NBME & FSMB Step Committees are asked to review every three to four years a complete in-depth review of standards.  At its June 2012 meeting, the Step 2 Committee conducted such a review for USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK). As a result of its review, the Step 2 Committee decided to raise the three-digit score recommended to pass Step 2 from 189 to 196. The Committee will closely monitor the effects of this decision on examinees and schools, and will examine trends in performance on an annual basis.

The new minimum passing score will be applied to Step 2 CK examinations for which the first day of testing is on or after July 1, 2012.