I was looking at the USMLE step 1,2,3 pass rates and noticed that there were a proportionate number of MD students taking all the 3 steps exams and while there were around 1,200 DO's taking step 1, only 1/3 of them took step 2 and only 1/40 of them took step 3.
DO's are not required to take the USMLE for licensure ( we take the COMLEX steps 1, 2 and 3 for that). DO's who choose to take the USMLE step 1 usually only do so in order to make themselves more competative and comparable on paper to program directors of Allopathic (MD) residencies. Step 2, and even moreso 3, serve little to no function for a DO (unless they are applying to a very competative residency or fellowship that wants to see the step 2/3 scores...but that is not common). DO's who are only applying to Osteopathic (AOA) residencies and/or internships have no real reason to take the USMLE step 1, 2 or 3 at all and thus would only have taken the COMLEX series.
