As DO is Comlex PE and USMLE PE Necessary?

[rs_braves]

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Hi,

I am a d.o. student who has taken Comlex and USMLE Step 1 and plan to take Comlex and USMLE Step 2. My question I wasn't planning on taking USMLE Step 2 CS PE, only Comlex CS PE. I hadn't even thought about taking it but a fellow student was planning to sign up for both PEs. Does anyone know about this from a D.O. perspective? We are a new school, GA-PCOM so we don't have any 4th years to rely upon.

Thanks.

 

[PayingMyDues]

Dear Dr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your email. Though you completed the COMPLEX Steps 1 and 2 and COMPLEX PE, successful completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2CK and 2CS are a prerequisite for taking Step 3. Please contact the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB); the Step 3 registration entity for further Step 3 requirements. Their contact information is listed below.

FSMB
PO BOX 619850
Dallas, TX 75261-9850
Phone: 817-868-4041
Internet: www.fsmb.org
E-mail: [email protected]

Sincerely,

National Board of Medical Examiners

 

[treasurefull2]

Dear Dr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your email. Though you completed the COMPLEX Steps 1 and 2 and COMPLEX PE, successful completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2CK and 2CS are a prerequisite for taking Step 3. Please contact the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB); the Step 3 registration entity for further Step 3 requirements. Their contact information is listed below.

FSMB
PO BOX 619850
Dallas, TX 75261-9850
Phone: 817-868-4041
Internet: www.fsmb.org
E-mail: [email protected]

Sincerely,

National Board of Medical Examiners

This is an interesting point. I hadn't thought that far ahead about the USMLE. The next obvious question is, what are the benefits of taking ALL 3 steps of the USMLE?

 

[DOctorJay]

no need to take USMLE CS or Step 3 as a DO. you'll be licensed as a physician with COMLEX, Steps 1 and 2 are for "comparison" purposes only in my opinion.

 

[FowlersGap]

DOctor Jay is right; i was wondering the same last year but it turns out you only need to take the comlex PE; taking the usmle CS would be a waste of time and money

 

[predodoc]

how important is usmle 3 to the allopathic fellowships out of IM? That would be the only reason why usmle 3 would cross my mind.

 

[PayingMyDues]

If you are planning on doing a fellowship....based on feedback I got from cardio programs...Take usmle step 3.

 

[rs_braves]

no need to take USMLE CS or Step 3 as a DO. you'll be licensed as a physician with COMLEX, Steps 1 and 2 are for "comparison" purposes only in my opinion.

So allopathic residency programs don't care about Step II CS? This was my guess is that if you have taken USMLE Step 1 and 2 and they won't except you without USMLE Step 2 PE, then they are not going to take you anyway.

But I'd like to know if there is any advantage taking Step 3 USMLE besides comparison standpoint? The amount of money and time taking two separate steps is starting to add up, and especially time studying.

Or is it worth being dually passed in all three steps. If it is worth the time and effort, I would do it because the tests have been similar enough so far. It's just becoming more of headache than anything. I guess my question is what percentage of D.O student's are doing this, taking all 4 extra tests (USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 2 CS and Step 3?) besides are own 4.

 

[olliemctuffy]

Don't take USMLE PE, it's a waste of money because you have to take COMLEX PE to graduate. Nobody really cares about step 3 scores, what will get you a fellowship is doing well in a residency at a well known and respected place and knowing people. Connections may well be the number one factor.
Doing two PE's is redundant, a waste of your time and money. Both PE's are equivalent and so only one should be done.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Don't take USMLE PE, it's a waste of money because you have to take COMLEX PE to graduate. Nobody really cares about step 3 scores, what will get you a fellowship is doing well in a residency at a well known and respected place and knowing people. Connections may well be the number one factor.
Doing two PE's is redundant, a waste of your time and money. Both PE's are equivalent and so only one should be done.

Minor correction -- it's USMLE Step 2 "CS" and COMLEX II "PE."

I don't know anything about Cardiology fellowship requirements so I won't comment on the utility of taking all 3 parts of the USMLE. I'm willing to bet that a DO with only COMLEX scores (and maybe USMLE Step 1) with strong LORs and publications during their IM residency will end up doing just fine during the fellowship match. At the end of the day, if you want something bad enough and show it NO ONE can stop you.

But take that with a grain of salt as I'm not in IM...

 

[rs_braves]

Don't take USMLE PE, it's a waste of money because you have to take COMLEX PE to graduate. Nobody really cares about step 3 scores, what will get you a fellowship is doing well in a residency at a well known and respected place and knowing people. Connections may well be the number one factor.
Doing two PE's is redundant, a waste of your time and money. Both PE's are equivalent and so only one should be done.

So if I don't take USMLE Step 2 CS and Step 3, will there be any licensure/ reimbursement type issues down the line? Or is that irrelevant and based on your respective residency step? Sorry for the ignorance in this matter, I am a lowly 3rd year.

 

[Old_Mil]

This is an interesting point. I hadn't thought that far ahead about the USMLE. The next obvious question is, what are the benefits of taking ALL 3 steps of the USMLE?

I'm thinking that by taking a complete set of USMLE exams that these DOs will rid themselves of the need to take Comlex III, osteopathic CME requirements, the AOA and OMM.

It seems like an increasing # of DO students are taking more USMLEs - eventually that makes it a competitiveness issue for match.

 

[rs_braves]

I'm thinking that by taking a complete set of USMLE exams that these DOs will rid themselves of the need to take Comlex III, osteopathic CME requirements, the AOA and OMM.

Is there validity to this statement b/c if it is it would seem reason enough to take the extra tests.