USMLE Step 1 Exam Deferral Policy

PURPOSE
To outline the deadline by which medical students must complete the USMLE Step 1 exam, and the process for requesting an extension to this deadline.

AUDIENCE
All medical students

LCME STANDARD
8.4 Evaluation of Educational Program Outcomes

POLICY

  1. All students are required to pass the USMLE Step 1 examination to graduate from the School.
  2. All students are required to complete USMLE Step 1 on or before the Sunday prior to the start of the Clerkship Intersessions course.
  3. Students who are at risk of not passing the Step 1 exam may, with the approval of the Committee on Student Promotions (CSP), defer their first clerkship in order to extend their study period.
  4. Students must comply with the School’s Bylaws & Regulations, Regulation 80-D-1-a-v., requiring the passing of UMSLE Step 1 within one year of completing the pre-clerkship phase.

PROCEDURE

A. Step 1 preparation

Required Practice Assessments

Practice assessments will be offered multiple times throughout the second year of the pre-clerkship phase and during the dedicated study period. All practice assessments will be administered in-person on the Sacramento campus. Practice assessments will be offered at the following times throughout the year:

    • I-RESTORE week #4 (October)
    • First Saturday following winter break (January)
    • First Monday of the dedicated study period (End of February)
    • Monday of the third week of the dedicated study period (Mid-March)
    • Monday of the fifth week of the dedicated study period (End of March)

For specific dates, consult the academic calendar.

Students are expected to achieve a total equated percent correct score of at least 60% on a practice assessment before the School supports their taking the Step 1 exam. Students are required to take all scheduled practice assessments until they meet the threshold of a total equated percent correct of 60%.

Practice Assessment Performance Recommendations

Students who do not meet the threshold of a total equated percent correct of 60% on the practice assessment offered in the fifth week of the dedicated study period will be strongly recommended to defer their first clerkship to allow additional time for Step 1 preparation. (See deferral instructions below.) These students will be expected to participate in the Clerkship Intersession course and then continue their Step 1 preparation.

If a student chooses not to defer their first clerkship despite a recommendation from the School, they will be expected to take Step 1 by the regular deadline of the Sunday before the start of the Clerkship Intersessions course.

B. Step 1 Deferral Requests and Timeline

  1. Requesting a Deferral based on practice assessment performance
    1. Students requesting a deferral to extend the USMLE Step 1 study period must complete and submit the USMLE Step 1 Deferral Form. The Form must indicate the request for the deferral is based on practice assessment (e.g., CBSE) performance.
    2. The deadline for submitting the USMLE Step 1 Deferral Form is Wednesday of the 6th week of dedicated study period. Completed USMLE Step 1 Deferral Forms should be submitted to HS-somcsp@ucdavis.edu.
    3. Requests for deferrals will not be considered if submitted after the deadline.
    4. All deferral requests will be reviewed by CSP. If approved, CSP will provide a deadline for the completion of Step 1.
    5. Students approved to defer a clerkship will be required to take an additional practice assessment. This practice assessment will be administered on the Monday of the third week of clerkship #1 and will be administered in-person on the Sacramento campus.

  2. General timeline for completion of Step 1 with Deferral related to practice assessment performance

Students with an approved deferral related to practice assessment performance who achieve the threshold of a total equated percent correct score of 60% on the practice assessment offered at the midpoint of clerkship #1, must take Step 1 no later than the last Friday of clerkship #1. They will then participate in week two of the Clerkship Intersessions course and enter clerkship #2.

Students with an approved deferral who do not meet the threshold of a total equated percent correct score of 60% by the CBSE offered at the midpoint of clerkship #1 will be expected to meet with the Associate Dean for Students and the Director of the Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources (OSLER) to develop a plan to support student success on passing Step 1. These students must also meet with CSP leadership and may be asked to step away from clerkships, focus on Step 1 preparation, and return to the clerkship phase the following year. CSP will determine the deadline by which these students must complete Step 1. All students, regardless of length of deferral will be required to attempt Step 1 by September 30 of the year in which they completed the pre-clerkship curriculum.

  1. Deferral Requests for reasons other than practice assessment performance
    1. In the event of illness or personal emergency, students may request a deferral for reasons other than performance on a practice assessment. Students requesting a deferral due to illness or personal emergency must complete and submit the USMLE Step 1 Deferral Form. Completed USMLE Step 1 Deferral Forms should be submitted to HS-somcsp@ucdavis.edu.
    2. The Deferral Form must detail the rationale for the request and be signed by the student’s academic coach and the Associate Dean for Students.
    3. All deferral requests will be reviewed by an Office of Medical Education Committee and approved by CSP.
    4. Students will be notified by CSP if their request is approved and a deadline for completing Step 1 will be provided.

C. Requirements and Curricular Impact of Deferring a Clerkship

Students who defer one clerkship will be required to enroll in directed studies in Spring Quarter and meet regularly with OSLER staff to fulfill the requirements of directed studies.

Students are required to participate in and complete all portions of the Clerkship Intersessions course that occur during the deferral period.

When a student is approved to defer their first clerkship, the student will be dropped from their scheduled first clerkship. If necessary, a new schedule for the remaining clerkships may be generated by the Clerkship Curriculum Manager. The deferred clerkship will be placed in the student’s Post-clerkship schedule in the following academic year subject to clerkship site availability. Deferred clerkships may delay graduation.

RESPONSIBILITY
Associate Dean for Students
Office of Student Learning and Educational Resources
Committee on Student Promotions
Curriculum Managers

REFERENCES
UC Davis School of Medicine Bylaws and Regulations, Regulation 60 (A) (2)
UC Davis School of Medicine Bylaws and Regulations, Regulation 80 (D) (1) (a) (v)
USMLE Step 1 Exam Policy

POLICY OWNER
Committee on Student Promotions

REVIEWED BY
Committee on Student Promotions*
Associate Dean for Students

REVIEWED DATE and REVIEW CYCLE
July 2023; Annual review cycle

* indicates the policy owner