Subject Exam fees vary by exam and administration location. The exams are available for purchase by medical school faculty only. For additional information, go the Subject Exams page.

To ensure the integrity of the Subject Exams program and the validity of the scores reported, it is essential to maintain the security and confidentiality of test materials at all times. For additional information regarding prohibited materials at the testing center visit the Exam Security page.

For additional information regarding Subject Exams available at Prometric testing centers, view the Prometric Administration Guide.

Number of items and length varies by exam. Learn more by accessing the Program Guide.

You can find content outlines and sample items for each exam below.

Basic Science Subject Exams

Behavioral Science

Biochemistry

Gross Anatomy only

• Gross Anatomy + Embryology

Histology

Microbiology only

• Microbiology + Immunology

Neuroscience

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis

Clinical Science Subject Exams

Ambulatory Care

Clinical Neurology

Family Medicine Modular

• Core
• Core + Chronic Care
• Core + Chronic Care + Musculoskeletal

Medicine

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Surgery

Advanced Clinical Science Subject Exams

Emergency Medicine

Internal Medicine

Comprehensive Subject Exams 

Comprehensive Basic Science

Comprehensive Clinical Science

Health Systems Science Subject Exam

The USMLE content outline update is a recategorization of topics. You can feel confident using the currently available forms of CBSE to assess readiness to take Step 1 until the updated CBSE forms are released on August 20, 2024. 

The updated CBSE forms (along with updated Comprehensive Basic Science Self-Assessments) will be released on August 20, 2024. 

Currently, there are no plans to update the CCSE content outline. No change is anticipated because the foundational science topics are being recategorized, not removed, and “General Principles of Foundational Science” is not a reported score category for CCSE. 

Please note that the term “General Principles” may continue to appear as part of the content descriptions for a small number of questions in the Item Analysis Report for schools and Examinee Question-Level Feedback Report.

Currently, there are no plans to update the Basic Science Subject Examinations content outlines because the foundational science topics are being recategorized, not removed, and “General Principles of Foundational Science” is not a reported score category for the Basic Science Subject Exams. 

Please note that the term “General Principles” may continue to appear as part of the content descriptions for questions in the Item Analysis Report for schools and Examinee Question-Level Feedback Report.

Currently, there are no plans to update the Clinical Science Subject Exam content outlines. No change is anticipated because the foundational science topics are being recategorized, not removed, and “General Principles of Foundational Science” is not a reported score category for CCSE. 

Please note that the term “General Principles” may continue to appear as part of the content descriptions for a small number of questions in the Item Analysis Report for schools and Examinee Question-Level Feedback Report.