Computer-Based Testing FAQ
The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. (NBOME) is the creator and sole administrator of the COMLEX-USA series of examinations, the recognized pathway to licensure for osteopathic physicians in the United States and a number of international jurisdictions. The COMLEX-USA examination series consists of both computer-based cognitive examinations and a clinical skills examination. In addition to providing an overview of COMLEX-USA, this section addresses the most FAQ regarding the computer-based testing (CBT) format of the COMLEX-USA cognitive examinations.
Introduction and Overview
What is COMLEX-USA?
COMLEX-USA stands for the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States. COMLEX-USA is a medical licensing examination series for osteopathic physicians.COMLEX-USA is a quality, high-stakes three-level examination series. COMLEX-USA Level 1, COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation and COMLEX-USA Level 3 each contain 400 test items in a CBT format.
COMLEX-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation is a clinical skills examination containing 12 clinical encounters, all using standardized patients. The COMLEX-USA is a comprehensive licensing examination series emphasizing medical problem-solving knowledge and cognitive skills. It is the only licensing examination that covers osteopathic principles, practices, and the application of osteopathic manipulative treatment.
COMLEX-USA is accepted by all fifty states in the U.S. for the licensure of osteopathic physicians. Internationally, many countries accept COMLEX-USA scores as a component of their licensing requirements. For graduate education in the United States, all osteopathic residency programs accept COMLEX-USA scores. Most Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency programs accept COMLEX-USA scores for osteopathic physician applicants.
What does COMLEX-USA measure?
COMLEX-USA assesses the osteopathic medical knowledge and clinical skills considered essential for osteopathic generalist physicians to practice medicine without supervision. To more directly and effectively achieve its measurement objectives, COMLEX-USA is constructed in the context of medical problem-solving that involves Clinical presentations and physician tasks. The NBOME's Bulletin of Information on www.nbome.org details the COMLEX-USA design and content coverage.COMLEX-USA has three Levels. COMLEX-USA Level 1 is typically given to second-year osteopathic medical students. It emphasizes the scientific concepts and principles necessary for understanding the mechanisms of health, medical problems and disease processes.
COMLEX-USA Level 2 has two separate examinations: Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) and Level 2-Performance Evaluation (PE). COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE is typically given to fourth-year osteopathic medical students. It emphasizes the medical concepts and principles necessary for making appropriate medical diagnoses through patient history and physical examination findings.
The COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is also given to fourth-year osteopathic medical students. It provides an assessment of fundamental clinical skills. These clinical skills are doctor-patient communication, interpersonal skills and professionalism, medical history-taking and physical examination skills, osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment, and written communication skills (including synthesis of clinical findings, integrated differential diagnosis and formulation of a diagnostic and treatment plan).
COMLEX-USA COMLEX-USA Level 3 is the final component to the COMLEX-USA series and is designed for osteopathic postgraduate candidates prior to completion of their residency training. It emphasizes the medical concepts and principles required to make appropriate patient management decisions.
COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE and Level 3 are computer-based cognitive examinations, delivered at more than 320 Prometric professional test centers in theUS and in Canada.
COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is administered at the NBOME's National Center for Clinical Skills Testing in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
COMLEX-USA Computer-based examinations
Do the computer-based COMLEX-USA examinations require substantial computer skills?
No. Substantial computer experience is not required to take the computer-based COMLEX-USA examinations. Examinees only need to know how to click the computer mouse to select answers or other labeled options. Literature suggests that performance on computer-based tests is not related to the level of computer literacy.A tutorial session is presented to you prior to starting your actual examination to familiarize yourself with the operation of the computer, the program options available, and the procedures used during the examination.
A CBT Tutorial and Practice Items are now available on the website. Candidates are encouraged to review those materials to familiarize themselves with taking the computer-based COMLEX-USA.
What is the format of the computer-based COMLEX-USA examination?
