Why can’t I re-take the USMLE?

[christopherdasaro]

This alone is speaks to its unfitness to stratify residents at the resolution that we ask of it

[yahmn]

If the purpose of the test is licensing, the result ought to be pass/fail.

[DrGirth]

It means you have studied multiple times the subject material and mastered it.

[santiagoromerobrufau]

That’s not the real reason, I’m afraid. If it was, then it would be fine to retake it as long as you also pass it the second time. But if you got an 80th percentile the first time and areaiming for a 90th percentile, you know you’re not going to fail the second time.

The answer is simply: because residency programs look down on it. For whatever reason, they consider the fact that you had to take it twice to be a bad sign.

[midbell]

wait what? i know plenty of people who have taken step exams twice

[adetectiveinmedicine]

Bruh! The solution is so easy, , for licensing just rely on the last score! If someone fails then they have to retake it again for the third time even if they passed the first one.. they chose to take the risk!

[leylamartinez]

That’s terrible reasoning, with that logic no one should be able to retake their med school exams no retaking courses etc.

[ryandavalos]

While I think it’s true, what about DO students that have to take potentially both boards in order to match competitively? Sometimes they fail step and not comlex. Would that make them less of a doctor? How would you judge that? The logic is flawed there…

[leylamartinez]

What if your first test was a fluke? With the kind of exam it it it’s impossible, it just shows they aren’t confident in their testing. And -Kepler daily mutuel times then glass on their 3rd attempt. If that’s allowed, retke should be allowed

[Bison]

Why do we even have state licensing boards? It’d be so nice if you could license nationally (ya know, with your USMLE credentials) and not have to jump through hoops and fill out so so so much paperwork and wait for months to get licensed by each individual state

[santiagoromerobrufau]

That’s not the real reason, I’m afraid. If it was, then it would be fine to retake it as long as you also pass it the second time. But if you got an 80th percentile the first time and areaiming for a 90th percentile, you know you’re not going to fail the second time.

The answer is simply: because residency programs look down on it. For whatever reason, they consider the fact that you had to take it twice to be a bad sign.