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Eligibility for and Overview of the Request to Extend a USMLE® Step 1/Step 2 CK Eligibility Period (EPEx)
             
  ELIGIBILITY

If you are unable to take USMLE Step 1/Step 2 CK during the eligibility period assigned to you, you may request a one-time extension. You may extend your eligibility period only through the next, contiguous eligibility period (the next eligibility period that does not overlap with your assigned eligibility period).

Example: An applicant's eligibility period is April-May-June. The eligibility period may be extended only through July-August-September.

To request an extension, you must complete a "Request to Extend a USMLE® Step 1/Step 2 CK Eligibility Period" as described below in the Overview. Payment of the appropriate fee must accompany the request.

You may request an extension of your eligibility period only once for each exam registration. You may request an extension of your eligibility period only after your original eligibility period has begun. The processing of your request must be completed by the published deadline (refer to the table below), or your request will be rejected. The time needed to complete the processing of your request may be contingent upon your medical school's response to ECFMG's request for verification of your status as a student or graduate.

If you are requesting an extension of the eligibility periods for both Step 1 and Step 2 CK at the same time and the eligibility periods are different, the processing of your request must be completed by the deadline for the earlier eligibility period. For specific information on the timing of your request, refer to the table below.

Example: Your Step 1 eligibility period is Jun 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025 and your Step 2 CK eligibility period is Jul 1, 2025 - Sep 30, 2025. If you are submitting a request for an extension of both eligibility periods at the same time, the processing of your request must be completed by Sep 25, 2025, the deadline for the earlier eligibility period, Jun 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025.
 
 
Original Eligibility Period Extended Eligibility Period Deadline
Aug 01 2024 - Oct 31 2024 Nov 01 2024 - Jan 31 2025 Monday, Nov 25 2024
Sep 01 2024 - Nov 30 2024 Dec 01 2024 - Feb 28 2025 Friday, Dec 27 2024
Oct 01 2024 - Dec 31 2024 Jan 01 2025 - Mar 31 2025 Monday, Jan 27 2025
Nov 01 2024 - Jan 31 2025 Feb 01 2025 - Apr 30 2025 Tuesday, Feb 25 2025
Dec 01 2024 - Feb 28 2025 Mar 01 2025 - May 31 2025 Tuesday, Mar 25 2025
Jan 01 2025 - Mar 31 2025 Apr 01 2025 - Jun 30 2025 Friday, Apr 25 2025
Feb 01 2025 - Apr 30 2025 May 01 2025 - Jul 31 2025 Tuesday, May 27 2025
Mar 01 2025 - May 31 2025 Jun 01 2025 - Aug 31 2025 Wednesday, Jun 25 2025
Apr 01 2025 - Jun 30 2025 Jul 01 2025 - Sep 30 2025 Friday, Jul 25 2025
May 01 2025 - Jul 31 2025 Aug 01 2025 - Oct 31 2025 Monday, Aug 25 2025
Jun 01 2025 - Aug 31 2025 Sep 01 2025 - Nov 30 2025 Thursday, Sep 25 2025
Jul 01 2025 - Sep 30 2025 Oct 01 2025 - Dec 31 2025 Monday, Oct 27 2025
Aug 01 2025 - Oct 31 2025 Nov 01 2025 - Jan 31 2026 Tuesday, Nov 25 2025
Sep 01 2025 - Nov 30 2025 Dec 01 2025 - Feb 28 2026 Monday, Dec 29 2025
Oct 01 2025 - Dec 31 2025 Jan 01 2026 - Mar 31 2026 Monday, Jan 26 2026

  Additionally, you must continue to be eligible to take the exam during the extended eligibility period. Refer to Eligibility for Examination in the ECFMG Information Booklet.