There are two types of computer-based testing: computerized adaptive testing and computerized non-adaptive testing. In adaptive testing, the computer selects questions based on an examinee's responses to the previous questions. The COMLEX-USA examinations are computerized non-adaptive tests. The questions selected for each COMLEX-USA examination are predetermined. The number of questions and time limit for the examinations are also predetermined and, under normal administration conditions, are the same regardless of when and where the examinations are administered.The total number of questions for a computer-based COMLEX-USA examination (COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE, and Level 3) is 400, and the total testing time is eight (8) hours. The examination is divided into two sessions consisting of four sections. You will have four hours to complete each session, and within a session, the individual sections are not timed.
All computer-based COMLEX-USA questions are multiple-choice questions. Most of the questions are one-best-answer questions, while a small number of questions are matching-type questions. Most of the one-best-answer questions are single, stand-alone items, while the remainder uses two or more one-best-answer items following a case history.
Questions are grouped into eight (8) sections and each section has 50 questions. You can only answer, review and change answers to the 50 questions one section at a time. Once you confirm and end the section, you cannot go back to review or change any answers within that section. A clock is provided to assist you with time management. Warnings are given to remind you of the time remaining before the end of each four (4)-hour session.
A review page is presented for each section. This provides you with information about the status of the items in the current section, which includes questions completed, questions marked for further review, and incomplete questions for which no answer is given.
One of the features of the examination is you may be required to use an "Exhibit" button in order to see graphic materials related to a test question. In some cases, there may even be two (2) "Exhibits" for you to use in order to answer a question. A "Lab Values" button, which will be available throughout the examinations, provides reference adult laboratory values to the candidate
Is there more information and opportunity to see what the COMLEX-USA computer-based examinations are like?
A CBT Tutorial and Practice Items are now available on the NBOME website. New question formats using multi-media will be introduced gradually. You will be notified in advance as new question formats are introduced.
Is there a limit on how many times a candidate can take a particular level of COMLEX-USA examination?
The NBOME does not currently limit the number of times a candidate may retake an examination that he/she did not pass; however, a candidate may take the COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE or Level 3 a maximum of four times in any 12-month period. NBOME guidelines state that the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE may only be taken three times in a 12-month period. Be sure to check the policies of your academic institution for its retake guidelines, which may differ from the NBOME's.A candidate may not retake any level of COMLEX-USA to improve his or her score, or for any purpose other than to pass a previously failed examination.
Notice of Planned Policy Change
Effective July 1, 2016, candidates taking COMLEX-USA examinations will be limited to a total of six (6) attempts for each examination (COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2 CE, Level 2 PE and Level 3), including but not limited to all attempts prior to July 1, 2016. After June 30, 2016, no candidate will be allowed to take any examination more than six (6) times without obtaining approval from the NBOME.
Candidate profile
IMPORTANT:
Please update any changes to your Profile as soon as possible. This is the only contact information the NBOME receives and it should always be accurate.
Privacy:
Candidate's personal data is treated by the NBOME as confidential information. It will not be disclosed to any individual or entity without written, signed consent from the candidate or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
How do I complete a name change request with the NBOME?
You must submit a completed name change form and accompany it with a copy of the supporting document noting the name change (e.g.marriage license, divorce decree, court document, nationalization etc.). Documentation can be sent via fax to (773) 714-0631. Alternatively, scan and email the documents to clientservices@nbome.org or mail to NBOME, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Suite 200, Chicago, IL60631.Name changes must be made no later than five (5) business days before the testing appointment. It is recommended you submit the name change request before registration. Your name on the registration and the valid government-issued picture ID presented to the test center must be the same. You will not be permitted to take the examination if the names do not match. In such a case you will be considered a "no show" and will be responsible to pay the appropriate administration fee to reschedule.
How do I update my contact information?
You can update your mailing address, email address and phone numbers on your NBOME online account, under the 'view/edit profile' option.
