USMLE Study Guides and Exam Preparation: Home

This guide contains information on the resources available for the USMLE Step 1 through this library. This examination will be taken during second year of medical school and there are many resources readily available. This guide will contain electronic and print books available through this library to further your application of basic science principles that will later be implemented in the practice of clinical medicine. 

First learn more about the USMLE STEP 1 through their website at https://www.usmle.org

This guide also contains information on STEP 2 & STEP 3 which will be completed through your clinical years. 

• Work to Relaunch USMLE Step 2 CS Discontinued

  • The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and NBME, co-sponsors of the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®), are today announcing the discontinuation of work to relaunch a modified Step 2 Clinical Skills examination (Step 2 CS).  

  • Following the May 2020 suspension of Step 2 CS due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we announced our intention to take 12-18 months to bring back a modified Step 2 CS exam that was appreciably better than the prior assessment. After reviewing current and anticipated progress with the exam and in consideration of the rapidly evolving medical education, practice and technology landscapes, we have decided to discontinue Step 2 CS. We have no plans to bring back Step 2 CS, but we intend to take this opportunity to focus on working with our colleagues in medical education and at the state medical boards to determine innovative ways to assess clinical skills.

  • Independent standardized assessments of medical knowledge and clinical skills are important inputs for state medical licensure decisions. In the absence of Step 2 CS, elements of clinical reasoning and communication will continue to be assessed on other exams (Steps) in the USMLE sequence. Computer-based case simulations in Step 3 and communication content recently bolstered in Step 1 are examples of these efforts that will continue. While not a replacement for Step 2 CS, these formats continue to contribute positively, e.g., measuring critical knowledge of medical communication. 

  • Updated January 26, 2021

• Moving forward: The Step 1 P/F score reporting policy change and revitalization of Step 2 Clinical Skills examination
  • The USMLE® program recognizes that the upcoming score reporting change for Step 1 (pass/fail) and the suspension of the Step 2 Clinical Skills examination have created new questions for medical students, faculty, and state board members. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work diligently on these two important issues.  As work progresses, we are committed to providing monthly updates on these and other topics that are important to our stakeholders.
  • Updated December 28, 2020
• Resources To Find Information for Testing Appointments
  • As the season for inclement weather approaches in parts of the United States and COVID-19 cases increase globally, the United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) program would like to remind examinees where to find information about the status of test centers and their testing appointments.
  • December 16, 2020 
• USMLE Step 2 CS: Design phase begins for modified assessment – new podcast available
  • To continue providing information to the medical regulation and education community about work progressing toward the relaunch of a modified United States Medical Licensing Examination® (USMLE®) Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam, a new podcast from the USMLE program is now posted for listening and sharing with others.
  • November 19, 2020