DO students in MD residency programs

[gildas]

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For those DO students applying to ACGME approved IM residencies, were you required to take both USMLE 1 & 2?
If not can you share with us which programs you applied to?

 

[jacksparrow82]

Most programs who are familiar with DO's do not care if you have taken the USMLE or not. I would assume that some of the more competitive large university programs might, but most of the community hospital type programs I applied to did not specifically require USMLE.
Just take COMLEX and do well on the first AND second parts (they will see these scores and care how well you did) and you'll be good to go.

 

[mrdowntoearth]

Take USMLE Step 1 and 2. I can't emphasize this enough. I'm currently in the process of applying to allopathic IM residencies. I can't tell you how many programs have told me they prefer to see my USMLE scores. Be careful with the people who say many allopathic programs know how to interpret COMLEX. They don't. Take USMLE. Period. You'll see what I mean when you're through the process.

 

[txoncdoc]

Take USMLE Step 1 and 2. I can't emphasize this enough. I'm currently in the process of applying to allopathic IM residencies. I can't tell you how many programs have told me they prefer to see my USMLE scores. Be careful with the people who say many allopathic programs know how to interpret COMLEX. They don't. Take USMLE. Period. You'll see what I mean when you're through the process.

Agree! 👍
Also, I have been told if you are interested in fellowships, you should definately take USMLE 1 and 2!

 

[jopdo]

If I had to do it all over again, I would've only taken Step I of USMLE and
1) applied earlier to programs
2) then, see which interviews you get, and which ones dont call you back, then see if you are happy with the interviews you got
3) call places that don't respond and ask what their policy is on USMLE
4) or go to your interviews and see if they want you to take step 2 and/or 3 prior to the rank deadline so that they can rank you accordingly

Take home point:
I took both. (Failed CK by 1 point--but, had registered for ck prior to completing ERAS) I applied to around 30 programs, got about 15-17 interviews, 2 rejections and the rest no responses. I think had I passed my ck, I wouldve gotten lots more interview--but I was pretty happy with the 15-17 or so that I did get. I think if I hadn't taken both (atleast step 1) I wouldn't have gotten as many. I spoke to a colleague applying to surgery programs who had only taken comlex and he only got 3 allo interviews--he wished he had taken both. If you pass (or in my case even if you don't) it gives you a boost.

 

[gildas]

Thanks for your comments. Anyone applying to a program in Phoenix, AZ?

 

[trudragoon]

Great info, anybody know about DO students needing to take both CK AND CS? I really don't want to have to dish out the $1000 for CS if it won't matter...Thanks!

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Great info, anybody know about DO students needing to take both CK AND CS? I really don't want to have to dish out the $1000 for CS if it won't matter...Thanks!

I'm not applying for IM but I'm pretty darn sure you don't need to take the USMLE CS exam. It will add nothing to your application yet will drain your wallet of $1,000. Your call.

Unless of course you want to complete all 3 steps of the USMLE's for licensure, which a very very small minority of DO's actually do.

I'm not even sure most IM programs even care to see a USMLE Step II CK score considering your Step I is competitive. (> 230).

 

[Lokhtar]

I'm not applying for IM but I'm pretty darn sure you don't need to take the USMLE CS exam. It will add nothing to your application yet will drain your wallet of $1,000. Your call.

Unless of course you want to complete all 3 steps of the USMLE's for licensure, which a very very small minority of DO's actually do.

I'm not even sure most IM programs even care to see a USMLE Step II CK score considering your Step I is competitive. (> 230).

Stupid pre-med question: Don't you have to take all three steps of the USMLE or COMLEX to be licensed? Can you still take the ACGME board exam and get licenced in your specialty if you haven't taken the UMSLE?

Sorry, I was just lurking around and this caught my attention. 🙂

 

[gutonc]

Stupid pre-med question: Don't you have to take all three steps of the USMLE or COMLEX to be licensed? Can you still take the ACGME board exam and get licenced in your specialty if you haven't taken the UMSLE?

Short answer is no. You need to take all 3 steps in order to get an unlimited license and qualify for specialty boards.

But this specific question is about DOs applying to allopathic residencies and whether they needed to take USMLE in addition to COMLEX in order to be more competitive for those residencies. In that case, many DO students will take USMLE step 1 +/- 2 in order to be a little more attractive to allo programs.

Finally, there is no such thing as an ACGME board exam. Steps 1 and 2 are run by NBME, Step 3 by FSMB in association w/ NBME and specialty board/licensing exams are administered by the specific specialty boards (ABIM, ABS, ACOG, etc).

 

[Lokhtar]

Finally, there is no such thing as an ACGME board exam. Steps 1 and 2 are run by NBME, Step 3 by FSMB in association w/ NBME and specialty board/licensing exams are administered by the specific specialty boards (ABIM, ABS, ACOG, etc).

Good information, thank you. So whether you take the USMLE or COMLEX, if you've completed a ACGME residency, you would be able to take the ABIM boards and be certified by them? My main confusion was derived from this statement:

Unless of course you want to complete all 3 steps of the USMLE's for licensure, which a very very small minority of DO's actually do.

I took it to imply that you may need to complete the USMLE steps for licensure.

 

[jdh71]

I took it to imply that you may need to complete the USMLE steps for licensure.

There are two different boards granting licences. The Allopathic board reuires USMLE 1, 2, and 3 and the Osteopathic board requires their 3 tests. Your licence to practice to given by these particualr agencies at the state level in the state you will practice, but you cannot apply for license unless you have taken and passed your licensing board's tests.

 

[gutonc]

I took it to imply that you may need to complete the USMLE steps for licensure.

Only if you want to. As an MD you need USMLE 1-3, as a DO you need either COMLEX 1-3 or USMLE 1-3 but not both. You are of course welcome to do so but I imagine most people have better things to do w/ $2K than take extra exams.

 

[Lokhtar]

There are two different boards granting licences. The Allopathic board reuires USMLE 1, 2, and 3 and the Osteopathic board requires their 3 tests. Your licence to practice to given by these particualr agencies at the state level in the state you will practice, but you cannot apply for license unless you have taken and passed your licensing board's tests.

Only if you want to. As an MD you need USMLE 1-3, as a DO you need either COMLEX 1-3 or USMLE 1-3 but not both. You are of course welcome to do so but I imagine most people have better things to do w/ $2K than take extra exams.

So if you take COMLEX 1-3 as a DO, you can still be licenced by the ABIM after completing an allopathic residency?

 

[DrMom]

So if you take COMLEX 1-3 as a DO, you can still be licenced by the ABIM after completing an allopathic residency?

You're confusing two different things. ABIM offers board certification, not licensure. Each state offers licensure.

To answer what I think you're actually asking: Yes, a DO can be licensed from COMLEX 1-3, do an MD IM residency, and be board certified through ABIM.

 

[Lokhtar]

You're confusing two different things. ABIM offers board certification, not licensure. Each state offers licensure.

To answer what I think you're actually asking: Yes, a DO can be licensed from COMLEX 1-3, do an MD IM residency, and be board certified through ABIM.

Yes, that's what I was asking . Thanks.