How do I update school information after a transfer?
Contact the Dean's office at both your old and new school and request that they forward the information to the NBOME Corporate Offices.
Accessing the online system
How do I access the online registration system?
Each year, the NBOME obtains a student list from each college of osteopathic medicine. The NBOME's system automatically generates and emails the access information to each candidate. This typically occurs by the beginning of November each year. If you do not receive the code by this time, check with your college to confirm your information has been submitted to the NBOME.
What system is required to access the online system?
The online registration system requires the use of the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. The system may not work properly with Firefox or other browsers.
Registering and scheduling COMLEX-USA computer-based cognitive examinations
How do I get approval to take the COMLEX-USA examinations?
You must meet all the NBOME eligibility requirements, which can be found in the NBOME Bulletin of Information,to take a COMLEX-USA examination. Your academic institution may have additional requirements. Your school will determine and notify you when you are approved to take the examination.
How do I locate a test site prior to scheduling an examination?
Test sites information is located on the Prometric website, www.prometric.com
Prometric doesn't recognize my NBOME ID number. What needs to be done?
In order for Prometric to recognize your NBOME ID number, you must first register for the COMLEX-USA computerized examination via the NBOME online registration system found on the NBOME website (www.nbome.org).
How do I register and schedule a computer-based COMLEX-USA examination?
You must first access the NBOME's online registration system with your username and password to register and pay for the examination. Access the system through the NBOME website (www.nbome.org). Click on the link "For Candidates" at the top of the home page; select "Testing" and then "CBT" in the left navigation; finally, click on "Signing Up" to access the registration link.After registration and payment, the system will direct you to schedule an appointment. You will need your NBOME ID to schedule. You will be able to choose the test location by state, and seat availability by month or specific date. You must confirm the appointment and obtain a 16-digit confirmation number to complete the scheduling process.
Computer-based COMLEX-USA examinations are administered throughout the year, at least once a month, and are available at more than 300 locations throughout the United States.
How do I reschedule a scheduled examination or change the testing location?
You may reschedule a scheduled examination at any time to and including 120 hours before the scheduled examination. Please refer to question 2 in the Examination Fees section of these Frequently Asked Questions for information about rescheduling and cancellation fees. You will login to the NBOME online system with your username and password, click on "Schedule/Reschedule CBT Exam" and the system will direct you to reschedule the appointment. Please make sure you enter the correct confirmation number and confirm the new appointment.
What is a confirmation number? How do I find my confirmation number?
Prometric – the examination administrator – will create a 16-digit confirmation number to indicate that your appointment is confirmed. The number is located on the top part of the confirmation page, which is sent to your emailimmediately after your appointment is confirmed.
Examination fees
What is the cost of a COMLEX-USA cognitive examination?
Please see current examination fee schedule posted on our website
What are the rescheduling and cancellation fees?
A candidate may reschedule or cancel a scheduled COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE or Level 3 examination. The following will apply regarding fees:- More than 30 days before scheduled examination – reschedule or cancellation: No rescheduling or cancellation fee.
- 30 days to and including 120 hours before scheduled examination – reschedule or cancellation: $85.00 (If you reschedule the scheduled examination during that period you must pay directly to the testing vendor. If you cancel the scheduled examination in the timeframe noted above, the NBOME will issue a refund of the balance of your registration fee.)
- Less than 120 Hours to and Including 24 hours before scheduled examination: A candidate may cancel and reschedule a scheduled examination at anytime less than 120 hours to and including 24 hours before the start of a scheduled examination. If a candidate cancels a scheduled examination at anytime that is less than 120 hours to and including 24 hours before the start of a scheduled examination, the candidate will forfeit $190.00 of his or her registration fee, and will receive a refund of the balance of the fee. When rescheduling the examination, the candidate must pay the full registration fee.