If you have a scheduled testing appointment during your original eligibility period and need to cancel and reschedule the appointment for your extended eligibility period, you must contact Prometric to cancel or reschedule that appointment. Requesting an extension of your eligibility period does not cancel a scheduled appointment. 
    Important Note: Depending on the date you change (reschedule, cancel, change test center location) your appointment, a rescheduling fee may apply. Refer to the USMLE website for details on Prometric's rescheduling fees. If you cancel your appointment or do not test as scheduled, you may need to call Prometric and pay a fee to reinstate your eligibility record before you submit your request for an eligibility period extension. Refer to your scheduling permit for details.
If your eligibility period is extended, a revised scheduling permit reflecting the extension will be issued. ECFMG will send you an e-mail notification when your revised scheduling permit is available. You must present the revised scheduling permit at the test center on your exam date.

Please note that if you do not take the exam during your original or extended eligibility period or if you are unable to extend your eligibility period, you must reapply by submitting a new application and fee(s), if you wish to take the exam.


OVERVIEW

There are two parts to the IWA Request to Extend a USMLE® Eligibility Period:
  1. The on-line part of the request, and
  2. student or graduate status verification.
ECFMG must receive both the on-line part and verification of your status as a student or graduate of the medical school you listed in your USMLE application by that medical school in order to process your request.

1. On-line Part

You must begin with the on-line part. Instructions for each item in the request are available throughout the process. You can also print the instructions for all items at any time.

When you begin an on-line request, your request will be assigned a Request Identification Code. You should write this number down and keep it in a safe place. As you move from screen to screen, the information you provide will be saved. If you are unable to finish the on-line part of your request in one session or you are disconnected, you can return to your request later by clicking the link to your saved request after logging into IWA. You may also use the Request Identification Code to reprint Certification Statement (Form 183-E), if necessary, after the on-line part of your request has been submitted to ECFMG.

You will be given the option to request an extension of a USMLE eligibility period only for those exams for which you are currently registered. Also, you will not be able to apply for an extension before the start date or after the published deadline for the original eligibility period (see above). If you meet these requirements for both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK, you will be able to apply for extensions of both eligibility periods in the same request.

To complete the on-line part of the request, you must read the Certification by Applicant statement (Item 4) and click the check box to indicate that you have read, understood, and agree to the statement. If you do not click the check box, you will not be able to proceed with your request.

2. Student or Graduate Status Verification

In order to process your request for an eligibility period extension, ECFMG must verify your status as a student or graduate of the medical school you listed in your USMLE application with that medical school. ECFMG will request status verification from your medical school via the school's preferred method, either electronically through the ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP) Status Verification program or via a paper form (Certification Statement Form 183-E). If your medical school completes status verification requests electronically, you will be notified at the end of the on-line application process. If your medical school completes status verification requests via paper form, you will be provided with the form at the end of the on-line application process.

If your medical school participates in EMSWP Status Verification, ECFMG cannot complete the processing of your request until your medical school verifies your status through EMSWP. As a result, the time needed to complete the processing of your request will be contingent upon your medical school's response to the EMSWP verification request. If your medical school does not verify your status through EMSWP by the published deadline, your request will be rejected.

If you are required to complete a Certification Statement (Form 183-E), you must print it at the end of the on-line part of the request for extension.

The Certification Statement (Form 183-E) must be completed by you and an authorized official of your medical school. The medical school official must sign and date the form and provide his/her name, official title, and the institution name. The official must affix the institution's seal in the designated section of the form. Each medical school has been requested to provide ECFMG with a list of the officials authorized by the school to certify these forms. Your form must be certified by an official on this list. Contact your medical school to determine the officials authorized by your medical school for this purpose; ECFMG will not provide this information to applicants. If your form is not signed by an authorized official, it will not be accepted. The signature of the official must be current; the official must have signed the form within 45 days of the date that it is received at ECFMG. The form must be sent to ECFMG directly from the office of this official. If the form is not sent to ECFMG from the office of the medical school official, it will not be accepted.

ECFMG must receive both the on-line part and the Certification Statement (Form 183-E) in order to process your request. The processing of your request must be completed by the published deadline, or it will be rejected.

The completed Certification Statement (Form 183-E) must be received by ECFMG as soon as possible. You will be given a deadline, based on your original eligibility period(s), by which the processing of your request must be completed. If you are requesting an extension of the eligibility periods for both Step 1 and Step 2 CK and the eligibility periods are different, the processing of your request must be completed by the deadline for the earlier eligibility period. The deadlines are shown in the table above.