USMLE Step 2 CS 5-day Course in the US

USMLE Step 2 CS 5 Day Course - $2,799

USMLE Step 2 CS Practice Exam - $999*

*Book both and receive 10% off the Practice Exam!

Join Kaplan’s Step 2 CS course. Through simulations, practice sessions with feedback from standardized patients, step-by-step instructions, and efficient time management strategies, we help you become familiar with the exam and master the skills necessary to pass.

by downloading a USMLE enrollment form.

This intensive review course features hand-on interactive learning through numerous patient encounters and teaching from our expert faculty. It includes coaching and training in effective physician/patient communication, practice in conducting a relevant patient history and performing a focused physical exam and writing a concise patient note, and a minimum of 11 standardized patient examinations. The program is conveniently offered in three cities across the United States: Chicago, Il, San Jose, CA and Newark, NJ.

Please review the information below about the course and about the USMLE Step 2 CS exam. To enroll, please click the Enroll Now button on the right-hand side of the page. If you need any more information please call us on +353 1524 1801 or Contact Us – we are open 7 days a week.

Please note that we will charge you the daily GBP equivalent of the USD price on the date of enrollment.

USMLE live lecture dates

Course Overview

This Kaplan USMLE course is brought to you by the Academic Team in the US. Our faculty is composed of US medical school faculty and practitioners who are acclaimed lecturers in their respective fields. They have unique insights into the high-yield content and how it is tested on the USMLE.

Kaplan Medical curricula focus on topics and concepts that are most important for exam success. We understand that you want to reach your educational and career goals quickly and efficiently, whilst attaining the highest score possible.

Course Structure

We have several course dates throughout the year – you just need to find one to suit you. For the full list of course dates, visit the Chicago, Palo Alto, or Newark course schedules.

Course Materials

In the Center

Hands-on, comprehensive review
Teaching sessions by our expert faculty on doctor-patient communication skills, directed history taking, focused physical exam, and patient note writing
10 standardized patient encounters with personalized analysis and feedback completed by standardized patients
Evaluation of patient notes

At Home

Kaplan Medical's Step 2 Clinical Skills Review Notes

Test Overview

The Step 2 CS is a one-day, practical exam, which must be taken at one of the testing centers in the U.S. Examinees have fifteen minutes to examine each "standardized patient" (SP), who is an actor chosen from a broad range of age, racial, and ethnic backgrounds and trained to portray a real patient. The exam resembles a physician's typical workday in a clinic, doctor's office, emergency department, and/or hospital setting in the United States.

During the examination, examinees are expected to communicate with the "standardized patient" (SPs) in a professional and empathetic manner, elicit important historic information, perform a physical examination, answer any questions from the SPs, tell them what diagnoses are being considered, and inform them of what tests will be ordered to clarify their diagnoses. After each encounter, examinees must record pertinent history and physical examination findings, list diagnostic impressions, and outline plans for further evaluation, if necessary.

Step 2 CS Exam Dates

Click here for the latest calendar of Step 2 CS exam dates.

Test Format

Total Examination Length: 8 hours with two breaks (30 minutes; 15 minutes)
Sessions: AM and PM
Patient Encounters: 11 or 12 (11 are scored)
Length of Each Patient Encounter: 15 minutes
Time Allotted for Writing Each Patient Note: 10 minutes

Test Scores

Score performance on the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) exam will be reported as pass or fail. The scoring will be non-compensatory, thus examinees will be required to pass all three of the following areas in order to obtain a passing designation:

An Integrated Clinical Encounter score (ICE) consisting of Data Gathering (History and Physical) + Patient Note
A doctor-patient Communication and Interpersonal Skills score (CIS) based on checklist rating scales of these skills
A Spoken English Proficiency score (SEP) based on checklist rating scales of these skills

Examinees that do not pass the Step 2 CS will receive basic performance data to guide them on areas where their performance needs to improve. In addition, there will be a mandatory 60-day wait before examinees can re-test including a 3 times per year maximum.

Register for the Test

Step 2 CS registration is on a first come first serve with no preference given to US students. Examinees will be able to choose their date and location. Once registered, there will be a 12-month eligibility period. The fee for IMGs is $1200.

Registering to take the Step 2 CS and scheduling your exam date is a multi-step process:

1. Obtain an application form
IMGs may apply online at http://iwa.ecfmg.org/ or with a paper application. Step 2 CS paper application forms are available as part of the ECFMG information booklet. If sending a paper application, you must complete it in its entirety and send it (with the $1200 IMG Step 2 CS registration fee) to the ECFMG in the envelope they provide.

2. Receive a Notification of Registration
When you receive this Notification, you are eligible to schedule your test date. You must schedule your test date within your twelve-month eligibility period.

3. Schedule your test date
There are two ways to schedule your test date: 1) by phone (1-215-966-3574), where you can schedule your date with an operator (9am to 5pm, Eastern Time in the United States, Monday-Friday); or 2) on the web site of your registration entity (NBME -- https://external1.nbme.org/interactive/, or ECFMG -- www.ecfmg.org), where you will be walked through an online scheduling process. Remember that you can't use either method until you've received your Notification of Registration.

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