COMLEX: Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination

General Information

Passing Level 1 and Level 2 of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) from the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) is a graduation requirement. These examinations are:

  • COMLEX-USA Level 1
  • COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE

Students must take COMLEX-USA Level 1 prior to the start of their first clinical clerkship rotation.

Students must pass the COMLEX-USA Level 1 before they can advance to their second core clerkship.

Students preparing COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE for may not miss scheduled clerkships or alter the established clinical training schedule to study during their OMS III or OMS IV years outside of any time designated for board review by the COM administration, policy, or procedures unless authorized by the Associate Dean of Clinical Education or designee.

COMLEX Level 1

Students at the COM will be eligible to take COMLEX-USA Level 1 after they have:

  • Successfully completed all the requirements of the OMS I and OMS II academic curriculum.
  • Received attestation from the COM of good academic and professional standing.

COMLEX Level 1 Failure: 

The student cannot participate in clinical clerkships until the COMLEX-USA Level 1 exam has been retaken and a passing score is achieved. 

Students who do not pass COMLEX-USA Level 1 after three attempts will be subject to dismissal from the COM without the option to appeal. 

COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) Eligibility:

Students at the COM will be eligible to take COMLEX-USA Level 2 after they have:

  • Successfully completed all the required core clinical clerkships of the OMS III curriculum. 
  • Received attestation from the COM of good academic and professional standing.

COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) Failure: 

Students who do not pass COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE after 3 attempts will be subject to dismissal from the COM without the option to appeal.  

COMLEX-USA Level 2-Performance Exam (PE):

COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE was suspended indefinitely in February 2021 and formally discontinued in June 2022. COMLEX-USA candidates are currently verified by attestation from the COM dean that they are proficient in these important clinical skills.

COMLEX-USA Level 3 Eligibility:

Candidates will be eligible to take COMLEX-USA Level 3 after they have:

  • Passed both COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and Level 2-PE equivalent.
  • Successfully graduated from the COM with a DO degree as attested by the Dean.
  • Receive attestation by the Residency Program Director of an ACGME accredited program that you are in good academic and professional standing.