Minimum Passing Scores in Clinical Subject Examinations

As recommended by the Clinical Curriculum Subcommittee and approved by the Medicine Program Curriculum Committee on July 28, 2020, a minimum score is required in the National Board of Medical Examiners- clinical subject examinations (shelfs) to pass the third-year clerkships. As determined by MPCC on December 15, 2014, the clinical shelf will continue to be 30% of the final grade of the third-year clerkships.

Each academic department will determine the required minimum score on the shelf of each clerkship based on the PHSU students’ performance in previous years and NBME guidelines for each discipline.

If the student does not obtain the minimum passing score, a NG (no grade) will be reported. The student will be offered a second opportunity to take and pass the shelf with the same minimum score. If the student does not obtain the minimum passing score the second time, the student fails the clerkship. If the student passes the shelf in the second attempt, the first and second attempts will be average to calculate the final grade. 

The remedial examination will be offered after returning from the Christmas holidays and the week after finishing their last third-year rotation, to prevent any conflict with other clinical rotations.

Academic departments must inform the students of the minimum passing scores on the shelf required to pass the clerkships, and how their final grades will be calculated if they need to repeat it.