What are the options for including exam fees in the COA in the third versus the fourth year?
Medical schools that require sitting for or passing these exams should reflect upon the ideal time for examinees to register and take the exam. It would be advisable for schools to consider whether to establish a deadline date for examinees to sit for the exam, especially if passing the exam is an academic requirement and a passing score must be received prior to graduation. Some schools may want to set their initial deadline date sufficiently early to allow for a repeat administration, should an examinee fail the initial exam. Another issue to consider is whether test results will be expected or required by residency programs, as when an examinee sits for the exam and receives their test results may impact the residency selection process. The options available are as follows: • Several schools have indicated they include registration fees in an examinees’ third year as registration for the exam and for specific test sites is being handled by USMLE on a first-come, first-served basis.
