that you recorded on your scheduling permit when you made your original appointment.

Finally, the scheduling permit includes basic information on how to schedule your testing appointment, what to bring with you to the test center and what you should expect when you arrive at the test center on your test date.

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Computer-based Step 1 and Step 2 are offered on a regular basis throughout the year. As a result, there is no deadline to submit your application and payment for these exams. However, you should consider the following factors when planning the timing of your application:

First, ECFMG cannot assign you to the eligibility period that you selected on your application if that eligibility period has already begun. In the event that processing of your application is not complete before the beginning of the eligibility period you selected, you will be assigned to the next eligibility period. Therefore, you should send your application and payment well in advance of the beginning of the eligibility period you select.

Example: An applicant mails her Step 1 application in early July for the August-September-October eligibility period. ECFMG receives her application in late July, and processing of her application is completed on August 5th. Since the eligibility period selected by the applicant began on August 1st and the processing of the application was completed on August 5th, the applicant cannot be assigned to the August-September-October eligibility period. In this case the applicant would be assigned to the September-October-November eligibility period and would not be eligible to take the exam in August.

Second, if any month in the applicant's desired eligibility period falls within the next calendar year, the applicant must use the next year's application materials.

Example: An applicant decides in May 2001 that he wants to apply to take Step 2 during the November-December-January eligibility period. Since the last month of the eligibility period desired by the applicant (January) falls within the year 2002, the applicant must apply using the year 2002 application materials.

Application materials for the next calendar year are expected to be available in early July of the current year. The year 2002 application materials are expected to be available in August 2001.

Third, the USMLE application materials may specify a date after which you cannot use the current year's application materials and after which you must use the next year's application materials. You should check for this date before you complete the application form.

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