COMLEX PE Exam Review
The COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination) is comprised of three medical licensing exams administered in series by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). The COMLEX exam is designed to test the medical knowledge that is considered essential for an Osteopathic general physicians (DOs) to practice medicine in the United States without supervision. Today, completing the COMLEX-USA is the common way by which a physician can satisfy the state licensure requirements for Osteopathic medical assessment to practice medicine in any of the 50 states.
The COMLEX
OMM (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine) is the application of the distinct osteopathic philosophy used to diagnose and treat a patient. OMM takes into account the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of a patient as well as how each aspect contributes to the patient's condition and overall health. Basic timelines for students to complete each COMLEX level are listed below:
- COMLEX Level 1 is taken after the second year of medical school. It is administered in a single day and consists of two, four-hour exam sessions separated by a 40-minute break.
- COMLEX Level 2 is taken during the fourth year of medical school and consists of two parts:
- COMLEX-CE is a problem and symptom-based exam that requires a candidate to demonstrate his or her knowledge of clinical concepts and medical decision-making.
- COMLEX-PE is a one day, seven hour exam that utilizes standardized patient simulations using actors trained to present clinical symptoms. The COMLEX PE is only available at Conshohocken, PA.
- COMLEX Level 3 is the final exam for an Osteopathic physician and is typically taken after the student starts residency. Similar to the COMLEX 2, the exam covers the clinical disciplines of medicine and measures the examinee's ability to apply clinical skills.
While Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment can be used to treat disease, OMT is only one element of OMM. Patient education, pharmacotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, diet and exercise all play important roles in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. The five major components to providing osteopathic care include an understanding of Biomechanical, Neurological, Respiratory/Circulatory, Metabolic and Behavioral factors. Since each OMM component plays an important role in the overall health of a patient, a student taking the COMLEX must consider the integration of OMM when diagnosing and treating a patient simulation.
It is estimated that in the realm of medical knowledge, there is an overlap of approximately 70-80% in the material tested on the COMLEX and USMLE. In fact, many students elect to take USMLE Steps as well as completing the necessary COMLEX Levels to meet NBOME licensure requirements. At PASS Program South, we can help you understand the difference in how the USMLE and COMLEX exam questions are written and scored as well as the difference in diagnosis and management of patient care. We offer 4-week, 6-week and 8-week test preparation review courses, for additional information give us a call at (904) 209-3140.
