6.2: CP3: Standards for Performance and Satisfactory Progress
In order to make satisfactory progress towards the MD degree, each student must satisfy academic, professional, and technical standards on an ongoing basis.
A. Academic
Students are required to make satisfactory academic progress in terms of units taken and passed, courses and clerkships successfully completed, timely completion of other requirements, and correction of deficiencies.
- Units
a. Students must take and successfully complete a per-quarter number of general School of Medicine units (any units listed in the School of Medicine Course and Clerkship Catalog or included for Scholarly Concentration) as follows:
(i) During Autumn, Winter and Spring quarters (except for the graduation quarter), at least 9 units.
(ii) Summer quarter (if registered), at least 3 units.
(iii) Students in Master’s or PhD programs that have required courses outside of the School of Medicine (either programs in another Stanford school or interdepartmental medical school programs) will be monitored for a per quarter unit requirement to be set by the appropriate program director.
b. Students must take, and successfully complete, a cumulative number of required MD units by the end of August of each year as follows:
(i) MD students: At least 36 required units by the end of the first year, 70 by the end of the second, 105 by the end of the third, 140 by the end of the fourth, and 251 by the end of the sixth.
(ii) MD/PhD students: At least 23 required units by the end of the first year, 46 by the end of the second, 69 by the end of the third, 92 by the end of the fourth, 115 by the end of the fifth, 140 by the end of sixth, and 240 by the end of the eighth year.
(iii) The cumulative required number of units will be adjusted for those students who have been exempted by the course director from one or more required courses, or who are on an approved Leave of Absence.
* Unit figures are based on 2017-18 matriculation. Please refer to Section 4.3 for information for all unit requirements.
Unit requirements for financial aid eligibility are not necessarily the same as for satisfactory academic progress for graduation. Students should also refer to financial aid policy, and consult with the School of Medicine Financial Aid Office.
- Number of Years
a. If a student plans to take more than six years (MD) or eight years (MD/PhD), exclusive of time spent during an approved Leave of Absence, the student must petition for and receive approval by the CP3, preferably at the end of the fourth (MD) or sixth (MD/PhD) year, but no later than the fifth (MD) or seventh (MD/PhD) year, in order to facilitate academic and financial planning. The student’s petition must provide reasons for the requested extension and submit specific plans for completing the degree, which plans are subject to the review and approval by the student’s academic advisor.
b. The maximum time allowed does not include periods of approved Leave of Absence, but no combination of program extensions and approved Leaves of Absence shall exceed eight years (MD) or ten years (MD/PhD) without prior CP3 review and approval.
- Scholarly concentrations
Students must make satisfactory progress in meeting Scholarly Concentrations requirements.
- Examinations
Students must make satisfactory progress in meeting examinations requirements, such as the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS, and CPX.
- Academic Deficiencies
a. All academic deficiencies must be corrected within one year (or otherwise within a time limit specifically set by the CP3 in the individual case). (NOTE: A maximum of one grade of “marginal pass” in a pre-clerkship course will be permitted, but only in a course of fewer than 8 units.)
b. Note that some deficiencies may be considered to be unable to be remediated and may result in immediate dismissal. Such circumstances may include (but are not limited to) when one or more of the following conditions apply:
(i) two failures in clinical clerkships.
(ii) three marginal passes in clinical clerkships.
(iii) failures in more than 20% of units of pre-clerkship required coursework in a given academic year or over the course of the pre-clerkship curriculum (whether or not remediated).
(iv) failures in more than 20% of units of combined pre-clerkship or clinical coursework (whether or not remediated of USMLE Step 1 three times.
(v.) failure of USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) twice and failing the internal examination.
(vi) failure of USMLE Step 2 CK (Clinical Knowledge) three times.
c. A student’s failure to attend required meetings, comply with CP3 directives for remediation, or meet CP3 deadlines may preclude remediation and result in immediate dismissal from the Stanford University School of Medicine MD program.
B. Professionalism
Students are required on an ongoing basis to satisfy professionalism standards. A serious breach of professionalism may result in immediate dismissal from the Stanford University School of Medicine MD program.
C. Technical Standards
Students are required on an ongoing basis to satisfy technical standards. Continued fulfillment of such standards is a requirement for ongoing registration in the Stanford University School of Medicine.
updated August 2017
Section 6: Committee on Performance, Professionalism and Promotion (CP3)
6.1: Introduction
6.2: Standards for Performance and Satisfactory Progress
6.3: Promotion
6.4: Procedures for Addressing Performance, Professional and Technical Standards Concerns