Step 1 is changing in 2010 / 2011 ??

[DCMDtobe]

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Hey, I've heard the USMLE Steps are changing. Supposedly the first USMLE exam will now be taken at the end of third year and will focus on clinical info more than basic science minutiae. Sort of like a combination of Step 1 and Step 2 CK.

A friend of mine, who is in an MD-PHD program, has been told by our dean that he doesn't have to take Step 1, since he'll be able to take the new exam under the new system in 2010 - 2011 or so. He finished 2nd year of Med school in 2006. Now he has 4 years in the lab. Then he'll do his MS-III year and would take this new-format USMLE exam in 2011.

Can you all confirm that these changes are truly in the works. I did a quick search and wasn't able to get any info on these changes, but I have heard from multiple sources that the changes are coming.

 

[Dr.TobiasFünke]

wonder what's going to happen to all the MD/PhDs that just took the Step I???

 

[DCMDtobe]

re-reading my post, I sound like Obama:

change .... change ... changes ... changing ... change ... change

http://sendables.jibjab.com/

 

[JeffLebowski]

None of this stuff is true or certain.

The only things that are certain are:
The USMLE is undergoing review, and one possibility is combining Step I & II material into a more integrated, later test. The format & timing of a new version has not been decided, a scoring system has not been determined, and no details have been even really talked about. If you read the USMLE site on the redesign, so far (as of June), the committee in charge of this process has so far only issued very vague recommendations on what their goals are for the review.

The NBME recently estimated the earliest implementation date would mean the class of med students entering in 2010 (not taking it in the year 2010) may take the new version. Based on bureacratic precedent, I'd say it's a ways later than that.

My assessment is that anyone in school now should plan on taking the current version, there's no reason to wait for a "Step I & II in one" on the horizon. The NBME recently also acknowledged that MD/PhD's already in the pipeline will have to be considered in a transition, I'm sure if it happens, they'll consider them.

 

[Aptamer]

Hi. I'm an MD/PhD student who just finished second year and took Step 7 weeks ago. I too was concerned about this especially after hearing about it on the MD/PhD forum and the APSA.

I spoke to my Dean, and she said that in her experience, if and when these changes occur, those who have initiated the Step process will be "grandfathered in" and continue with the current sequence.

I particularly am fond of this notion because I rather take Step 2 right after clerkships and not worry about re-learning Head and Neck anatomy for the Step 1 material 6 years after I took anatomy the first time.

But like others have said, at the current moment, these are recommendations from the CUEP (per usmle.org) and not actual concrete changes yet.

 

[Law2Doc]

The NBME recently estimated the earliest implementation date would mean the class of med students entering in 2010 (not taking it in the year 2010) may take the new version. Based on bureacratic precedent, I'd say it's a ways later than that.

Right. Actually, last I heard (and based on an NBME committee meeting where they basically just agreed to meet to set an agenda), the SOONEST you could expect a change would be four years or so from now. So anyone reading this post as a med student won't see such a change. (Which is probably a good thing, because it likely will result in some other test assuming the role of career maker/breaker, not that you have an easier life).