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COMLEX-USA
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<h2 id="comlex-usa-level-1">COMLEX-USA Level 1</h2> <p>COMLEX-USA Level 1 is typically taken after completion of the second year of <a href="/facts/Medical_school/Iqjoctde">medical school</a>. The exam consists of 352 questions administered in one day and consists of two, four-hour exam sessions separated by a 40-minute break. Each of the four-hour sessions allows a ten-minute break in addition to the time allotted for the respective four-hour sessions. Candidates are expected to know the basic mechanisms of health and disease process. The mean score for the COMLEX-USA Level 1 is approximately 500-540 (for first time test-takers), with a standard deviation of about 85 (although this may vary slightly from year to year).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> It was announced on January 24, 2022, that the COMLEX-USA Level 1 examination will be moving from a 3-digit numeric score to solely pass/fail beginning on May 10, 2022.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>Specifically, Level 1 covers basic medical sciences, including: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Anatomy/p8TCWJuV">Anatomy</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Behavioral_Science/bSak3jfx">Behavioral Science</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Biochemistry/fa2pWEBp">Biochemistry</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Microbiology/k7udsq81">Microbiology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Osteopathic_manipulative_medicine/BrS9UGbh">Osteopathic Principles and Practice</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pathology/U9b18LJG">Pathology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pharmacology/4Rx8s7Ie">Pharmacology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Physiology/fh25y2pQ">Physiology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Public_health/4563Kre9">Public Health</a></li></ul> <h2 id="comlex-usa-level-2-ce">COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE</h2> <p>COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE), is generally taken during the third or fourth year of <a href="/facts/Medical_school/Iqjoctde">medical school</a>. Level 2-CE requires candidates to demonstrate knowledge of clinical concepts and medical decision-making. The mean score for the COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE is approximately 540 (for first time test-takers), with a standard deviation of about 100 (although this may vary slightly from year to year). </p><p>The examination is problem-based and symptoms-based, integrating the clinical disciplines of: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Emergency_medicine/HmVeC5R9">emergency medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Family_medicine/I5Y56awT">family medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Internal_medicine/TxXnMDs8">internal medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Obstetrics/JbYHxtCd">obstetrics</a>/<a href="/facts/Gynecology/KKAAAcnb">gynecology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Osteopathic/BrS9UGbh">osteopathic principles</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pediatrics/hnkMfLeg">pediatrics</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Psychiatry/uzS7vEo0">psychiatry</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Surgery/fG8tWf5Y">surgery</a></li></ul> <h2 id="comlex-usa-level-2-pe-discontinued">COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE (discontinued)</h2> <p>In 2005 the NBOME introduced the COMLEX-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (PE). It was announced on February 14, 2021, that the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE examination will be discontinued indefinitely and a commission will be set up "to consider and identify new ways to evaluate fundamental competencies currently assessed in the Level 2-PE."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> The exam was a one-day, seven-hour clinical skills examination and utilized standardized patients (actors trained to present clinical symptoms) to test clinical skills. The exam was graded as pass/fail. Testing sites were available in <a href="/facts/Conshohocken,_PA/oTbz0pzH">Conshohocken, PA</a>, and in <a href="/facts/Chicago/yPMokrXH">Chicago, IL</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Candidates were required to complete 12 standardized patient encounters, each 14 minutes in duration. Following each encounter, candidates had 9 minutes to type a SOAP note. Candidates were strongly encouraged to make full use of the allotted time for each encounter to ensure thoroughness in both components of an encounter. </p><p>The exam required candidates to demonstrate proficiency in: </p> <ul><li>history taking and physical examination skills</li> <li>integrated <a href="/facts/Differential_diagnosis/jLqnn5hA">differential diagnosis</a> and clinical problem solving</li> <li>written communication and synthesis of clinical findings (<a href="/facts/SOAP_note/6BrHsaNY">SOAP note format</a>)</li> <li>osteopathic principles and/or <a href="/facts/Osteopathic_manipulative_treatment/BrS9UGbh">osteopathic manipulative treatment</a></li></ul> <h2 id="comlex-usa-level-3">COMLEX-USA Level 3</h2> <p>The final examination, COMLEX-USA Level 3, is generally taken after starting a residency program. The exam is a two-day computer-based examination consisting of up to 420 multiple choice questions, and up to 26 additional clinical decision-making cases.