Thousands of medical students across the country are demanding the elimination of a licensing exam that tests their patient care skills, arguing that it’s an expensive waste of time.
Led by students from Harvard Medical School, the effort has drawn strong support nationwide. More than 6,000 students, residents, and faculty at 130 medical schools have signed a petition calling for the National Board of Medical Examiners to abolish the test.
The target of their anger is the Step 2 CS, a role-playing test that asks students to examine and diagnose patients or actors pretending to have specific conditions and fill out their medical charts. It’s meant to test their ability to interview patients, do physical exams, and explain their findings.
