DO COMLEX-USA Board Examination 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization administers the COMLEX-USA examination series?
- USMLE
- NBME
- NBOME (Correct answer)
- ACGME
Correct answer: NBOME
The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) administers the COMLEX-USA licensing examination series.
Question 2: COMLEX-USA Level 1 primarily tests which domain?
- Clinical procedural skills
- Basic biomedical sciences and osteopathic principles applied to clinical contexts (Correct answer)
- Patient communication skills
- Specialty-specific clinical knowledge
Correct answer: Basic biomedical sciences and osteopathic principles applied to clinical contexts
COMLEX Level 1 assesses foundational biomedical and osteopathic sciences in clinically relevant contexts, taken after preclinical years.
Question 3: What minimum score is required to pass COMLEX-USA Level 1?
- 350
- 400 (Correct answer)
- 450
- 500
Correct answer: 400
A score of 400 is the NBOME-established minimum passing standard for COMLEX-USA Level 1.
Question 4: DO graduates who pass COMLEX-USA can apply to which residency programs in the current single accreditation system?
- Only AOA-accredited programs
- Only ACGME-accredited programs
- Both AOA and ACGME-accredited programs (Correct answer)
- Neither; additional fellowship training is required first
Correct answer: Both AOA and ACGME-accredited programs
Since the 2020 single accreditation merger, DO graduates can apply to both AOA and ACGME-accredited residency programs.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the 'Two Dimensions' framework of COMLEX-USA?
- Basic science and clinical science
- Osteopathic principles/OMM dimension and clinical presentation dimension (Correct answer)
- Written and practical examination components
- Level 1 and Level 2 examinations
Correct answer: Osteopathic principles/OMM dimension and clinical presentation dimension
Every COMLEX question is structured around two dimensions: osteopathic principles/OMM and a clinical presentation.
Question 6: COMLEX Level 3 is typically taken during which stage of a physician's training?
- Fourth year of DO school (MS4)
- PGY-1 of residency (Correct answer)
- PGY-2 of residency
- After completing residency
Correct answer: PGY-1 of residency
Most DO physicians take COMLEX Level 3 during their first postgraduate year (PGY-1) to complete licensure requirements.
DO COMLEX-USA Board Examination 1
Which organization administers the COMLEX-USA examination series?