{"id":19002,"date":"2019-09-12T07:17:10","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T07:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=19002"},"modified":"2022-05-20T14:02:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T14:02:34","slug":"all-about-the-usmle-step-2-cs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/all-about-the-usmle-step-2-cs\/","title":{"rendered":"All About the USMLE Step 2 CS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Step 2 CS follows\u00a0<a title=\"All About the USMLE Step 2 CK\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/usmle\/all-about-the-usmle-step-2-ck\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Step 2 CK<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usmle.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)<\/a>. It\u2019s an interactive test where you\u2019ll examine and diagnose actors who are pretending to be patients with specific health conditions. It\u2019s meant to test your ability to interview patients, do physical exams, fill out medical charts, and explain your findings.<br \/>\nBecause you\u2019re an IMG,\u00a0once you\u2019ve completed Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 2 CS, you are certified by the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ecfmg.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)<\/a>. That means you\u2019re eligible for the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nrmp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)<\/a>.<br \/>\nCheck out these questions to learn more about what to expect from the USMLE Step 2 CS.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Who takes the USMLE Step 2 CS?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nJust as with the\u00a0<a title=\"All About the USMLE Step 1\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/usmle\/all-about-the-usmle-step-1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USMLE Step 1<\/a>\u00a0and Step 2 CK, to be eligible to take Step 2 CS you must be in one of these categories at the time you apply for Step 2 CS and on the day of the exam:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You need to be officially enrolled in, or a graduate of, a medical school outside of the U.S. and Canada that\u2019s listed in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wdoms.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">World Directory of Medical Schools<\/a>\u00a0as meeting ECFMG eligibility requirements and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ecfmg.org\/forms\/certfact.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">other ECFMG criteria<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can register for Step 2 CS on the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbme.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)<\/a>\u00a0website.<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >When should I take the USMLE Step 2 CS?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nAccording to the USMLE, most students take Step 2 CS in their fourth year. One of the unique aspects of Step 2 CS is that it\u2019s the only portion of the USMLE not taken on a computer. Because it assesses a student\u2019s ability to act like an intern with primary responsibility for a patient, many students take the exam late in the clinical years of their med school journey.<br \/>\nBy the fourth year, you\u2019ve completed coursework and rotations in U.S. hospitals. These things (along with USMLE prep) help give you the experience\u2014and confidence\u2014you need to\u00a0pass Step 2 CS.<br \/>\nAlso, remember that the peak season for the USMLE Step 2 CS is between September and December. You may want to register and schedule early for Step 2 CS to make sure you get an opening when you want it and where you want it.<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_promobox  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Where will I take the exam?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nThe USMLE Step 2 CS is taken at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.csecassessments.org\/test-centers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC)<\/a>\u00a0test centers in five locations: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.<br \/>\nWhen you add up the cost of the exam (which is over $1,200) and expenses for USMLE prep, travel, food, and lodging, it\u2019s certainly not cheap. A relatively nearby test center may help offset some of the cost.<br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-yes   avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\nNo prep is complete without experiencing the test itself under exam-like conditions. Practice live with a one-day full-length exam with 11-12 standardized patient encounters and a detailed performance analysis report with feedback. With a practice exam you really can perfect your performance.<\/p>\n<\/div><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-right ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/medical-prep\/usmle\/usmle-prep-course\/step-2-cs-practice-exam'  class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-right '   ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Step 2 Practice Exam<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >What\u2019s on the exam?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nThe USMLE Step 2 CS is an eight-hour pass\/fail exam that includes 12 individual patient encounters.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You\u2019ll be expected to communicate with the test patients in a professional, empathetic, and responsive way; answer their questions; and complete a patient note.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll cover common situations a doctor is likely to experience in U.S. clinics, doctors\u2019 offices, emergency departments, and hospital settings.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019ll be tested on physical systems that may include these categories:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Cardiovascular<\/li>\n<li>Constitutional<\/li>\n<li>Gastrointestinal<\/li>\n<li>Genitourinary<\/li>\n<li>Musculoskeletal<\/li>\n<li>Neurological<\/li>\n<li>Psychiatric<\/li>\n<li>Respiratory<\/li>\n<li>Women\u2019s health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >How can I make sure I\u2019m prepared?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nOne of the major outcomes of this exam is that it determines whether you speak English well enough to communicate effectively with your patients. Bottom line:\u00a0The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/medical-prep\/usmle\/usmle-prep-course\/step-2-cs-comparison\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">best test prep<\/a>\u00a0is to know what to say and how to say it.<br \/>\nAs an IMG, you may want to consider extra practice and review so you\u2019re confident you\u2019ll ace the exam.Look for test prep that helps you learn how to quickly build rapport, earn a patient\u2019s trust, and show empathy. While knowledge of the content is vital, it\u2019s key that you treat every encounter as if you\u2019re dealing with a real patient. If you can do that, you\u2019ll be well on your way to becoming a doctor in the U.S.<br \/>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Step 2 CS follows\u00a0Step 2 CK\u00a0in the\u00a0United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). It\u2019s an interactive test where you\u2019ll examine and diagnose actors who are pretending to be patients with specific health conditions. It\u2019s meant to test your ability to interview patients, do physical exams, fill out medical charts, and explain your findings. Because you\u2019re an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[145],"tags":[351,157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19002"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34221,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19002\/revisions\/34221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}