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 2CE (COMLEX 2CE)
Students are required to take COMLEX during specific time-frames listed in the sections below. Students must be actively participating in curricular activities (e.g. not on a leave of absence) to sit for COMLEX. 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 Assistant or Associate Dean), it is a professionalism violation and the student will be removed from clinical rotations until a passing score on COMSAE and COMLEX is received. The student will be referred to the Student Performance Committee at the discretion of the Assistant or Associate Dean.
COMLEX Level 1
Students must take COMLEX 1 prior to the scheduled first day of the OMS III rotations cycle for the class as published in the ATSU-SOMA Schedule. Exceptions must be approved in advance by ATSU-SOMA’s Assistant or 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 passing score as described in the Integrative II syllabus on a secured version of the Phase 1 timed Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Exam (COMSAE) provided by ATSU-SOMA. A minimum passing score 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 at least the minimum COMSAE passing score as described in the Integrative II syllabus within five business days of their examination date or by June 15th of the second academic year, they must meet with the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration 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 Level 1. It may be necessary to postpone the start of clinical rotations. If a student alters the plan set forth by the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration without prior authorization, this action will be viewed as a professionalism violation with referral to the Student Performance Committee (SPC).
- If a student has not achieved the minimum passing score on a COMSAE exam after two consecutive attempts, they will be referred to the SPC for academic performance inadequacy and may be subject to dismissal.
- Under certain circumstances, such as in cases of overall poor academic performance, the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration may require the student to delay taking the COMLEX until readiness to take the exam is determined. The student will be placed in a Directed Studies course until a minimum passing score on a COMSAE is achieved and COMLEX Level I has been taken.
- Extended time to take the COMSAE for students with disabilities will be provided only if NBOME has approved extended time for a student’s COMLEX Level I exam. Proof of NBOME’s approval must be submitted to ATSU Learning and Disability Resources Office (disabilityresources@atsu.edu) by May 1st of the OMS II year. Otherwise, the COMSAE will be taken with standard timing.
*The Phase 1 COMSAE exams are administered to OMS II students during the Integrative II course.
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 immediately the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration, the Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Services, their RDME(s), and their clinical education coordinator (CEC) when they are notified of their result. Based on the student’s numeric COMLEX score and past academic record, they will be required to appear before the Student Performance Committee. The student’s entire academic record since matriculation at ATSU-SOMA will be reviewed by the SPC. The SPC will determine the student’s academic status and if the opportunity for a retake of the COMLEX Level I will be granted.
If a retake exam is granted by the SPC, the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration 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 secured and proctored COMSAE score greater than the minimum passing score.
- The student must re-take COMLEX Level 1 within eight weeks of notification of failure unless otherwise prescribed by the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration.
- The student must submit evidence at least five business days prior to taking the COMLEX Level 2CE of a minimum score on a secured version of the Phase 2 timed Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Exam (COMSAE) provided by ATSU-SOMA. A minimum passing score 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 the minimum passing score on a COMSAE exam after two consecutive attempts, they will be referred to the SPC for academic performance inadequacy and may be subject to dismissal.
COMLEX Level 1 Second Failure
A student who fails the second attempt of COMLEX Level 1 is required to immediately inform the Assistant or Associate Dean of Curricular Integration, the Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Services, their RDME(s), and their CEC.
The student will be removed from clinical rotations at the conclusion of their current clinical clerkship, placed on Directed Studies, and immediately placed on academic probation if the academic status reflects otherwise. The student is required to meet with the Student Performance Committee. The student’s entire academic record since matriculation at ATSU-SOMA will be reviewed by the SPC. The SPC will determine status updates according to their full academic review to determine progression in the program.
COMLEX Level 2CE
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 of Clinical Education and Services. The examination may be taken at any NBOME-approved testing center.
A student is eligible to take COMLEX Level 2CE if they have:
- 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 (as communicated to the students at the end of their OMS III year) on a secured version of the Phase 2 timed Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Exam (COMSAE) provided by ATSU-SOMA. A minimum passing score 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 at least the minimum Phase 2 timed COMSAE score within five business days of their examination date, the student must meet with the Associate Dean of 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). The Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Services or their designee must authorize exceptions to this deadline in advance.
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 immediately the Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Services and their RDME(s) and CEC when they are notified of their result.
The Associate Dean of Clinical Education and Services 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 an additional minimum passing score on a timed secure COMSAE exam. The student will be referred to the Student Performance Committee (SPC) where academic status and progression in the program will be determined. The student’s entire academic record since matriculation at ATSU-SOMA will be reviewed by the SPC. The SPC will determine if the opportunity for a retake of the COMLEX Level II will be granted.
If a retake is granted by the SPC, the student must re-take COMLEX Level 2CE within eight weeks of notification of the failure unless otherwise prescribed by the Assistant Dean of Clinical Curriculum.
COMLEX Level 2CE Second Failure
A student who fails the second attempt of COMLEX Level 2CE is required to inform immediately the Assistant Dean of Clinical Curriculum, and their RDME(s) and CEC. The student will be removed from clinical rotations at the conclusion of their current clinical clerkship rotation, placed on Directed Studies, and immediately placed on academic probation if the academic status reflects otherwise. The student is required to meet with the Student Performance Committee. The student’s entire academic record since matriculation at ATSU-SOMA will be reviewed by the SPC. The SPC will determine status updates according to their full academic review to determine progression in the program.
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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