Education & Advocacy

Use this page to learn more about NBOME advocacy efforts, access resources that support accurate understanding of COMLEX-USA, and share concerns about barriers that may affect fair consideration of DO applicants. Get involved by sharing concerns, using NBOME educational resources in advising and residency selection conversations, and helping to promote accurate understanding of osteopathic medical education among residency programs, specialty organizations, and other stakeholders.

Why Advocacy Matters

Osteopathic medical students and residents contribute meaningfully across every specialty and practice setting, yet some learners continue to encounter inconsistent understanding of osteopathic medical education, COMLEX-USA, and the credentials that support osteopathic licensure. Advocacy helps address these gaps by providing accurate information, encouraging fair and transparent review practices, and supporting educational environments in which DO applicants are evaluated on the full range of their qualifications.

Understanding Osteopathic Medicine

Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) are fully licensed physicians in the United States and other countries. Their patient care approach aligns with their distinctive training in comprehensive, evidence-based medical care, summarized as the interconnected body-mind-spirit approach to finding, restoring, and maintaining health.

Many physicians who choose osteopathic medicine strongly identify with its distinctive philosophy and whole-person approach to patient care. Since 1934, the NBOME has provided assessment tools designed to evaluate the competencies required for osteopathic medical licensure. These assessments align with the education, training, and practice of osteopathic physicians.

Osteopathic medicine is grounded in a distinctive philosophy that emphasizes whole-person, patient-centered care and the interrelationship of structure and function. Many physicians who choose osteopathic medicine strongly identify with this approach and carry it forward in their clinical training and practice.

Understanding Osteopathic Assessment

The COMLEX-USA examination series is the licensure pathway for osteopathic physicians and is accepted by all state medical licensing authorities in the United States. The examination program is designed to assess competencies required for safe and effective osteopathic medical practice, including biomedical and clinical science knowledge, osteopathic principles and practice, clinical decision-making, and readiness for unsupervised care.

Program directors, faculty, advisors, and other stakeholders can use NBOME resources to better understand COMLEX-USA score interpretation, examination blueprints, percentile information, research, and the role of osteopathic assessment in residency selection and medical licensure.

Use the resources below to support informed conversations with residency programs, faculty advisors, and others involved in evaluating DO applicants.

Future of Clinical Skills Assessment

Beginning with the Class of 2029, osteopathic medical students will demonstrate clinical skills competency through one of two pathways: the Core Competency Capstone for DOs (C3DO) or Comprehensive Competency Verification (CCV). These pathways are intended to support assessment of core osteopathic clinical skills through direct observation and will satisfy the clinical skills eligibility requirement for COMLEX-USA Level 3.

Click “Learn More” to understand how future graduates will demonstrate clinical skills competency as part of the COMLEX-USA pathway with the C3DO and CCV updates.

Why We Advocate

The NBOME advocates for fair, transparent, and holistic review processes in undergraduate and graduate medical education. Our advocacy efforts focus on increasing awareness of osteopathic medical education, promoting appropriate use and acceptance of COMLEX-USA, reducing unnecessary barriers for DO students and residents, and supporting equitable opportunities throughout the transition from medical school to residency and beyond.

How We Advocate

The NBOME collaborates with organizations across the house of medicine to remove barriers and ensure equal opportunities in medical education spaces for DOs with their COMLEX-USA credentials.

• Engage residency programs, specialty organizations, and medical education stakeholders to promote accurate understanding and appropriate acceptance of COMLEX-USA.
• Provide educational resources that support holistic review of DO applicants in residency selection.
• Partner with UME leaders, faculty, and advisors at colleges of osteopathic medicine to support understanding of COMLEX-USA and its role in licensure.
• Monitor and respond to concerns related to unnecessary barriers for DO students and residents.
• Share data, research, and resources that help stakeholders interpret osteopathic credentials accurately and consistently.
• Support conversations that reinforce the value of osteopathic medical education and the qualifications of DO applicants.

Advocacy Progress

• More than 900 programs and organizations contacted regarding osteopathic credential awareness.
• Multiple specialty organizations have issued statements supporting acceptance of COMLEX-USA in residency selection.
• NBOME advocacy efforts continue to promote holistic review practices that reduce unnecessary barriers for DO applicants.
• Reports from students, residents, advisors, and program leaders help identify where additional education, clarification, or outreach may be needed.

Support Fair Review

Encourage programs and specialty organizations to recognize COMLEX-USA as the licensure examination pathway for osteopathic physicians and to consider DO applicants through holistic, transparent review processes.

Reach out to our Education and Advocacy team with questions about COMLEX-USA, score interpretation, and NBOME resources.