The NBOME and Pearson VUE partner to deliver COMLEX-USA Exams in 2023

COMVEX and several client exams will also be delivered by Pearson VUE

The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), an independent, nonprofit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related health care professions, has partnered with Pearson VUE, the global leader in computer-based certification and licensure testing, to provide delivery of the COMLEX-USA examination series.

Beginning January 2023, all COMLEX-USA Level 3 examinations will be administered at Pearson VUE test centers, followed by Level 1 in May 2023 and Level 2-CE June 2023 (date tentative), respectively. The transition date for Level 2-CE will be confirmed by December 31, 2022.

Registration and scheduling for each exam are anticipated to open roughly six months prior to administration dates.

Pearson VUE will deliver the COMLEX-USA examination series across its network of nearly 300 Pearson Professional Centers and other affiliated test centers across the U.S., offering test takers a professional, highly secure, and consistent testing experience. For more on testing with Pearson VUE, visit PearsonVUE: Resources for Test-Takers.

Testing fees, score release dates, and exam preparation materials for COMLEX-USA are not expected to be affected by this transition.

In addition, COMVEX and several NBOME client examination administrations will also take place at Pearson VUE facilities beginning in 2023.

“We are excited to partner with Pearson VUE to enable us to continue providing best-in-class test-taking experiences and valid and reliable assessments for our candidates and clients,” said John R. Gimpel, DO, MEd, president and CEO of the NBOME. “We will work to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for COMLEX-USA candidates, clients, and other stakeholders.”

The transition to Pearson VUE addresses an important objective of the current NBOME Strategic Plan: to provide innovative assessments on robust technology-enhanced platforms that meet industry demand for agile, practice-relevant point-of-care assessments.

‘’We are honored to now be delivering these important licensure exams for the NBOME,’’ commented Eric D’Astolfo, vice president, business development, Pearson VUE. ‘’The osteopathic profession demands the highest quality assessment services; we look forward to playing our part in advancing patient care through certifying the competencies of its medical students.’’

The NBOME recognizes that this transition will no doubt raise many questions for students preparing to take any Level of COMLEX-USA. Current information is available at our FAQs, and more specific information related to the logistics of the transition for candidates preparing for each Level is forthcoming.

FAQs

Why has the NBOME decided to partner with Pearson?

Pearson VUE delivers exams for nearly 100 healthcare programs including the MCAT, with which DO students are already familiar.

We believe that Pearson VUE will be a great partner to help us meet the needs of our examinees and the changing landscape of computer-based assessment, and allow us to continue to innovate the testing experience for COMLEX-USA and other NBOME candidates.

This transition continues the NBOME’s mission of protecting the health of the public through valid, reliable, and fair assessments.

The NBOME has established a new contract with Pearson VUE to deliver the COMLEX-USA computer-based examinations beginning with the Level 3 examination in 2023.

The NBOME will also partner with Pearson VUE to administer its COMVEX examinations, as well as the exams for a number of NBOME client organizations.

We have had a long and productive relationship with Prometric and will continue to work with them through the spring of 2023 to make the transition as seamless as possible for candidates.

Why doesn’t NBOME make this transition sooner? And why does Level 3 come first in the process?

The Level 3 examination is the first to convert to Pearson VUE delivery since its testing cycle is the first to begin in calendar 2023. It is important that this transition is smooth for COMLEX-USA candidates and other stakeholders. This transition requires coordination among many departments at the NBOME, as well as between the NBOME and Pearson VUE, and we are being deliberate with our planning to ensure optimal results for our test takers.

When will these changes take place?

The timeline for Pearson VUE to begin delivering the COMLEX-USA examination series is:

• Level 3—January 2023
• Level 1—May 2023
• Level 2-CE—June 2023 (tentative, to be confirmed by December 2022)

Pearson VUE will begin delivering COMVEX examinations in July 2023.

All test administration prior to these dates will occur at Prometric test centers.

When can I register for a Pearson VUE administration?

Our practice has been to allow candidates access to registration no earlier than six months prior to their intended testing date. We expect to maintain this approach in the future, although there may be the need to adjust the registration window at the start of the Pearson VUE transition.

Will there be a cost increase associated with this change?

We do not foresee any fee changes to COMLEX-USA examinations resulting specifically from the transition to Pearson VUE. As a matter of practice, any future examination fee changes for COMLEX-USA will be communicated through the COMLEX-USA Bulletin of Information and shared with COMs via the NBOME president’s Letter to Deans, typically one year in advance of any change.

Will this affect testing dates or score reporting?

The calendar for COMLEX-USA examination dates and score reporting will continue to be regularly posted on our website. They are not anticipated to change specifically due to the transition to Pearson VUE.

What happens if I have to reschedule or retake an exam after the transition deadline?

After the transition dates, exams will only be administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. If a candidate was scheduled to take an exam at a Prometric center before the transition and has to reschedule for a date after the transition, they must do so through Pearson VUE.

Will I still be able to take practice exams?

The content of the COMLEX-USA examination series will not change as a result of this transition. Therefore, practice examinations and resources such as COMSAE and WelCOM will still be helpful to you in test preparation. That said, we anticipate launching a practice exam that demonstrates the interface and functionality of examinations administered at Pearson VUE in mid-2022.

For further information about test-taking at Pearson VUE, visit home.pearsonvue.com/Test-takers/Resources

What happens if the Pearson VUE testing site is farther from my COM than the current Prometric site?

Pearson VUE has a sizable national test center network with more than 280 locations nationwide. The current analysis shows more proximate Pearson VUE testing locations to colleges of osteopathic medicine than the current Prometric testing centers. As we plan for this 2023 transition, we will work with Pearson VUE to provide the most convenient testing options for students at all COMs.

We will continue to add to this list to provide more clarity as more details for each Level of COMLEX-USA and other NBOME examinations are available. In the meantime, please contact clientservices@nbome.org with any additional questions.