Question about the boards

[hamandcheese]

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I was wondering if Osteopathic medical students who choose to take the USMLE also have to take COMLEX to graduate, or if the USMLE is interchangeable with the COMLEX. Any insight is well appreciated.

 

[drdrtoledo]

I was wondering if Osteopathic medical students who choose to take the USMLE also have to take COMLEX to graduate, or if the USMLE is interchangeable with the COMLEX. Any insight is well appreciated.

You absolutely CANNOT graduate without taking the COMLEX. Check your school's graduation requirements to see if they require COMLEX II and PE. Most do. Nothing can stop you from taking USMLE also if you wish. Hope this helps.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I was wondering if Osteopathic medical students who choose to take the USMLE also have to take COMLEX to graduate, or if the USMLE is interchangeable with the COMLEX. Any insight is well appreciated.

COMLEX Step I is required to advance to the 3rd year.

COMLEX Step II is required to graduate from medical school.

COMLEX Step III is NOT required if you are in an ACGME residency, but IS required if you are in an AOA residency.

 

[hamandcheese]

Thanks to both of you...that helps.

 

[Claymore]

COMLEX Step I is required to advance to the 3rd year.

COMLEX Step II is required to graduate from medical school.

COMLEX Step III is NOT required if you are in an ACGME residency, but IS required if you are in an AOA residency.

I think this varies from school to school. Here at CCOM you definitely do not have to have passed (or even taken) COMLEX I to advance to third year. Of course you'll need it somewhere down the line (licensure) however. As for step II, we have to take it before graduation but don't have to pass it by then.

 

[docmartin]

Osudoc where did u get ur info? I am in an ACGME program and I have to take Comlex III to complete my paperwork for licensure. Maybe it only applies to OK. To the OP, do a search, this question has been asked many times and people have listed websites to check the state requirements as they vary.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Osudoc where did u get ur info? I am in an ACGME program and I have to take Comlex III to complete my paperwork for licensure. Maybe it only applies to OK. To the OP, do a search, this question has been asked many times and people have listed websites to check the state requirements as they vary.

Are you taking COMLEX & USMLE?

If you took USMLE I & II, couldn't you just take USMLE III to obtain licensure?

 

[tkim]

Are you taking COMLEX & USMLE?

If you took USMLE I & II, couldn't you just take USMLE III to obtain licensure?

I have always heard that DO's *have* to take the all three COMLEX exams to be licensed, as COMLEX is the licensing exam for DO's. I think this is a national requirement.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I have always heard that DO's *have* to take the all three COMLEX exams to be licensed, as COMLEX is the licensing exam for DO's. I think this is a national requirement.

I didn't realize that DO's in ACGME were taking COMLEX.

Are they also required to take the USMLE, as part of their program, or can they just skip that part?

I know there are certain ACGME residencies that require the USMLE for admission. It would make sense that they want you to finish with that.

 

[drdrtoledo]

I can only speak for myself and my school. I took USMLE I and II. And COMLEX I and II. My school requires me to take COMLEX PE to graduate. So it would be cheaper for me to just do that and take COMLEX III. But I can also become licensed by doing USMLE CS and USMLE III and not doing COMLEX III. It is legal for a DO to complete licensure with the USMLE pathway. My reference is Iserson's Getting into Residency pg 182. However, because most schools have requirements, it's just easier going the COMLEX route. I do not know what happens if you do ACGME licensure and try to work in the famous 5 states. It seems that it would not be possible because they require an Osteopathic internship... and I think the internships might require you take COMLEX III. But interesting point.

As for programs, the one's I've spoken to in the application process say they don't care which pathway you finish, they just want you to be a fully licensed physician in their state. The ones that require USMLE are usually to compare candidates, and is not usually a licensure issue.

Hope this helps

I didn't realize that DO's in ACGME were taking COMLEX.

Are they also required to take the USMLE, as part of their program, or can they just skip that part?

I know there are certain ACGME residencies that require the USMLE for admission. It would make sense that they want you to finish with that.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I can only speak for myself and my school. I took USMLE I and II. And COMLEX I and II. My school requires me to take COMLEX PE to graduate. So it would be cheaper for me to just do that and take COMLEX III. But I can also become licensed by doing USMLE CS and USMLE III and not doing COMLEX III. It is legal for a DO to complete licensure with the USMLE pathway. My reference is Iserson's Getting into Residency pg 182. However, because most schools have requirements, it's just easier going the COMLEX route. I do not know what happens if you do ACGME licensure and try to work in the famous 5 states. It seems that it would not be possible because they require an Osteopathic internship... and I think the internships might require you take COMLEX III. But interesting point.

As for programs, the one's I've spoken to in the application process say they don't care which pathway you finish, they just want you to be a fully licensed physician in their state. The ones that require USMLE are usually to compare candidates, and is not usually a licensure issue.

Hope this helps

OK, so except for the 5 states, it looks like you don't have to take COMLEX III if you are in an ACGME program and do all of the USMLE exams.

I wonder if there are any ACGME programs that require the USMLE III. I know that some EM programs in Texas require ACGME for admission. In this case, it looks like COMLEX III would not be needed.