Step 2 emphasizes on the practical knowledge of the medical students and is categorized into two separate sections of examination:

1) Step 2— CK (Clinical Knowledge)

This step comes under the second part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. It is a nine hours long exam with multiple choice questions. Literally, this step focus on the clinical application of medical knowledge. It examines and analyses the practical knowledge regarding how you apply medical knowledge, skills, and understandings of clinical science. This determines the student’s ability to provide patient care. However, these practical attempts are done under supervision. As a medical student, you must take this part during the fourth year of the their medical school. The relevant subjects are Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and other such clinical sciences.

2) Step 2— CS (Clinical Skills)

This also comes under the second part of the USMLE and focuses on the clinical skills of the candidates through simulated patient interactions. In this exam, you, as an examiner, have to interact with 12 Standardized Patients (SPs), portrayed by actors, and obtain a complete and clear history and take clinical examination of them. You will be given 15 minutes for each patient’s assessment. After that, 10 extra minutes will be given to prepare the patient note. In this note, you have to mention the findings, initial differential diagnosis list and a list of initial lists. The administration of this part began in 2004. However, this examination occurs in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles only.