NBME logo
  • Home
  • Programs and Services
  • About the NBME
  • Research
  • Publications
  • Contact NBME
  • Services for Medical Students and Graduates
    • Licensing Exam Services
    • Self-Assessment Services
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Essential Information
    • News & Updates
      • Reporting of USMLE Results Available On-Line
    • Links
    • USMLE
      • Planning for Step 2 CS
    • Certifications and Transcripts
  • Services for Medical Schools
    • Subject Examination Services
      • Fees
      • Available Subject Examinations
        • Basic Science Disciplines
        • Clinical Science Disciplines
        • Introduction to Clinical Diagnosis
        • Comprehensive Examinations
    • Customized Assessment Services
      • Fees
    • Faculty Services
    • NSAS Voucher Request
    • Medical School Liaison
  • Services for Health Professional Organizations
    • Special Services
    • Test Development
    • Test Production
    • Registration/Test Administration
    • Informational Materials
    • Scoring and Analysis
    • Special Resources
  • Services for Practicing Physicians
    • Resources for Clinical Competence Assessment
      • Collaborators
      • Benefits of Physician Assessment
      • Description of Assessment Modalities
  • International Programs
    • Collaborators

Subject Examinations: Clinical Science Disciplines

Clinical Neurology   Obstetrics & Gynecology   Psychiatry
Family Medicine   Pediatrics   Surgery
Medicine  
         
Complete, printable version of the content outlines PDF Icon

CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

General Principles
1%–5%
Organ Systems
 
•
Mental Disorders
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
5%–10%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
15%–20%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
•
Disorders of the special senses
1%–5%
•
Structural disorders (trauma, cerebrovascular disease, infections)
10%–15%
•
Toxic, metabolic, and degenerative disorders
5%–10%
•
Paroxysmal and sleep disorders
1%–5%
•
Neuromuscular disorders
10%–15%
•
Applying Principles of Management
15%–20%
•
Other Organ Systems
5%–10%

FAMILY MEDICINE

Distribution Across Age Groups
 
•
Childhood
5%–15%
•
Adolescence
5%–10%
•
Adulthood
65%–75%
•
Geriatric
5%–15%
General Principles
1%–5%
 
•
Infancy and childhood (normal growth and development)
•
Adolescence (sexuality, separation from parents/autonomy; puberty)
•
Senescence (normal physical and mental changes associated with aging)
•
Medical Ethics and Jurisprudence
Organ Systems
 
•
Immunologic Disorders
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
5%–10%
•
Mental Disorders
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
5%–10%
•
Cardiovascular Disorders
10%–15%
•
Diseases of the Respiratory System
10%–15%
•
Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
10%–15%
•
Gynecologic Disorders
5%–10%
•
Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive System
5%–10%
•
Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
1%–5%
•
Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
1%–5%
•
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
5%–10%
•
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
5%–10%
Physician Task
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
15%–20%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
20%–25%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
35%–40%
•
Applying Principles of Management
20%–25%

MEDICINE

General Principles
1%–5%
Organ Systems
 
•
Immunologic Disorders
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
5%–10%
•
Cardiovascular Disorders
15%–20%
•
Diseases of the Respiratory System
15%–20%
•
Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
10%–15%
•
Gynecologic Disorders
1%–5%
•
Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive System
10%–15%
•
Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
5%–10%
•
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
5%–10%
Physician Tasks
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
10%–15%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
20%–25%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
40%–45%
•
Applying Principles of Management
20%–25%

OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY

General Principles
1%–5%
Gynecology
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
5%–10%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
15%–20%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
15%–20%
•
Applying Principles of Management
5%–10%
Obstetrics
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
5%–10%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
10%–15%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
15%–20%
•
Applying Principles of Management
10%–15%

PEDIATRICS

Normal Development
5%–10%
Organ Systems
 
•
Immunologic Disorders
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
5%–10%
•
Mental Disorders
1%–5%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
5%–10%
•
Cardiovascular Disorders
10%–15%
•
Diseases of the Respiratory System
10%–15%
•
Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
10%–15%
•
Gynecologic Disorders
1%–5%
•
Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive System
10%–15%
•
Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
1%–5%
•
Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
1%–5%
•
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
5%–10%
•
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
5%–10%
Physician Tasks
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
5%–10%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
25%–30%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
40%–45%
•
Applying Principles of Management
10%–15%

PSYCHIATRY

General Principles
5%–10%
Organ Systems
 
•
Mental Disorders
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
1%–5%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
10%–15%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
•
Mental disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence
5%–10%
•
Substance-related disorders
5%–10%
•
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
5%–10%
•
Mood disorders
5%–10%
•
Anxiety disorders
5%–10%
•
Somatoform disorders
1%–5%
•
Other disorders/conditions
5%–10%
•
Applying Principles of Management
20%–25%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
10%–15%

SURGERY

General Principles
1%–5%
Organ Systems
 
 
 
•
Immunologic Disorders
1%–5%
•
Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
5%–10%
•
Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
5%–10%
•
Cardiovascular Disorders
10%–15%
•
Diseases of the Respiratory System
10%–15%
•
Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
25%–30%
•
Gynecologic Disorders
5%–10%
•
Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive System
5%–10%
•
Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
1%–5%
•
Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
1%–5%
•
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
5%–10%
•
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
5%–10%
Physician Tasks
 
 
 
•
Promoting Health and Health Maintenance
1%–5%
•
Understanding Mechanisms of Disease
20%–25%
•
Establishing a Diagnosis
45%–50%
•
Applying Principles of Management
25%–30%