r/DisabledMedStudents

I have only heard people getting extra break time but not 1.5x test time. Did any of you ever get approved for extra test time?

Just wanted to let people know my experience with accommodations process - I was sort of successful.

Applied for testing accommodations for ADHD + Anxiety, PTSD (narrowly avoided a mass casualty incident in high school so I’m not the greatest fan of not being able to get out of rooms on my own terms). Requested 1.5x time since that’s what I get through the school. I actually never got formally diagnosed with anything until med school when I was literally not passing my exams, so I was sure they wouldn’t give me anything at all. I had classmates with accommodations at school get denied as well by the NBME.

Here’s what I gave them:
A 2-page personal statement
An recent report from my ADHD neuropsych testing
A letter from the school psychiatrist
A document from the school showing my current approved accommodations
A document from the med school showing my improvement in test scores before vs after getting accommodations
Evidence of my repeated attempts for the MCAT and the SAT

NBME ended up giving me normal time but over 2 days with extended break time - meaning I take 7 blocks of 20 questions each day (no extra time) and I get up to 75 minutes of break time per testing day. Also since my permit eligibility period was about to expire right before I got a decision, they gave me a permit with new extended dates. I applied mid-January and heard back end of March.

Hi! I'm a couple years away from actually having to deal with this, but I'm trying to think ahead. Something I've been concerned about during rotations is sick days. I am on two immunosuppressants for two autoimmune disorders (that I was diagnosed with after deciding to go to med school) so when I get sick, I get very sick, usually longer than non-immunosuppressed people. I read that many schools only allow 2-4 sick days per 8-week block. If I get the flu even once, I'd be done for--the last time I had the flu I was bedridden for 2 weeks.

I'm worried about exhausting my sick days during clinical rotations and having to repeat blocks. Do schools ever allow some flexibility on number of sick days as an accommodation? Like 5-6 instead of 2-4? And if you do exceed those, do you have to repeat an entire block, or just make up those days later? I definitely wouldn't mind making up days later (I'd take that a million times over repeating a whole block--or worse, coming in sick).

Sorry if this is a naive question, I'm super new to all this :) thank you

I’m a doctor (26/F) and I recently got diagnosed with spondyloarthritis (radiographic) and hypermobility, undiagnosed POTS (im showing all the symptoms, I’m waiting for an appointment) . I am started on adalimumab.

My health is a roller coaster. My physical health is weak right now, I started physiotherapy only few days ago and my physiotherapist suggested against matching into emergency medicine. I’m so torn because that’s all that I wanted to do ever since joining med school. But my body is so weak currently i don’t know if I should give up or if I should strengthen my body, build my muscles and give a try. The arthritis have affected my hand too according to my rheumatologist and the hypermobility has added to how unsteady my hands have become at doing the smallest task.

A part of me wants to listen to my body and choose something non-clinical and something that won’t flare up my body, while another part of me wants to take a break and build my health and give it a go.

I don’t know how this haste decision might affect me in the future. This diagnosis was a relief for all my pain but it’s taken a lot away from the doctor I could be and I’m grieving it almost everyday.

Is there anyone who can give me any advice on how and what I have to think about or any suggestions on what I can do?

Per USMLE:

"USMLE to Transition to Limited Testing Dates Starting in 2028 

The United States Medical Licensing Examination^(®) (USMLE ^(®)) program will reduce the number of Step exam administrations each year beginning in 2028. While together the three Step exams will only be administered over a total of 45 days each year, the USMLE program will expand the number of testing centers and reserve seats exclusively for USMLE examinees at those centers. This exam administration model, which the USMLE program calls Designated Testing Dates, is designed to further strengthen exam security, uphold the integrity of the assessments and support fairness.  

The USMLE program has produced a planned 2028 calendar to indicate the number of administrations across all three Step exams. The dates were selected through rigorous analysis of historical testing patterns in the U.S. and globally for each Step exam, along with consideration of medical education and licensure milestones.  

The transition to Designated Testing Dates will help the USMLE program better manage factors that could threaten score validity. Moving from an on-demand model to a limited number of testing days will allow the USMLE to better control secure test content, minimizing the possibility that exposed content can be reproduced, shared, and unfairly impact the test performance of examinees. 

We recognize that these changes will require adjustment for medical schools, residency programs, students and residents that also use USMLE for local purposes including promotional requirements, and we are committed to providing the support and information needed to help make the transition as smooth as possible. 

We’ve compiled resources that will be helpful as you start to interpret what these changes may mean for you and your students. These include:

• A planned calendar of testing dates under the new format.
• Talking points for explaining these changes to your stakeholders/staff and students.
• A series of community engagement sessions, which we encourage you and your students to attend to learn more and ask questions.  
• Customized planning tools highlighting student testing patterns and test center usage for each LCME-accredited medical school, which are now available in the MyNBME^(®) Services Portal for medical school faculty and deans who have online access.* 
• A dedicated section on USMLE.org where the latest announcements and FAQs will be available.


The USMLE program is committed to transparency and providing support throughout this transition. Please refer to the Designated Testing Dates Information Hub on USMLE.org for the latest information. "

Hi everyone — with a new medical school year starting soon, I wanted to do an AMA aimed mostly at incoming medical students who may need disability accommodations, but questions by everyone are welcomed.

I am an attorney who works on student/disability/accommodation issues involving medical schools and other educational programs. I previously posted here as u/FLeducationlawyer. I am now posting from u/astudentslawyer, which is the same attorney/account owner, just under my broader student-law focused name. Here is a link to the previous AMA done in here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DisabledMedStudents/s/HY1uZEBwcv

Important disclaimer: This AMA is for general educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this post or in any reply is legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by this AMA, by your question, by my response, or by any private message. Communications here are not privileged, not confidential, and not protected by attorney-client privilege. Please do not post or send confidential, identifying, privileged, or sensitive information. If you need legal advice about your specific situation, you should consult an attorney directly.

I also cannot give medical advice, diagnose anything, or tell you what accommodations you personally “should” receive. I can answer general questions about how these processes often work and what students can do to better understand the accommodation process and protect their records.

A few ground rules:

• Do not post identifying information about yourself, your school, patients, faculty, classmates, or specific private disputes.
• Keep questions general enough that they can be answered publicly.
• Do not post confidential documents, medical records, disciplinary letters, accommodation letters, school emails, or anything you would not want publicly available.
• Please do not DM me confidential facts expecting legal advice or confidentiality. Reddit messages are not a substitute for a private legal consultation.
• If something is urgent, high-stakes, or tied to dismissal, board eligibility, graduation, financial aid, discipline, clinical placement, or licensing, you should strongly consider speaking with an attorney.
• Laws and school policies vary, so my answers will be general and may not apply to your specific situation.

I know accommodations can be especially stressful for new medical students because you are trying to start school on the right foot while also figuring out how much to disclose, what to request, and how to avoid being labeled as “difficult.” My goal here is to provide practical general information.

Ask me anything.