- Less than 24 hours before scheduled examination – cancellation or "no show": $225.00. If a candidate cancels a scheduled examination less than 24 hours before the start of the scheduled examination, fails to show at the scheduled time and place for an examination, or is prohibited by the NBOME or test vendor from taking the examination for other than irregular conduct, he or she will forfeit $225.00 of the registration fee, and will receive a refund of the balance of the registration fee upon written request. The written request must be received within 30 days after the scheduled examination date. The candidate must contact the NBOME office in writing or by email to clientservices@nbome.org to reset his or her examination status for rescheduling purposes. To reschedule the examination the candidate must pay the full registration fee.
Refunds for credit card transactions are initiated immediately but may take 3 – 5 business days for any refund to complete processing.
Please reference the NBOME Bulletin of Information for full details .
Preparation materials for the COMLEX-USA examinations
Does the NBOME offer any study materials for the COMLEX-USA examinations?
The NBOME developed the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Examination (COMSAE) series to enable osteopathic medical students to conduct a self-assessment with a tool similar in format to the COMLEX-USA series. COMSAE can be used to assess readiness for COMLEX-USA examination. The competency level of osteopathic medicine assessed by COMSAE was defined using the same framework as COMLEX-USA examination.
Can the NBOME offer any suggestions and/or materials to aid me in studying my problem areas for a retake?
A candidate who did not pass a COMLEX-USA computer based cognitive examination and who is retaking the examination should refer to the back of his or her score report, which includes a graphical performance profile according to the COMLEX-USA content categories. This profile will help identify areas on which a candidate may wish to focus in preparation for his or her retake.
Date of the examination
What identification is required to present at the Prometric test centers?
You are required to present one form of identification. It must be a government-issued picture identification that is current, and bears your name (name on the identification must match the name on the registration) and your signature. The acceptable forms of government ID include: passport, driver's license and state ID.
Are there any breaks given during the examination?
Candidates are permitted to take two optional breaks during the test session. One optional 10-minute break is permitted during the first session (following section 2) and one optional 10-minute break is permitted during the second session (following section 6). If candidates choose to take the break, the actual time spend on the break will be deducted from the time allocated to complete the examination. During the break, candidates must leave the testing room. Upon re-entering the testing center, candidates must show a valid ID and provide a biometric ID (fingerprint). If candidates choose not to take breaks, they can continue taking the examination.An optional 40-minute break is permitted following the first session. This break time does not count against the total exam time. The 40-minute break begins when the first session is completed (following section 4). The second session will begin once the allocated 40 minutes have passed. You must return to the test center promptly before the end of the 40-minute break to avoid losing any time for the second session. Any other breaks, unless approved as part of a test accommodation provided to you in writing by the NBOME, will be considered unauthorized and will subject to review by the NBOME.
What happens if the computer freezes in the middle of testing?
Occasionally, computers will malfunction and the test center staff will need to reboot the computer for you. You will not lose any answers already entered, nor will you lose any examination time. The computer system stores all your answers instantly. After rebooting, the computer will come back exactly to where you were before the crash, both in terms of your responses and the time remaining in the examination.
What should I do if I experience issues/problems during my examination administration?
You must bring the issue to the attention of a test center staff/proctor immediately. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you must choose to either continue or withdraw from the examination. If you withdraw from the examination prior to completion of the examination because of any adverse testing condition, you must immediately report the adverse testing condition to the test center staff at the time of the examination. In addition, you must provide the NBOME, within ten days following the examination date, credible and verifiable written evidence of the adverse testing condition. The NBOME will contact you within 48 hours upon receipt of the noted information. The NBOME will investigate and contact you with a resolution.
Are there any penalties for tardiness, late registration or cancellation of an examination?
