COMLEX-USA LEVEL 1
Assessment of Foundational Biomedical Sciences and Osteopathic Principles and Practice
DESCRIPTION
A one-day, computer-based assessment that integrates the foundational biomedical sciences and osteopathic principles with clinical knowledge and other physician competencies relevant to addressing clinical presentations and promoting health in supervised clinical practice settings.
FORMAT
- Two computer-based test sessions of four hours each taken on one day (8 hours’ exam time) administered in a secure, time-measured environment.
- 352 questions based on the competency domains and clinical presentations for osteopathic medical practice.
- Test questions are single-best answer, multiple-choice format and may include audio-visual elements.
- Examples of test question types in Level 1 are found on the website under Practice Exams.
- Breaks are only permitted as outlined under the section Examination Administration in this BOI.
Section |
Questions |
|
1 |
44 |
Morning Session: 4 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed
one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
2 |
44 |
Authorized 10-minute break |
3 |
44 |
4 |
44 |
Authorized 40-minute lunch break |
5 |
44 |
Afternoon Session: 4 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed
one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
6 |
44 |
Authorized 10-minute break |
7 |
44 |
8 |
44 |
PASSING
Passing Level 1 indicates that the candidate has demonstrated competence in the foundational biomedical sciences and osteopathic principles and related physician competency domains for osteopathic medical care of patients as required to enter supervised patient care settings and to continue lifelong learning.
COMLEX-USA LEVEL 2-CE
Assessment of Fundamental Clinical Sciences for Osteopathic Medical Practice
DESCRIPTION
A one-day, computer-based assessment that integrates application of knowledge in clinical and foundational biomedical sciences and osteopathic principles with other physician competencies related to the clinical care of patients and promoting health in supervised clinical settings. These competency domains include application of osteopathic medical knowledge, osteopathic patient care, osteopathic principles and practice, communication skills, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism, and ethics.
Clinical Sciences Disciplines
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Osteopathic Principles and Practice
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Surgery
FORMAT
- Two computer-based test sessions of four hours each, taken on one day (8 hours’ exam time), administered in a secure, time-measured environment.
- 352 questions based on the competency domains and clinical presentations for osteopathic medical practice.
- Test questions are single-best answer, multiple-choice format and may include audio-visual elements.
- Examples of test question types in Level 2-CE are found on the website under Practice Exams.
- Breaks are only permitted as outlined under the section Examination Administration in the BOI.
Section |
Questions |
|
1 |
44 |
Morning Session: 4 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed
one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
2 |
44 |
Authorized 10-minute break |
3 |
44 |
4 |
44 |
Authorized 40-minute lunch break |
5 |
44 |
Afternoon Session: 4 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed
one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
6 |
44 |
Authorized 10-minute break |
7 |
44 |
8 |
44 |
PASSING
Passing Level 2-CE indicates that the candidate has demonstrated competence in the clinical sciences and osteopathic principles and related physician competency domains for osteopathic medical care of patients as required to enter into supervised graduate medical education settings and to continue lifelong learning.
COMLEX-USA LEVEL 2-PE
Assessment of Fundamental Clinical Skills for Osteopathic Medical Practice
NOTE: The COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE was indefinitely suspended in March 2020 due to restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fundamental osteopathic clinical skills competencies remain an important part of the COMLEX-USA series. The NBOME Special Commission for Osteopathic Medical Licensure is exploring permanent replacement options for evaluation of these skills. There are temporary attestation pathways for Level 3 eligibility in place for the classes of 2020-2025, which are provided by the dean of the college of osteopathic medicine and recorded in the candidate record for COMLEX-USA. Please see Eligibility section for more information.
Fundamental Osteopathic Clinical Skills
- Physician-Patient Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Professionalism
- Medical History-Taking and Physical Examination Skills
- Osteopathic Principles and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
- Documentation Skills (including synthesis of clinical findings, integrated differential diagnosis, and formulation of a diagnostic and treatment plan)
COMLEX-USA LEVEL 3
Assessment of Competencies for Osteopathic Medical Practice
DESCRIPTION
A two-day computer-based examination assessing competence in the foundational competency domains required for generalist physicians to deliver safe and effective osteopathic medical care and promote health in unsupervised clinical settings. Competency domains assessed include application of osteopathic medical knowledge, osteopathic patient care, osteopathic principles and practice, communication skills, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism, and ethics. Competency assessment occurs in the context of clinical and patient presentations and systems-based practice as required for entry in the unsupervised practice of osteopathic medicine as an independently practicing osteopathic generalist physician and for readiness for lifelong learning and practice-based learning and improvement.
FORMAT
- Four computer-based test sessions of 3.5 hours each taken over two days (two sessions per day).
- Administered within a 14-day window in a secure, time-measured environment.
- 420 questions in the multiple-choice question format (MCQ) and test questions related to approximately 26 clinical decision-making (CDM) cases. These are related to diverse and representative clinical presentations and seven competency domains for osteopathic medical practice.
- Test questions are predominantly in the single-best answer and multiple-choice formats and may include audio-visual elements.
- CDM question formats include extended multiple-choice (selection of more than one answer from an extensive list that may contain more than one correct answer) and constructed response (short-answer) test questions.
- Examples of test question types in Level 3 are found on the website under Practice Exams.
- Breaks are permitted only as set forth under the section Examination Administration in the BOI.
Section |
Questions |
|
1 |
70 MCQs |
Morning Session: 3.5 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
Authorized 10-minute break |
2 |
70 MCQs |
Authorized 40-minute lunch break |
3 |
70 MCQs |
Afternoon Session: 3.5 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
Authorized 10-minute break |
4 |
70 MCQs |
Section |
Questions |
|
5 |
13 CDM Cases |
Morning Session: 3.5 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can sometimes be answered, reviewed, and changed within a CDM case. However, within some CDM cases, question responses cannot be reviewed or changed after a certain point. Individual subsections are not timed. |
Authorized 10-minute break |
6 |
13 CDM Cases |
Authorized 40-minute lunch break |
7 |
70 MCQs |
Afternoon Session: 3.5 Hours’ Total Testing Time
Questions can be answered, reviewed, and changed one section at a time. Individual sections are not timed. |
Authorized 10-minute break |
8 |
70 MCQs |
PASSING
Passing Level 3 indicates that the candidate has demonstrated competence in the foundational competency domains required for generalist physicians to deliver safe and effective osteopathic medical care of patients as required for entry into the unsupervised practice of osteopathic medicine and to continue lifelong learning and practice-based learning and improvement.