COMLEX/USMLE questions

[snowhite]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm about to be a 1st year DO student and was wondering about applying for residencies already. I don't really know much about them.

If a DO student wants to do an allopathic residency, then we have to take the USMLE, right? Do the osteopathic schools prepare students for both? Does this mean that osteopathic students wanting to expand their residency options have to take both the COMLEX and USMLE? Do they test the same materials? I'm not sure yet as to the kind of medicine I'd like to practice, but I want to keep my options open.

 

[DrMom]

Depends on the specialty & part of the country. Many DOs in allo residencies didn't take the USMLE.

 

[Robz]

Quinnnsu is a mod here and is a DO that is in an allo EM residency....

he didn't take the USMLE either just the COMLEX



for me though its a personal choice as some people say it gives you a more level playing field while others say if the program doesn't take the comlex then they arn't worth going to.....

 

[MED123]

I am too, an entering DO student this fall. And, I am concerned about the boards. Suppose I choose allopathic residency and take the USMLE to get in, do I have to continue taking both allopathic and osteopathic boards (every 5 yrs or so) for all my life even if I don't go DO route?

That is the impression I got but I don't know if thats true.
THanks.

 

[DrMom]

You don't take allo/osteo boards every 5 years. All DOs have to take the COMLEX: step 1 after 2nd year, step 2 during 4th year, and step 3 during internship year. Once you have these done, you're licensed. (The USMLE works the same way for MDs) Most DO students who take step 1 of the USMLE don't go on to take the other 2, although they can.

I think you're thinking about specialty board exams. Those you do take on a regular basis (differs depending on your specialty...most are somewhere around every 7-10 years). There are allo and osteo boards, depending on what kind of residency you do.

 

[MED123]

Sorry, yes I mean the specialty boards. Okay, so if I go with allo residency, then I will only take allo specialty boards. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

Please excuse me but I am not too clear on this:

(The USMLE works the same way for MDs) Most DO students who take step 1 of the USMLE don't go on to take the other 2, although they can.

Are you saying that if I go for allo residency and I take USMLE 1-3, I don't necessarily have to take COMLEX 1-3?

 

[DrMom]

You've got it backwards. If you're a DO, you have to take all 3 of COMLEX, but don't have to take all 3 of the USMLE.

 

[Ratch]

don't take this the wrong way, but you have plenty of time later on to worry about boards and residencies or specialization; i would spend your summer with your computer off and your brain thinking about anything not medicine/science. good luck nonetheless!