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Scoring
USMLE Passing Scores in 2026: Step 1, Step 2 CK (218) and Step 3 (200)
Current USMLE passing standards: Step 1 pass/fail, Step 2 CK 218 since July 2025, Step 3 200 since January 2024, with effective dates and what changed.
By MedPrep Institute Editorial Team · Published · 5 min read
Passing standards have moved recently, and plenty of guides still list the old numbers. This page collects the current figures, the effective dates, and the official announcements they come from.
USMLE passing scores at a glance
USMLE passing standards (check USMLE.org for the latest)
| Exam | Passing standard | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Pass/fail only. Last published three-digit standard: 196 | Exams on or after January 26, 2022 are reported pass/fail |
| Step 2 CK | 218 (was 214) | Exams on or after July 1, 2025 |
| Step 3 | 200 (was 198) | Exams on or after January 1, 2024 |
Step 1: pass/fail
Step 1 reports only pass or fail for exams taken on or after January 26, 2022. USMLE has said the passing standard on the old three-digit scale was 196, and that future reviews of the standard will not be reported as a three-digit number. See our Step 1 pass/fail guide.
Step 2 CK: 218 since July 1, 2025
The USMLE Management Committee announced on June 16, 2025 that the Step 2 CK passing standard would rise four points, from 214 to 218, for examinees testing on or after July 1, 2025. It applies to retakers as well as first-time examinees. Step 2 CK still reports a three-digit score, which is now the main number residency programs see. For where scores sit in the distribution, see our score and percentile guide.
Step 3: 200 since January 1, 2024
The Step 3 passing standard is 200 on the three-digit scale for exams on or after January 1, 2024, up from 198. Our Step 3 study guide and Step 3 study plan for intern year cover how to prepare.
Why passing standards change
The USMLE Management Committee reviews the passing standard for each exam every few years, using panels of physicians, surveys of stakeholders and trends in examinee performance, and decides whether to change it. Standards can go up or down, so check USMLE.org before you plan around a number.
What a higher standard means for your prep
A few points of difference mostly affects borderline examinees. If your practice assessments sit close to the line, build margin with daily timed questions and targeted review of weak concepts rather than trying to hit the minimum exactly. If you have to retake, see the attempt limits guide and the retake recovery plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing score for Step 2 CK?
218, for exams taken on or after July 1, 2025. It was 214 before that.
What is the passing score for Step 3?
200, for exams taken on or after January 1, 2024. It was 198 before that.
What is the passing score for Step 1?
Step 1 is pass/fail only. The last published three-digit standard was 196, but USMLE no longer reports Step 1 numerically.
When did the Step 2 CK passing score change to 218?
The change was announced June 16, 2025 and applies to exams on or after July 1, 2025, including retakes.
Do passing scores change?
Yes. USMLE reviews each exam's standard every few years and may raise or lower it.
Does the new standard apply to retakers?
Yes. The Step 2 CK change applies to all examinees, including retakers.
Sources and disclaimers
Figures in this guide come from the USMLE program's published notices and from third-party summaries that we could not check against the primary source, and we say so where that applies. Standards, policies and score data change, so confirm current details on USMLE.org, ECFMG and NRMP before you plan around them. MedPrep Institute is our own product, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NBME, FSMB, USMLE, ECFMG, NRMP, UWorld or any other company named here. All trademarks belong to their owners.