The most important exam for becoming a doctor is the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). The USMLE is necessary in obtaining a medical license in the United States and Canada, and your score can determine your future in your chosen field. Testing Accommodations for the USMLE: Getting testing accommodations such as extended time for the USMLE is not easy. It is important that people with learning disabilities get extra time accommodations on this exam; your USMLE score can determine your future. After finishing medical school, don’t you want to be able to practice medicine? Don’t you want to do the best you can on this exam? Don’t you want to prove you have adequate knowledge? Therefore, if you are learning disabled, you need to be able to document that you are eligible for extended time accommodations. If you find yourself running out of time when taking practice USMLE exams, you may be eligible for extended time or other accommodations.
The requirements for applying for extended time and other accommodations on the USMLE are extensive and expensive. But since your future hinges on passing this test, it is very much worth your while to apply for the accommodations if you need them. If you think you may be eligible for extended time or other accommodations, you must know the requirements and gather the proper materials within the given time period. Testing is The Brain Clinic’s primary role in the process and is central to obtaining extended time, but it is not enough. Historical documentation is also vital for the application for accommodations; it is your responsibility to get this to Dr. Thomas in a timely manner so that these documents can help with your case of getting extended time on the USMLE. Be advised that there is no guarantee the testing will result in a diagnosis of a learning disability and that you obtain extended time or other accommodations.
In order to make the best case for extended time due to a learning disability, Dr. Thomas must be provided with:
• School records: If possible, sent directly to Dr. Thomas. You will likely have to give the school(s) a written release to do this. Start this procedure as early as possible and obtain as many sources as possible. It is best if your records span the length of your academic career, from grade school through college. Parents often keep detailed files on their children, so ask your parents what they have stored away.
• Test reports and letters which document learning problems in your past. This documentation should include letters from doctors, teachers, school officials, even relatives and parents, attesting to your learning problems. These letters should be signed and dated.
• A personal written statement detailing the learning problems you have had throughout your past: This statement can be emailed to Dr. Thomas as soon as the first appointment is made. If you have not had accommodations in the past, you need to explain why. How is it you were not identified as being learning disabled as a child? What struggles did you go through? Did you get informal accommodations from teachers (like extra time on tests), or did someone help you a lot with homework (parent, tutor, grandma)? Include your medical and developmental (childhood) history.
The Brain Clinic’s report is more likely to be successful if there is a well-documented history of your learning disability; we need to show that you are not just trying to get an extra advantage by requesting extra time.
It is important to understand that it is inconvenient for testing services to grant you extra time; it costs them extra money and time (to hire people to review your submissions, monitor you on site, rent extra space, etc.). Because of this, it is essential to make a very strong case. Dr. Thomas is the best person to do so, with more than 30 years of experience in this field. At The Brain Clinic, we have performed thousands of extended time evaluations for extra time accommodations.
Please note that these reports take time to write, as they often end up being lengthy. The report will be finished after submitting the final materials; a report without complications will take about 10 business days to write. A deposit of $500 is necessary to schedule the first appointment and full payment is due by the last testing session. The fee is payable to Dr. Thomas, and refundable if appointments are cancelled with more than 48 hours notice. We often do testing on Saturdays. For the USMLE, they require that the testing person be a licensed psychologist. Therefore, the hourly rate is $275, and the billable time is about 16 hours (8 hours of face-to-face time, and 7 hours to score the tests and write the report). Reports are released when the bill is paid in full.
Contact us for more information about our services and to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you build a better brain. Neuropsychological Evaluations and Non-pharmaceutical Treatment in New York, NY.
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Testing Accommodations for the USMLE