If you arrive at the test center on the scheduled examination date within 30 minutes after the scheduled start time, you will be permitted to take the examination only if the test center is able to deliver the examination in its entirety. If you arrive at the test center on the scheduled examination date more than 30 minutes past the scheduled start time, you run the risk of being designated a "No Show." You may be permitted to take the examination at the sole discretion of the proctor or testing vendor at the test center, but you will be permitted to take the examination only if the test center is able to deliver it in its entirety. If you are not permitted to take the examination, you will be considered a "No Show" and will be responsible for the "No Show" fee. (For complete details, candidates are advised to check the information regarding fees associated with rescheduling/cancelation available in the NBOME's Bulletin of Information.)
Score Reporting
When and how will scores be reported?
For the computer-based COMLEX-USA cognitive examinations, candidates can expect to receive test results within 4 to 6 weeks after the examination is taken. Candidates will be notified by an email from the NBOME that their score reports are accessible through the NBOME's secure Client Registration System. Every COMLEX-USA candidate will need to establish a secured web account provided by the NBOME when they register for the examinations. Candidates will be able to access the test results immediately after they are available along with their examination history.Similarly, osteopathic schools will have secure web accounts. The NBOME will post score reports to school accounts immediately after the results are available, and schools may go to their individual accounts to obtain up-to-date information about their students' test-taking activities and test results at any time.
What types of score reports will candidates and schools receive from their computer-based COMLEX-USA cognitive examinations?
The student score report will provide 3-digit standard scores, 2-digit standard scores, and a pass/fail designation. The 2-digit scores are linear transformations of the 3-digit scores so that 75 is designated as the minimum 2-digit passing score. Percentile rank will not be reported due to the fact that candidates will be taking the examination throughout the year. (Following completion of the annual testing cycle, a candidate may look up his or her percentile rank in relation to others in the same cohort. This tool is available HERE) In addition, candidates will also be provided with a graphical performance profile according to the COMLEX-USA content categories.Since computer-based COMLEX-USA examinations are administered continuously throughout the year, osteopathic medical schools will receive summary reports at the end of the annual testing cycle. The school summary reports include school information compared with the national average performance.
What are 3-digit COMLEX-USA scores?
COMLEX-USA 3-digit scores are standard scores. The mean standard scores of all three Levels of COMLEX-USA computer-based cognitive examinations, regardless of when the examinations were given, are 500. The minimal passing standard scores for Level 1 and Level 2-CE are 400, and for Level 3 is 350, regardless of when the examinations were taken. Standard deviations, however, are Level-specific and time-specific. Please go to Score Interpretations athttp://www.nbome.org/score-interpretation.asp for the standard deviations of COMLEX-USA by Level and year in the unit of standard score.COMLEX-USA 3-digit scores are NOT raw scores or the number of items answered correctly. Similarly, they are NOT the percentage of items candidates answered correctly.
What are 2-digit COMLEX-USA scores?
COMLEX-USA 2-digit scores are standard scores too. For all three COMLEX-USA Levels, the 2-digit scores are constructed such that the minimum passing score is 75 and mean is 82, regardless of when the examinations were given. Standard deviations for the 2-digit scores, however, are Level-specific and time-specific.COMLEX-USA 2-digit scores are NOT percentile ranks. Similarly, they are not the percentage of items candidates answered correctly.
COMLEX-USA 2-digit scores and 3-digit scores are equal measures of a candidate's performance on a COMLEX-UA cognitive examination. By definition, 2-digit scores can be directly converted from 3-digit scores. For example, if 3-digit score is 400 or the minimum passing score, its corresponding 2-digit score will be 75, the minimum passing score in 2-digit scale. Similarly, if 3-digit score is 500, the mean score, the corresponding 2-digit score will be 82, the mean score of 2-digit scale. On the NBOME website you will find a score conversion tool that allows you to convert 3-digit scores to 2-digit scores, and also see percentiles after the testing of a year-long cycle is completed. The tool is on NBOME website at www.nbome.org.
Why does the NBOME report COMLEX-USA 2-digit scores if they do not provide more information than 3-digit scores?