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> The mean score for COMLEX-USA Level 3 is approximately 520 (for first-time test takers), with a standard deviation of about 85.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>It covers the clinical disciplines of medicine, including: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Emergency_medicine/HmVeC5R9">emergency medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Family_medicine/I5Y56awT">family medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Internal_medicine/TxXnMDs8">internal medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Obstetrics/JbYHxtCd">obstetrics</a>/<a href="/facts/Gynecology/KKAAAcnb">gynecology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Osteopathic/BrS9UGbh">osteopathic principles</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Pediatrics/hnkMfLeg">pediatrics</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Psychiatry/uzS7vEo0">psychiatry</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Surgery/fG8tWf5Y">surgery</a></li></ul> <h2 id="usmle-comparison">USMLE comparison</h2> <p>In 2020, the <a href="/facts/Accreditation_Council_for_Graduate_Medical_Education/2CSDtu4a">ACGME</a> (former MD residency system) and <a href="/facts/American_Osteopathic_Association/yMo3oac8">AOA GME</a> (former DO residency system) merged and became one GME. All allopathic and osteopathic medical students, therefore, now apply to and train in ACGME-accredited residencies. Prior to the merger, DO students could apply to both ACGME and AOA residencies, while MD students could only apply to ACGME residencies. Although not a requirement, to be competitive, many osteopathic medical students have a pressure to take both <a href="/facts/USMLE/DAsPH6zp">USMLE</a> and COMLEX. There are several residency programs that specifically require USMLE scores. Based on data from recent results of the COMLEX-USA examination, for level 1 and level 2, a score of 500-540 is considered the 50th percentile with scores falling slightly under and over this mark to be considered similarly. A score of 600 is historically considered to be around the 80th percentile.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.nbome.org">National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.osteopathic.org">American Osteopathic Association</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"COMLEX Computer Based Testing (CBT)". NBOME. 2010. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120530220121/http://www.nbome.org/comlex-cbt.asp?m=can#description" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120530220121/http://www.nbome.org/comlex-cbt.asp?m=can#description</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"COMLEX-USA Level 1 to Eliminate Numeric Scores". NBOME. 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2012. <a href="https://www.nbome.org/news/comlex-usa-level-1-to-eliminate-numeric-scores/" target="_blank">https://www.nbome.org/news/comlex-usa-level-1-to-eliminate-numeric-scores/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Carolyn Schierhorn (December 21, 2011). "Match Report Sheds Light on Credentials Needed to Secure Residencies". The DO. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved June 5, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120607090406/http://www.do-online.org/TheDO/?p=82751" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120607090406/http://www.do-online.org/TheDO/?p=82751</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"COMLEX-USA Level 1 to Eliminate Numeric Scores". NBOME. 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2012. <a href="https://www.nbome.org/news/comlex-usa-level-1-to-eliminate-numeric-scores/" target="_blank">https://www.nbome.org/news/comlex-usa-level-1-to-eliminate-numeric-scores/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"NBOME COMLEX LEVEL 2 UPDATE". NBOME. 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2012. <a href="https://www.opso.org/news/551990/NBOME-COMLEX-Level-2-Update.htm" target="_blank">https://www.opso.org/news/551990/NBOME-COMLEX-Level-2-Update.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Testing Sites for the COMLEX-USA Level 2 PE". nbome.org. Retrieved 2017-11-08. <a href="https://www.nbome.org/who-we-are/our-locations/" target="_blank">https://www.nbome.org/who-we-are/our-locations/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"COMLEX-USA • Level 3 — NBOME". nbome.org. Retrieved 2017-11-06. <a href="https://www.nbome.org/exams-assessments/comlex-usa/comlex-usa-level-3/" target="_blank">https://www.nbome.org/exams-assessments/comlex-usa/comlex-usa-level-3/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Scoring Principles — NBOME". nbome.org. Retrieved 2017-11-06. <a href="https://www.nbome.org/exams-assessments/comlex-usa/comlex-usa-level-3/scores-transcripts/scoring-principles/" target="_blank">https://www.nbome.org/exams-assessments/comlex-usa/comlex-usa-level-3/scores-transcripts/scoring-principles/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"CBT Score Conversion (COMLEX-USA to USMLE)". nbome.org. Retrieved 2017-11-08. <a href="http://www.nbome.org/CBT_Score_Conv/" target="_blank">http://www.nbome.org/CBT_Score_Conv/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>