USMLE Policy for Promotion and Graduation
As of 1994, The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), comprising three “Step” examinations, has become the sole examination pathway to licensure for physicians. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) part examinations and the federation licensing examinations (FLEX) have been phased out. This major change in medical licensure procedures and the recognition that the majority of medical schools require passing of the USMLE Step 1 Exam is a separate requirement for promotion to clinical clerkships and graduation, has led to a reconsideration of the role of the USMLE at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

USMLE Step 1
All students are required to take the USMLE Step 1 Exam after the 2nd year curriculum and prior to the beginning of the 3rd year clerkships. All students will be allowed to begin the 3rd year clerkships, but a passing grade on the Step 1 Exam is required as a pre-requisite to being allowed to continue beyond the first clerkship of 3rd year. (With approval from the Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs students, on rare occasion, may receive a deadline extension for taking Step 1 and beginning 3rd Year). Students who receive a failing grade on the Step 1 Exam are to complete the first clerkship (in progress) and then take a leave of absence from the school for a 6-week clerkship period to study for and retake the Step 1 Exam prior to the start of the following clerkship. The student will resume 3rd year while awaiting the new score. If on second attempt, the student does not receive a passing score, s/he will be placed on a leave of absence until recording a passing score on the third attempt. A passing score must be recorded by the beginning of the following clerkship year. Students who fail the Step 1 Exam a third time will be recommended for academic dismissal.

USMLE Step 2 (CK and CS)
All students are required to record a passing score on the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS) Exams as a requirement for graduation. To meet the graduation requirement, all seniors are required to schedule and sit for both exams by December 31 of the year prior to graduation. Therefore it is strongly recommended that students apply for and schedule the Step 2 Exams no later than June of the year prior to graduation. This scheduling should allow adequate time for processing the application and for results to be reported in advance of graduation. In the event of a failing grade, it will allow time to repeat the exam(s). Students who fail Step 2 (CK or CS) three times will be recommended for dismissal. No student will be allowed to receive the Doctor of Medicine degree without a passing score on the Step 2 Examinations. If a student chooses to take the Step 2 Exam(s) after January 1st of the fourth/graduation year, and fails the exam(s), NBME restrictions on processing time, rescheduling the exam, and reporting of scores may not allow sufficient time to permit the student to complete graduation requirements on time. It is likely that a student with a delayed graduation will not be allowed to start his or her scheduled residency.

USMLE Preparation and Certification
Information and advisement about preparation for the USMLE exams will be provided to students by the Offices of Medical Education and Curriculum. If eligible, Dr. Frank Schimpfhauser from the Office of Curriculum will complete the Certification of Identification Form on your behalf.