USMLE Requirements

The United States Medical Licensing Examination™ (USMLE™) is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the United States. Individuals must have passed Step 1 and Step 2 (CK) to be eligible to take Step 3. Step 3 is usually taken after one year of residency training. All three steps must be taken within a seven-year period. Guidelines and processes for registration are available at www.usmle.org.

To graduate from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, students must have registered and taken Step 1 and Step 2 (CK) of the USMLE exam.

Below is a recommended timeline for taking the USMLE exams during medical school:

Register to sign up for Step 1

  • Students may register up to 6 months before the date of the exam. Early sign-up is recommended in order to get the date and location you prefer.
  • Students will sign up for a three-month elgibility period and will receive a scheduling permit. This permit is required for making an appointment for a specific test date.
  • Please consult the academic calendar for Pritzker Students' Step 1 deadlines.

 Register to sign up for Step 2 (CK)

  • Students may register up to 6 months before the date of the exam. Early sign-up is recommended in order to get the date and location you prefer.
  • Students will sign up for a three-month eligibility period and will receive a scheduling permit. This permit is required for making an appointment for a specific test date.

Deadline to take Step 2 (CK)

For students who matriculated to Pritzker in 2020 or later, this deadline will move backward to July 1 (after M3 clerkships).