COMLEX Policies for the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona DO Program
Passing Level 1 and Level 2 of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) from the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) is a graduation requirement. These examinations are:
- COMLEX Level 1 (COMLEX 1)
- COMLEX Level 2 CE (COMLEX 2CE)
- COMLEX Level 2PE (COMLEX 2PE)
Students are required to take COMLEX during specific time-frames listed in the sections below. If a student is eligible to take COMLEX, and does not take it according to the scheduling requirements listed in this section (unless prior permission to deviate from the required schedule is granted by the Associate or Assistant Dean), it is a professionalism violation and the student will be removed from clinical rotations until a passing score on COMLEX is received. The student will be referred to the Student Performance Committee at the discretion of the Associate or Assistant Dean.
COMLEX Level 1
Students must take COMLEX 1 prior to the start of the OMS III rotations cycle for the class as published in the SOMA Schedule. Exceptions must be approved in advance by SOMA’s Associate Dean of Curricular Integration. The examination may be taken at any NBOME-approved testing center.
A student is eligible to take COMLEX 1 if they have:
- Passed all OMS I and OMS II courses
- Achieved a minimum score of 450 on a secured version of the Phase 1 timed Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Exam (COMSAE) provided by ATSU-SOMA. A score of 450 on an unsecured COMSAE version (i.e., a version available for purchase by the student) does not meet the COMSAE requirement. See Integrative I and Integrative II course syllabi for details.*
- If a student has not achieved a COMSAE score of at least 450 within five business day of his or her examination date, he or she must meet with the Assistant Dean for Curricular Integration or his or her designee to assist the student in creating an individualized preparation plan with benchmarks the student will be required to reach before being authorized to take COMLEX Level 1. It may be necessary to postpone the start of clinical rotations.
- Under certain circumstances, such as in cases of overall poor academic performance, the Assistant Dean for Curricular Integration may require the student to delay taking the COMLEX until readiness to take the exam is determined.
*The Phase 1 COMSAE exams are administered to OMS II students during the Integrative II.
COMLEX Level 1 First Failure:
Failure of COMLEX Level 1 may significantly impact a student’s clinical rotation schedule and progression through the curriculum.
A student who fails the first attempt of COMLEX Level 1 is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services, his or her RDME(s), and his or her clinical education coordinator (CEC). The student will be placed on academic warning.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan which may include time off clinical rotations, Directed Studies, a formal board preparation course, and documentation of an additional COMSAE score greater than 450. The Student Performance Committee will be notified of the failure, and the student will be placed on Academic Warning. Based on the student’s numeric COMLEX score and past academic record, he or she may be required to appear before the Student Performance Committee.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean, the student must re-take COMLEX Level 1 within eight weeks of notification of failure.
COMLEX Level 1 Second Failure:
A student who fails the second attempt of COMLEX Level 1 is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services, his or her RDMEs, and his or her CEC.
The student will be removed from clinical rotations at the conclusion of his or her current rotation, and placed on directed studies until a passing score is received. The student will be placed on academic probation.
The student is required to meet with the Student Performance Committee. The student will be placed on academic probation. At the meeting, the student is to present evidence (such as a formal study plan) to support why he or she should be allowed a third attempt of COMLEX Level 1. If permission for a third (final) attempt is granted, the student will remain on directed studies pending a passing score.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan (as listed above). A formal board preparation course will be required.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean, the student is required to make the third (final) attempt of the COMLEX Level 1 within 16 weeks of notification of the failure.
COMLEX Level 1 Third Failure:
A student who fails COMLEX Level 1 three times will meet with the Student Performance Committee and is subject to dismissal from SOMA.
COMLEX Level 2 CE
Students who are on-track with their OMS IV class are required to take COMLEX Level 2CE by September 1 of the OMS IV year. Exceptions to this deadline must be authorized in advance by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services. The examination may be taken at any NBOME-approved testing center.
A student is eligible to take COMLEX Level 2 CE if he or she has:
- Successfully completed all OMS III Core curricular requirements including the Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) course. The requirements for each course are listed in the course syllabus and may include, but are not limited to completion of all patient logs, cases, quizzes, and passage of all post-rotation OMS III NBOME COMAT examinations, including the OPP NBOME COMAT examination.
- Submitted evidence at least five business days prior to taking the COMLEX Level 2CE of a minimum score of 450 on a secured version of the Phase 2 timed Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Exam (COMSAE) provided by ATSU-SOMA. A score of 450 on an unsecured COMSAE version (i.e., a version available for purchase by the student) does not meet the COMSAE requirement.
- If a student has not achieved a Phase 2 timed COMSAE score of at least 450 within five business dates of their examination date, the student must meet with the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services or their designee to assist the student in creating an individualized preparation plan with benchmarks the student will be required to reach before being authorized to take COMLEX 2CE. During this time, the student may be taken off clinical rotations and placed on Directed Studies to prepare for the examination.
If a student is off-track with their OMS IV class for any reason, the student is required to take the COMLEX 2CE within 60 days following successful completion of all OMS III curricular requirements (see above section for OMS III curricular and COMSAE requirements). Exceptions to this deadline must be authorized in advance by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services.
