It is policy of the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences that all Phase 1 students pass the USMLE Step 1 examination in order to progress to Phase 2 of the MD Program [Promotion to Phase 2 4.1]. The deadline for students to take the USMLE Step 1 exam is determined by the School and displayed on the official Office of Medical Education (OME) calendar.
Dual-degree students must pass Step 1 prior to transitioning into their graduate program. Progression for students who delay or do not pass Step 1 is determined by the graduate program administration, OSAA and OME. MD/PhD students who require a delay should be meeting with their advisor for any extenuating circumstances.
Students may request to defer/delay their USMLE Step 1 exam to a later date. There are two bases for requesting a Step 1 deferral:
Should a student fail to meet indicators established by the Office and Student and Academic Affairs (OSAA) and the Learning Sciences and Educational Success Program team as outlined in the course IMC 630: USMLE Step 1 Preparation, the student may request a deferral of the Step 1 testing deadline. [Testing deadline is defined as the deadline set by OSAA for all students of a specific cohort to sit for Step 1.]
A student can request such deferral after meeting with one of the Learning Specialists. Students will be recommended for deferral if they are not meeting the established benchmarks set by OSAA and the Learning Specialists one week prior to the Step 1 deadline date each year. Deferral recommendations will be emailed to a Student Affairs Dean from a Learning Specialist outlining the reasoning for the student’s delay.
The student must then meet with a Student Affairs Dean to discuss deferring of the exam. Upon approval, students will be granted an additional 4 weeks of dedicated study time where they are required to meet weekly with a Learning Specialist. A 4-week delay will not impact graduation year pending future performance. Students will sign a letter written by OSAA signifying they understand and will uphold the deferral deadline and any additional requirements included in such letter.
Should a student need an additional delay beyond 4 weeks, they will again meet with a Student Affairs Dean to discuss further delaying their Step 1 exam and the start of Phase 2. If an additional delay (10 weeks after initial deadline) is granted, the student’s Phase 2 schedule will be adjusted by OSAA and the student must still participate in and complete the Clinical Reasoning and Synthesis course and participate in Phase 2 orientation which will take place during this delay period. Students will sign another letter written by OSAA signifying they understand and will uphold the deferral deadline and any additional requirements included in such letter.
In order to sit for Step 1 after a delay, the student must receive approval from a Learning Specialist.
In the event of an extenuating personal circumstance, a student must meet with a Student Affairs Dean to request a deferral. The deadline for the student to take Step 1 will be determined by OSAA based on student’s specific personal extenuating circumstance.
Dual-degree students must pass Step 1 prior to transitioning into their graduate program. Progression for students who delay or do not pass Step 1 is determined by the graduate program administration, Office of Student and Academic Affairs (OSAA), and OME. MD/PhD students should also be meeting with their advisor for any extenuating circumstances.
A student who is required to remediate one or more third semester Phase 1 courses must do so prior to taking USMLE Step 1. The student must meet with OSAA and OME to determine the timing of Step 1 and start of clinical rotations.
A delay beyond 10 weeks will require an official Leave of Absence (LOA) and the student will rejoin with the next cohort upon successful passing of USMLE Step 1.
Students who return from LOA after passing USMLE Step 1 will have new clerkship schedules based on availability as determined by OSAA and the Phase 2 Director.
In the event of a Step 1 failure, a remediation plan for Step 1, including the reexamination date, must be approved by OSAA and a Learning Specialist. A student must achieve a passing score to start Phase 2.
Deferral of USMLE Step 1 may affect and delay the timeline of both residency application and graduation. Students who delay Step 1 without approval will have an adjusted start date for clinical rotations determined by OSAA and OME. An unapproved delay in taking Step 1 will be noted in the MSPE as a professionalism concern. Students should not consider delaying the start of the Health System Scholarly project or clinical rotations as a potential benefit or personal option. Delaying the start of their project or clerkships will decrease the flexibility and benefits of the revised curriculum.