COMLEX-USA 3-digit scores provide all necessary performance information for COMLEX-USA examinations. Psychometrically, there is no need for 2-digit scores. However, some state legislatures require 2-digit scores. In addition, many residency programs are accustomed to 2-digit scores. It is for these reasons the NBOME reports 2-digit COMLEX-USA scores.
Why doesn't the NBOME report COMLEX-USA percentile ranks?
COMLEX-USA is an examination series designed primarily for the licensure of osteopathic physicians. It helps fulfill the NBOME's mission to protect the public by screening candidates according to its definition of competence for practicing osteopathic medicine. While the NBOME acknowledges that COMLEX-USA examination scores are sometimes used for secondary purposes, such as ranking candidates (e.g. those applying for residency programs), and while there is some evidence to support that practice, this is not the primary purpose of the COMLEX-USA examination series.A percentile score is an examinee's performance rank among a defined peer group that takes the same examination. For COMLEX-USA examinees, this peer group is considered to be the examinees who take an examination in the same testing cycle. Currently, the testing cycle for COMLEX-USA Level 1 is from May to next April, for COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE, it is from June to next May, and for COMLEX-USA Level 3, it is from February to next January. To accurately compute a percentile score, scores of the whole cohort, or at least most of the cohort, need to be available. COMLEX-USA cognitive examinations are computer-delivered, and each Level is given 40 or more times per year. Candidates decide their own test date from a regularly web-posted testing schedule. As a result, not all candidates take the same examination at the same time. Therefore, when some candidates have finished their examinations and received their scores, a large portion of their peers have not yet taken the same examination. In this situation, COMLEX-USA cannot calculate percentile scores for those who finished the examinations earlier without knowing the scores of their peers who have yet to take the examination.
How can the NBOME help those who would like to know percentiles?
The NBOME provides a 3-digit score-to-percentile conversion after a full-year testing cycle is completed. Percentile scores in that context provide a candidate's rank among all the first-time takers who take the same examination in a defined year-long testing cycle. The testing cycle-based 3-digit scores, 2-digit scores, and percentile conversions can be found HERE.
Can a percentile score be estimated from a COMLEX-USA 3-digit score?
Once a full-year testing cycle is complete, a 3-digit score can be converted to percentile using this percentile score conversion tool. Prior to that, the formula and table below can be used to estimate a percentile score from a 3-digit COMLEX-USA score. In normal situations, a score's distance from mean in terms of standard deviation implies a percentile rank. A COMLEX-USA 3-digit score's distance from the mean in terms of standard deviation can be computed in the following way:(3 digit score - Mean)/Standard Deviation = distance from mean
For example, the mean for COMLEX-USA Level 1 is 500 and the current standard deviation is 81. A score of 480 is -.247 deviations from the mean ((480-500)/81= -.247) or approximately .25 standard deviation below the mean.
The table below converts a few 3-digit scores to percentiles. From this table, it can be seen that the percentile for a score of 480 for COMLEX-USA Level 1 is between 30 and 50. It would be a reasonable estimate that the percentile of 480 for COMLEX-USA Level 1 is approximately 40.
| COMLEX-USA 3-Digit Score | Distance from Mean (in Standard deviation) | Percentile | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (SD=81) | Level2 (SD=89) | Level 3 (SD=121) | ||
| 379 | 367 | 319 | -1.5 | 6 |
| 419 | 411 | 379 | -1 | 15 |
| 460 | 456 | 440 | -0.5 | 30 |
| 500 | 500 | 500 | 0 | 50 |
| 540 | 546 | 560 | 0.5 | 69 |
| 581 | 589 | 621 | 1 | 84 |
| 621 | 634 | 682 | 1.5 | 93 |
| 662 | 678 | 742 | 2 | 97 |
The method described above provides a rough estimate of the percentiles as it assumes that the mean of a particular testing cycle is exactly 500 and standard deviation is exactly that of the 3-digit score scale. However, the differences between the estimates and actual percentiles are typically anticipated to be small enough to be tolerable for residency programs to use for screening purposes.