Students are given a 24-hour excused absence from rotations to take COMLEX Level 2CE if a request is submitted to the Clinical Education Department at least 10 business days in advance of the examination.
COMLEX Level 2CE First Failure:
Failure of COMLEX Level 2CE may significantly impact a student’s clinical rotation schedule, progression through the curriculum, ability to match into residency, graduation, and eligibility to start residency. A student who fails the first attempt of COMLEX Level 2CE is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services and his or her RDMEs and CEC.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan which may include time off clinical rotations, directed studies, and a formal board preparation course. The Student Performance Committee will be notified of the failure, and the student will be placed on academic warning. Based on the student’s numeric COMLEX Level 2CE score and past academic record, he or she may be required to appear before the Student Performance Committee.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education, the student must re-take COMLEX Level 2CE within eight weeks of notification of failure.
COMLEX Level 2CE Second Failure:
A student who fails the second attempt of COMLEX Level 2CE is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services and his or her RDMEs and CEC. The student will be removed from clinical rotations at the conclusion of his or her current rotation, and placed on directed studies until a passing score is received.
The student is required to meet with the Student Performance Committee. The student will be placed on academic probation. At the meeting, the student is to present evidence (such as a formal study plan) to support why he or she should be allowed a third attempt of COMLEX Level 2CE. If permission for a third (final) attempt is granted, the student will remain on directed studies pending a passing score.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan (as listed above). A formal board preparation course will be required.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean, the student is required to make the third (final) attempt of the COMLEX Level 2CE within 16 weeks of notification of the failure.
COMLEX Level 2CE Third Failure:
A student who fails COMLEX Level 2CE three times will meet with the Student Performance Committee and is subject to dismissal from SOMA.
COMLEX Level 2PE
Students who are on-track with their OMS IV class are required to take COMLEX Level 2PE between February 1st of the OMS III year and August 1st of the OMS IV year. Exceptions to this timeframe must be authorized in advance by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services. Prior to signing up for a test date, each student is required to discuss their planned COMLEX Level 2PE date with their RDME to determine their individual optimal time between February 1st of the OMS III year and August 1st of the OMS IV year to take the examination.
The examination must be taken at an NBOME-approved PE testing center.
A student is eligible to take COMLEX Level 2 PE if he/she has:
- Successfully completed all OMS III curricular requirements including the Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) course. The requirements for each course are listed in the course syllabus and may include, but are not limited to: completion of all patient logs, cases, quizzes, and passage of all post-rotation OMS III NBOME COMAT examinations, including the OPP NBOME COMAT examination.
If a student is off-track with his or her OMS IV class for any reason, he/she is required to take the COMLEX Level 2PE within 120 days following successful completion of all OMS III curricular requirements. Exceptions to this deadline must be authorized in advance by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services.
Students are given a 72-hour excused absence from rotations to take COMLEX 2PE if a request is submitted to the Clinical Education Department at least 10 business days in advance of the examination. Students who do not need to travel out-of-state for the exam will be given a 24-hour excused absence, rather than a 72-hour excused absence.
COMLEX Level 2PE First Failure:
Failure of COMLEX Level 2PE may significantly impact a student’s clinical rotation schedule, progression through the curriculum, ability to match into residency, graduation, and eligibility to start residency.
A student who fails the first attempt of COMLEX Level 2PE is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services and his or her RDMEs and CEC.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan which may include time off clinical rotations, assigned clinical rotations, and/or directed studies. The student will be required to participate in a formal, individualized remediation plan including practice sessions under the direction of the Standardized Patient Program.
The Student Performance Committee will be notified of the failure. The student will be placed on academic warning. Based on the student’s past academic record, he or she may be required to appear before the Student Performance Committee.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean for Clinical Education, the student must re-take COMLEX Level 2PE within eight weeks of notification of failure.
COMLEX Level 2PE Second Failure:
A student who fails the second attempt of COMLEX Level 2PE is required to inform the Associate Dean for Clinical Education and Services and his or her RDMEs and CEC.
The student will be removed from clinical rotations at the conclusion of his or her current rotation, and placed on directed studies until a passing score is received.
The student is required to meet with the Student Performance Committee. The student will be placed on academic probation. At the meeting, the student is to present evidence (such as a formal study plan) to support why he or she should be allowed a third attempt of COMLEX Level 2PE.
The Associate Dean and/or faculty designee will work with the student to create an individualized remediation plan (as listed above). A formal board preparation course will be required.
Unless instructed otherwise by the Associate Dean, the student is required to make the third (final) attempt of the COMLEX Level 2PE within 16 weeks of notification of the failure.
COMLEX Level 2PE Third Attempt Failure:
A student who fails COMLEX Level 2PE three times will meet with the Student Performance Committee and is subject to dismissal from SOMA.
COMLEX Level 3:
Following graduation, the ATSU Enrollment Services approves each graduate to take COMLEX Level 3 through the NBOME website. Generally, graduates take this examination at the completion of the first year of post-graduate training. However, requirements for taking this examination vary from state to state. Graduates should contact the osteopathic medical licensing board in the state where they will have post-graduate training for further information.
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