After successfully completing the basic sciences, all students who intend to apply to a residency program in the U.S. and complete part or all of their Year 3 clinical training in the U.S. are required to sit for the National Board of Medical Examiners Comprehensive Basic Sciences Examination (NBME CBSE) in accordance with the Promotion to Clinical Phase CBSE and Pathways for Clinical Training Policy. SGUSOM uses the CBSE for U.S. clinical placement purposes only; CBSE performance is not recorded on a student’s transcript or included in the MSPE.
Upon successful completion of the basic sciences, students selecting Pathway 1 as described in the Promotion to Clinical Phase CBSSE and Pathways for Clinical Training policy are required to sit for the CBSE examination. Students who pass the CBSE within the permitted attempts will be certified via ECFMG to take the USMLE Step 1 examination. Once certified, the USMLE Step 1 examination can be booked.
The CBSE is a scheduled examination and will be offered after students have successfully completed the basic sciences phase and met standards for promotion to the clinical phase. Students are permitted up to three mandatory CBSE attempts prior to clinical placement, with an optional fourth attempt where timeline permits, as outlined in the schedule in the Promotion to Clinical Phase CBSE and Pathways for Clinical Training policy. Students who pass the CBSE will be certified via ECFMG to take the USMLE Step 1 examination. Students who pass the CBSE and Step 1 can proceed to any SGU affiliated clinical site in the USA based on availability at the time of their qualification.
Students selecting Pathway 1 who do not pass the CBSE within the permitted attempts will be placed at an SGU affiliated US clinical site in a state that does not require USMLE Step 1.
Upon successful completion of all third-year core clinical rotations, SGUSOM will certify all students who are not already certified with ECFMG to take USMLE Steps 1 and 2, regardless of prior CBSE performance, in accordance with the Promotions to Clinical Phase CBSE and Pathways for Clinical Training policy.