What Happens If Someone Fails the Comlex?

[LBJ2Chicago]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys,

I hate to be a debbie downer but this is something I've been really curious about lately. I know that the pass rate for the COMLEX step 1 is approximately 80-90% (don't quote me on this because this is what I'm guessing based on the pass rate for numerous schools). Although it looks like a strong number, it nonetheless leaves about 10-20% (ie hundreds) of students who fail the exam.

My question was, what do these students do?

Thanks in advance

 

[TeamZissou]

Hi guys,

I hate to be a debbie downer but this is something I've been really curious about lately. I know that the pass rate for the COMLEX step 1 is approximately 80-90% (don't quote me on this because this is what I'm guessing based on the pass rate for numerous schools). Although it looks like a strong number, it nonetheless leaves about 10-20% (ie hundreds) of students who fail the exam.

My question was, what do these students do?

Thanks in advance

They get a couple more tries to retake it and if they still can't pass they are dismissed and literally fu*k3d for life.

 

[LBJ2Chicago]

They get a couple more tries to retake it and if they still can't pass they are dismissed and literally fu*k3d for life.

So when exactly do these retakes take place? Don't most students begin rotations immediately afterward? Do they just suck it up and do both?

 

[TriagePreMed]

So when exactly do these retakes take place? Don't most students begin rotations immediately afterward? Do they just suck it up and do both?

My understanding is that certain schools don't have a limit on the many times you retake. You also cannot do clinical rotations without it, so either you get it done by summer or you lose your next semester and graduate late. Apparently someone at TouroCOM-CA is graduating 3 years late because she can't pass the COMLEX. That's a story that a student there told me.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

You retake it. I don't know how most schools function, but DCOM starts 3rd years on rotations on August 1 instead of July 1. This allows a student to retake if necessary before beginning rotations. It's not that they necessarily anticipate students failing, but at least if it happens, they aren't sending out students to affiliated rotation sites that in theory shouldn't be starting yet.

Ultimately though, schools WANT you to continue and succeed, assuming you've proven yourself to be a capable individual. They will allow you the time necessary to study and pass, at least from what I've seen and heard.

 

[JeetKuneDo]

My understanding is that certain schools don't have a limit on the many times you retake. You also cannot do clinical rotations without it, so either you get it done by summer or you lose your next semester and graduate late. Apparently someone at TouroCOM-CA is graduating 3 years late because she can't pass the COMLEX. That's a story that a student there told me.

3 years late. I wonder if she had to pay an extra 3 years tuition?

 

[purex]

You retake it. I don't know how most schools function, but DCOM starts 3rd years on rotations on August 1 instead of July 1. This allows a student to retake if necessary before beginning rotations. It's not that they necessarily anticipate students failing, but at least if it happens, they aren't sending out students to affiliated rotation sites that in theory shouldn't be starting yet.

Ultimately though, schools WANT you to continue and succeed, assuming you've proven yourself to be a capable individual. They will allow you the time necessary to study and pass, at least from what I've seen and heard.

wow, not until Aug 1st, that must be nice. Do you have any other commitments besides taking and passing Comlex 1 during that summer?

 

[bleeker10]

So when exactly do these retakes take place? Don't most students begin rotations immediately afterward? Do they just suck it up and do both?

At LECOM-E, we start rotations at the beginning of June. I started rotations about less than two weeks after boards. If you fail, they pull you out of your rotation and make you go back to study for the retest. Once you pass, you go back on rotations

 

[edrunner27]

At LECOM-E, we start rotations at the beginning of June. I started rotations about less than two weeks after boards. If you fail, they pull you out of your rotation and make you go back to study for the retest. Once you pass, you go back on rotations

Same at CCOM. Best case scenario you graduate late, worst case you fail 3 times and get dismissed from the program.

 

[LBJ2Chicago]

Same at CCOM. Best case scenario you graduate late, worst case you fail 3 times and get dismissed from the program.

I was just about to ask how it works for CCOM... Does CCOM charge extra tuition if you end up graduating late?

Thanks for the info guys

 

[Bacchus]

PCOM requires a passing score on your first try by the start of your 3rd rotation. If one must retake you have to submit a passing score by the beginning of your 9th rotation. If this doesn't happen, one is removed from rotations until a passing score is acheived.

 

[pritomd]

I know someone who has failed multiple times and has given up being a doc cause he isn't motivated to try Step 1 anymore...he's looking at jobs in the health care industry though..mainly bio-tech stuff.

 

[ShyRem]

UNE requires a passing score prior to start of rotations. No passing score = no start rotations. And yes, you get to pay for an extra year of school if you can't manage to pass and fit all your rotations in before graduation.

I know one poor guy who paid an extra 2 years tuition trying to pass level 1.

 

[p30doc]

Beyond the schools requirements and limits on retakes, each states licensing board has something to say about it as well. I remember hearing that their are certain states that won't license you if you failed more than 2 times. I think I remember something about a limit on the total number failures across all three steps.

 

[ShyRem]

That varies state to state. Some states allow unlimited retakes, other say total of 7 attempts for all steps, some say no more than 3 attempts per level... they're all different.