Passing Level 1 and Level 2 of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) from the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) is a graduation requirement. These examinations are:
- COMLEX-USA Level 1
- COMLEX-USA Level 2
COMLEX-USA Level 1
To advance to OMS III clinical clerkships, students must:
- Successfully complete the preclinical curriculum (OMS I & OMS II years).
- Achieve a passing score on COMLEX Level 1 by the July score release date.
Rising OMS II students who do not pass the Preclinical Capstone II Course and the COMLEX Level 1 exam before the last July score release date will be enrolled in a Medical Knowledge Application course and will not be permitted to participate in clinical rotations until they have passed the COMLEX Level 1 exam and completed the credentialing process.
The clinical clerkship credentialing process requires a minimum of 45 days. Students who do not schedule and pass the COMLEX Level 1 before the July score release date may forfeit previously planned rotation schedule and locations as determined by the Clinical Education lottery and credentialing requirements. If a student fails to earn a passing score at least 45 days before the start of the final rotation block of the Fall semester, they will not be eligible to begin clinical rotations in the Fall and will be placed on Leave of Absence for the Spring term. To ensure adequate time for the credentialing process, students on LOA of the Spring Term will be required to pass the COMLEX Level 1 by the June score release date of that term to start OMSIII rotations on time.
Students have one calendar year from the end of the OMS II academic year to achieve a passing score on the COMLEX Level 1 exam to proceed in the RVU-MCOM curriculum. Students unable to achieve a passing score on the COMLEX Level 1 within that time frame will be dismissed from RVU-MCOM with the opportunity to appeal as outlined in the student handbook.
First Attempt Failure
Students who fail their first attempt at COMLEX Level 1:
- Will not be permitted to begin clinical rotations, and
- Will be enrolled in the Medical Knowledge Application (MKA) course
- May be referred to the Student Performance Committee (SPC) based on the entirety of their academic performance at RVU-MCOM
- May consider LOA
While enrolled in the MKA course, students will meet regularly with a faculty member to assess their readiness to retake the COMLEX Level 1 exam. Once a passing score on the exam is officially reported, the student will undergo the credentialing process and resume clinical rotations upon approval.
If a student fails to earn a passing score at least 45 days before the start of the final block of the Fall semester they will not be eligible to begin clinical rotations in the Fall and will be placed on Leave of Absence for Spring term. To ensure adequate time for the credentialing process, students will be required to pass the COMLEX Level 1 by the June score release to start OMSIII rotations the following July.
Second Attempt Failure
Students who fail their second attempt at the COMLEX Level 1 exam will be referred to SPC and will be automatically placed on an academic leave of absence.
Students who have not passed the COMLEX Level 1 by the June release date of their academic leave of absence will be subject to dismissal unless an extension is awarded by the Dean of RVU-MCOM.
Third attempt failure
Students who fail COMLEX Level 1 three times will be dismissed from RVU-MCOM without the option to appeal.
COMLEX-USA Level 2
Passing COMLEX Level 2 demonstrates that a student has attained the medical knowledge competence necessary to enter a supervised graduate medical education setting.
- Students are strongly encouraged to take COMLEX Level 2 at the end of their OMS III year after successfully completing all core, required, and selective clinical clerkships.
- To participate in the NRMP Match, students must achieve a passing COMLEX Level 2 score before the rank order list deadline to be certified for the NRMP Match.
- Students must successfully complete all coursework, including passing both COMLEX Level 1 and COMLEX Level 2 by May 1st of their OMS IV year to be eligible for on-time degree conferral.
First Attempt Failure
Students who fail their first attempt at COMLEX Level 2:
- Will be enrolled in a knowledge application course designed for students who have failed COMLEX Level 2.
- May be referred to the SPC based on the entirety of their academic performance at RVU-MCOM
Second Attempt Failure
Students who fail their second attempt at COMLEX Level 2 will:
- Remain enrolled in the knowledge application course designed for students who have failed COMLEX Level 2.
- Be referred to SPC.
Third Attempt Failure
Students who fail COMLEX Level 2 three times will be dismissed from RVU-MCOM without the option to appeal.