Step 2CS score for PGY-1

[Transformers]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Did you guys need a passing step 2CS score in order to start residency? I was wondering if your state licensure board/school was lenient on this requirement (especially if you took the exam later in 4th year post-match). Additionally, I was wondering if you knew any states that did not have such a requirement.

Basically I'm in a nightmarish situation of having recently taken Step 2CS and my scores not coming back in time (my school was very lax about taking CS throughout the year) and hence delaying my start of PGY-1 year (and potentially delaying my advanced residency).

 

[Animalcules]

Not your school's fault, to be fair. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Phloston]

My comment here won't answer your question and I have no reason to speculate about your situation, but if all else fails, I know a girl who couldn't get her 2CS passed in time as an IMG and has to hold off matching for a year. She's doing an MPH in the mean time. So life moves on and we create positives from short-term stress. Sublimate if it doesn't work out.

 

[rokshana]

My comment here won't answer your question and I have no reason to speculate about your situation, but if all else fails, I know a girl who couldn't get her 2CS passed in time as an IMG and has to hold off matching for a year. She's doing an MPH in the mean time. So life moves on and we create positives from short-term stress. Sublimate if it doesn't work out.

F/IMGs are required to be ECFMG verified by the time the ROL is due..but everyone (I/FMG and AMG alike) have to have all 3 (I, CK, CS ) passed by the time they start residency...whether a program will give an extension (but them on vacation, LOA, etc) will m/l be program dependent..if the result is due in June or July, maybe, but later than that...not sure many places will hold a spot...

to the OP...did you fail CS and have to retake and took it too late? or just slacked off and decided to take it so late...and is your med school going to allow you to even graduate? The steps are usually a requirement for graduation at many schools.

 

[Transformers]

F/IMGs are required to be ECFMG verified by the time the ROL is due..but everyone (I/FMG and AMG alike) have to have all 3 (I, CK, CS ) passed by the time they start residency...whether a program will give an extension (but them on vacation, LOA, etc) will m/l be program dependent..if the result is due in June or July, maybe, but later than that...not sure many places will hold a spot...

to the OP...did you fail CS and have to retake and took it too late? or just slacked off and decided to take it so late...and is your med school going to allow you to even graduate? The steps are usually a requirement for graduation at many schools.

I had failed CS and had to retake :/...unfortunately with all the delays and scheduling and score reporting timeframes...the whole process takes months :/

 

[gutonc]

Did you guys need a passing step 2CS score in order to start residency? I was wondering if your state licensure board/school was lenient on this requirement (especially if you took the exam later in 4th year post-match). Additionally, I was wondering if you knew any states that did not have such a requirement.

Basically I'm in a nightmarish situation of having recently taken Step 2CS and my scores not coming back in time (my school was very lax about taking CS throughout the year) and hence delaying my start of PGY-1 year (and potentially delaying my advanced residency).

So...I'll ask the same question I ask every time I read a question like this....

What did the PC of your internship program say when you asked him/her this question? And your Dean's office?

Because no matter what anybody here says, or what anyone else's experience or opinion is, that's the only thing that matters. If they say you can't start until CS comes through, you can't start until CS comes through. The end.

 

[Transformers]

So...I'll ask the same question I ask every time I read a question like this....

What did the PC of your internship program say when you asked him/her this question? And your Dean's office?

Because no matter what anybody here says, or what anyone else's experience or opinion is, that's the only thing that matters. If they say you can't start until CS comes through, you can't start until CS comes through. The end.

That's a good question. I will get to that this week. I think it is however, less of the dean or PC and more of the state licensure board that is being a stickler on this.

 

[gutonc]

That's a good question. I will get to that this week. I think it is however, less of the dean or PC and more of the state licensure board that is being a stickler on this.

Again, doesn't matter who makes the rule, if you don't qualify, you're done.

 

[rokshana]

That's a good question. I will get to that this week. I think it is however, less of the dean or PC and more of the state licensure board that is being a stickler on this.

this might be part of your problem...a better answer would be "since this could seriously adversely effect my medical career, i'll call them right now"...

if you need a training license and the board requires passed scores, then you won't get that license until you have fulfilled the requirements for the license...and while the match is legally binding, it does say that you have to fulfill the requirements...no license...you don't fulfill the requirements and they don't have to keep you...

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You should triple check:

1. Is CS required to graduate from your medical school? If so, you already have a big problem because you may not graduate on time, and some schools have specific graduation dates -- if you miss this one, you might need to wait awhile until the next. And without a diploma, you're not a doctor. So game over.

2. Is CS required for state licensure? If so, this is a hard stop.

3. Is CS required for hospital credentialing?

Bottom line is that it's likely to be required for at least one of these. Which leads us to the 4th question:

4. Will your program wait for you? If you can't start on July 1, they can request a match waiver and hire someone else.

 

[Transformers]

You should triple check:

1. Is CS required to graduate from your medical school? If so, you already have a big problem because you may not graduate on time, and some schools have specific graduation dates -- if you miss this one, you might need to wait awhile until the next. And without a diploma, you're not a doctor. So game over.

2. Is CS required for state licensure? If so, this is a hard stop.

3. Is CS required for hospital credentialing?

Bottom line is that it's likely to be required for at least one of these. Which leads us to the 4th question:

4. Will your program wait for you? If you can't start on July 1, they can request a match waiver and hire someone else.

For med school, our sole requirement was to sit our butts down for ck ans cs by the time we graduated. They did not need our scores or care if we passed.

I will say talking to my friends elsewhere, some did not have the requirement of passing cs and ck scores in their programs and a mere "having taken cs and ck" by residency start.

Which begs my next question of the worst case scenario...could I secure a pgy 1 inter ship heck anywhere (even in gen surg) at this stage elsewhere that does not have passing ck and cs scores on time in order to start on July 1st?

 

[Raryn]

For med school, our sole requirement was to sit our butts down for ck ans cs by the time we graduated. They did not need our scores or care if we passed.

I will say talking to my friends elsewhere, some did not have the requirement of passing cs and ck scores in their programs and a mere "having taken cs and ck" by residency start.

Which begs my next question of the worst case scenario...could I secure a pgy 1 inter ship heck anywhere (even in gen surg) at this stage elsewhere that does not have passing ck and cs scores on time in order to start on July 1st?

Unlikely.

I don't quite understand your situation. You've already matched an advanced program but not a prelim? Or haven't matched anything at all?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You cannot just get another spot if you've matched to a spot. You would need to apply for a match waiver, be approved, then look for a new spot. And that's not going to be a fast process.

As mentioned, if you can't start your prelim on time, your program has the option of waiting for you, or cutting you loose. If they cut you loose (by applying for a match waiver with the reason being that you can't start on July 1), you would then be free to look for a new prelim position, but you can't look (or accept) until the match waiver process completes. And if you start your prelim late (even if your program keeps you), your advanced match might decide to apply for a match waiver and you could lose your spot. Which they might do because you failed CS.