How do I request a score confirmation?
Candidates may submit a written request to the NBOME for score confirmation within 30 days of the examination with the accompanying $50.00 fee. Score confirmation involves confirmation of responses recorded by computer. Requests for score confirmation for COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE or Level 3 must be submitted directly to the NBOME Corporate Offices in Chicago. Send requests to NBOME, 8765 West Higgins Road, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631-4174.
Many ACGME residency programs accept both osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) applicants. Can COMLEX-USA scores be converted into USMLE scores so that those programs can have a common criterion to judge all applicants?
The NBOME understands the desire for a "conversion formula" for osteopathic medical students applying to ACGME-accredited residency programs. However, because of the different natures of the examinations, it is not possible—or even desirable—to make a direct numerical comparison between the scores of the COMLEX-USA examination series and those of the USMLE. COMLEX-USA and USMLE are two different licensing examination systems. DO applicants and MD applicants are two different test-taking populations by virtue of their training and experience.The COMLEX-USA series assesses the skills and philosophy unique to the osteopathic medical profession. Osteopathic medical students and residents train for the practice of osteopathic medicine. The curriculum of every osteopathic medical school incorporates distinctive osteopathic principles and prepares students for medical practice as osteopathic physicians. COMLEX-USA incorporates these distinctive osteopathic principles, and it is constructed and validated based on practice patterns that are unique to DOs, including the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment. By contrast, the USMLE does not meet these criteria for assessing osteopathic medical students, and it does not test for osteopathic principles or osteopathic manipulative treatment.
When it comes to examinations, the NBOME encourages residency program directors to consider the COMLEX-USA series as the valid and most appropriate assessment tool for osteopathic medical students.
If COMLEX-USA and USMLE scores cannot be converted, how should ACGME programs use COMLEX-USA scores to evaluate osteopathic applicants?
The NBOME encourages ACGME Residency Program Directors to gain a full understanding of the COMLEX-USA examination series, in particular, what it assesses, its format and how standards are set. In addition, all residency program directors may take advantage of the percentile score converter, which can be found on the home page of the NBOME website (www.nbome.org). (Note: A full testing cycle cohort must be complete before a given score can be converted.)
Information on all these areas can be found on the NBOME website:
- COMLEX-USA cognitive examination overview and blueprint
- COMLEX-USA clinical skills examination overview
- NBOME Standard Setting
Test accommodations
Will the NBOME provide test accommodations for those with impairments?
The Americans with Disabilities Act as amended (ADA) requires that the NBOME provides appropriate and reasonable accommodations for "persons with disabilities" as that term is defined by law.How do I apply for an accommodation for the examination?
If you are a "person with disability" under the ADA and wish to receive test accommodations for an NBOME examination, you must complete and submit to the NBOME an accommodation application with all documentation necessary and appropriate to substantiate that you are a "person with disability" under the ADA, and the appropriateness of the requested accommodation. Forms can be found on the NBOME website (www.nbome.org) in the "For Candidates" section. The request should be submitted to the NBOME Corporate Offices in Chicago. Mail to: NBOME, 8765 West Higgins Road, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631-4174. Please note that the review process can take up to eight (8) weeks and you may not schedule that examination until you are notified whether an accommodation will be provided.
Transcripts
How do I request an official transcript?
Candidates wishing to request an official transcript must submit a written request or electronic request with the appropriate fee via the online registration system. Scores will be provided in the form of an NBOME transcript. No request for a transcript will be taken by telephone.
What is the process time of an official transcript?
Transcript requests will be processed in the order of the date received by the NBOME. The normal processing time is 1 - 2 business days from the receipt date of the request.
Can I request my transcript while I am waiting for the scores?
You may request a transcript at any time, however, the transcript will report only the scores in your score history. And score that is being processed but is not yet completed and recorded will not appear on the transcript.