Validity of Step Scores

[fusfu]

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Hi-

I am in an MD/PhD Program, and I was wondering about how many years will my Step 1 scores will be valid. It is just that I received news from a former medical student (not MD/PhD) who waited to take Step 3 for a couple of years, and that when he tried to enroll for the Step 3 board exam he couldn't. When he called the NBME, they said that his step 1 scores expired. So, I am freaking out a little bit because I am going to take my step 1 now on June, and then I will embark a year after to start the PhD Program. I am supposed to finish the MD/PhD by 2021. How true is this? Will I have to take step 1 all over again after I finish the dual degree since the Step scores expire after 6 years? Because research sometimes can have set backs. My plan is to do the PhD in 3-4 years. Any thoughts and comments that may help my anxiety and stress?

Thanks!

Fusfu

 

[gutonc]

States with time limits also have exceptions for MD/PhDs. Don't sweat it.

 

[Neuronix]

Gutonc, not all of them do. See:
http://www.fsmb.org/policy/public-resources/state_specific

I have encountered people who had to retake steps to get their full licenses. At least at that point the scores don't matter whatsoever.

The shortest time limit out there for step score ineligibilty is 7 years. That is, all step scores have to be taken within 7 years starting from taking the step 1 exam, to be eligible for state licensure in many states. Some states have exemptions for MD/PhD, some only exempt science MD/PhDs, and some claim not to exempt at all. I have heard stories of people writing for an exemption and being successful in states where an exemption is not explicitly stated, but that's not uniformly the case.

My advice: don't take longer than 5 years for your PhD and you will be fine. If your PhD does take 5 years (combined 9 years), you can squeeze in step 3 in right after starting internship in July assuming you took step 1 in late summer after second year. If your PhD is 4 years, this is not an issue for you.