1. Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study Schedules & Support Services
USMLE Step 1
Nuts & Bolts: Policy, Registration, Study Schedules & Support Services
October 11, 2017

2. Goals Review UC Davis SOM policy related to Step 1
Provide information related to registration, scheduling and testing accommodations for Step 1
Provide an outline of deadlines and events related to Step 1 preparation
Describe support available as you prepare for Step 1

3. UC Davis School of Medicine Policy
You must take and complete the exam by the Sunday prior to the beginning of Transition to Clerkship
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Exceptions to this date can only be granted by the Committee on Student Promotions
alstudentpolicies/csp/step1policy.html
Request to defer clerkship #1 – last day of winter quarter (March 23, 2018)
Request to defer third year – seven days before start of Transition to Clerkship (April 16, 2018)

4. Registration Go to www.nbme.org
Click on “Log-in to NBME Licensing Exam Services”
Follow prompts to complete registration
Select 90-day eligibility period
Print Certification of Identification and Authorization Form, attach picture and deliver form to Registrar’s Office – Room 1208
Take your ID when you submit form!

5. Selecting Your Eligibility Period
What is an eligibility period?
90 day window in which you may schedule/take your exam
You can not test outside of your eligibility period unless you:
File for a ONE TIME extension
$70 fee, no new scheduling permit until original eligibility expires
Re-register for the exam (i.e. pay another $600)

6. Selecting Your Eligibility Period
The first month of your eligibility period should be the month in which you are going to test.
Last course ends February 23, 2018.
Boards study typically lasts ~6 weeks.
Eligibility period: April-May-June

7. NBME Accommodations/Requests for Personal Item Exceptions
Accommodations for documented disabilities covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act
If you currently have educational accommodations, please contact OSLER to discuss process for applying for accommodations for USMLE.
Request for Personal Item Exceptions
Hearing aids, insulin pumps, inhalers, etc.

8. Scheduling Your Exam
You will receive an telling you that your scheduling permit is available
Log-in, click on “Scheduling Permit”
Go to Prometric website and schedule your test date.

9. Before you schedule your exam, think about…
How short/long do you want your study period to be?
Optimal is somewhere around six weeks
How “firm” do you want your test day to be?
Will purchasing an expensive, non-refundable ticket help motivate you to meet the deadline or cause anxiety?
What are the “Must Have” elements of your study plan?
Resources?
Days off?
Number of practice tests?
Number of questions?
If this is what I want to accomplish and the number of days I have, what will my days need to look like?

10. Transition to Clerkship
March 2018
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 29 30 31
April 2018
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Q
NBME R R R R Q
TEST!!
REST Q
NBME
Transition to Clerkship
~Review of ~20 pages of First Aid/day how long will this take you?
1 module of questions – 1 hour to complete, 1 hour to review?
30 minutes of pharm review
NBME
30 study days
3 question bank “practice tests”
3 NBME practice tests
3.5 days of cumulative review

11. Comprehensive Basic Science Exam
December 4: 11-5pm
REQUIRED!
Baseline assessment
January 12: 9-3pm
Progress check
Assessment after completing Cardiology and Pulmonary
Assessment of review completed over Winter Break
February 10: 9-3pm
Final progress check
Assessment after completing Nephrology
Opportunity to make final adjustments to plan for intensive study

12. How can OSLER support you?
Help interpreting your BSE score
Help planning a review for winter break
Help building a study plan for the dedicated study period
Provide feedback on a study plan you have created
Six week guided study for students who need more structure and accountability

13. Fall-Winter-Spring Timeline
October-December
Complete registration
Select and schedule test day
Take BSE exam – December 4
Plan review for winter break
January
Take second BSE – January 12
Develop study schedule for March/April
February
Take third BSE – February 10
Revise study schedule (if necessary)
March-April
Study!
Take Step 1

14. The Bottom Line Be informed Be systematic Be reflective
Know yourself and what works for you
Ask questions now
Know that help is available

15. Questions? Step 1and Residency
Dr. Jain
Study Support, Testing Accommodations & Personal Item Exceptions
Joanna Arnold
Richard Moses
Dori Santana
Emotional Well-being and Support
Dr. Rea
Dr.Simonson and Dr. Ulrey