COMLEX and USMLE

COMLEX and USMLE

Class of 2012

Agenda

• Accreditation• Registration• Performance Statistics• Preparation• Resources• Exam Administration• Score Reports

Accreditation

AOA Accreditation Requirements

• Class of 2008 and ALL SUBSEQUENT Classes (2009, 2010,....)  MUST TAKE AND PASS COMLEX-USA I & II licensing examinations to graduate. 

Registration

2-Step Process

1. NBOME for authorization and payment2. Prometric for test administration

COMLEX Registration

• nbome.org– Bulletin of Information

• $485 (2009 rates) $505 after July 10• Forms on line• Going on NOW!! Unbelievable• For June test date

What Number???

• Secure Code Number to register– the NBOME e-mailed to you

• Social Security Number – only to confirm your identity

Quarter 8 Deadline

• June 26, 2010• “I want to STRONGLY EMPHASIZE

that your compliance will be expected. Failure to follow the policy guidelines at this time could result in adverse effects of your academic progress.”

(Steve Laird, 1/19/07)

Prometric

• Must register and pay with NBOME first• Still need test site• Thomson-Prometric

– prometric.com• 8 sites in Missouri alone

USMLE Registration

• On your own• May keep some allopathic options open• Scores about 10% lower than COMLEX • 60 students per year report results• 0 – 2 students have results mailed per year• Some have taken it in advance as practice

Best Advice

• “Take all the licensing exams you can find and pass them.” (Dean Phil Slocum)

Alternative Advice

• “Find all the licensing exams you can pass and take them.” (Tim Tucker)

Statistics

COMLEX and USMLE Level I Board Performance, Past 5 Years

Performance KCOM % Total Mean KCOM Mean KCOM %

Range USMLE COMLEX COMLEX COMLEX

High 78 510 527 98.0

Low 73 499 516 94.2

COMLEX Scores

• Standard Scores (3-digit).  The standard scores are reported on a scale with a mean of 500 and a standard deviation of 100.  The minimal passing score for Part I is 400. 

• Scaled Scores (2-digit).  Scaled scores are reported on a scale with a mean of 80.  The minimal passing score for Part I is 75.

USMLE Scores

• Standard Scores (3-digit).  The minimal passing score for Part I is 182. 

• Scaled Scores (2-digit). The minimal passing score for Part I is 75

Preparation

General Guidelines

• Attend lectures• Note relative weaknesses on Diagnostic• Review 1 – 2 hours per week until finals• Q-bank runs 90 days starting in March

– Looking at USMLE options

Significant COMLEX Dates

• Review Notes Thanksgiving Break• Diagnostic January 9, 2010• Review lectures April 20 – 23, 2010• Mock Final Early May, 2009• Finals week May 17 – 21, 2010• Boards by June 26, 2010

USMLE Shelf Exam

• March 23, 2009 (last year) First Monday of the Spring Quarter, March 22, 2010

• 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM• Required• Retired questions, integrated• Results are always low (35% is fine)

Suggestions: Anatomy

• Know Uray’s innervations

Suggestions:OTM

• The “Ten-Page” packet and review • Ask Dr. Lockwood if he will be

giving a “fast paced, high intensity OMM board review” in April or May

• The “little red book”

Suggestions:Principles of Medicine

• Direct relevance to boards• Tests were good preparation for COMLEX

Attend specialists lectures

Suggestions:Pediatrics

• The “drugs and bugs” review was helpful for both boards (calculation of volumes, etc. was not on COMLEX but did appear on the USMLE)

Suggestions:Pathology

• Physiology integrated pathology– Endocrine– Lung capacity– Alcohol, Biochemistry and Drugs

• Evan’s case studies helpful• Quizzes beyond “board difficulty”

Resources

NBOME Resources

• COMLEX-USA Level 1, 2 and 3 Practice Items are available for purchase for about $10.00 per booklet. Please send a written request form along with your check for the booklet.

On-line Resources*

• Portal, GI and Path, Year 1• Kaplan Screen, Pharm Deck downloads

*Other than Kaplan Q-Bank and streaming audio

Text Resources

• First-Aid (USMLE)• Step Up (USMLE), more abstract• The “little path book,” (Schneider, Board

Review Series)• Golan for Pathology

or• Buy the Robbins Path textbook

Personal Resources

• Study Aids• Summaries (combine them)• Concept maps• Examination study groups

Exam Administration

Time Schedule

• Sign-in ≤ 30 minutes • Seating assigned• Book 1 4 hours*• Lunch 40 minutes+• Book 2 4 hours*• * 10 minute optional break, counts v. time• + Lunch is optional, does not count v. time

What to bring

1. ID2. Purses, lockers at some sites

What NOT To Bring

1. No Electronic Devices2. No backpacks3. No food, drink, or tobacco

What’s in Your Purse/Man Bag?

1. Prepare for endurance2. Water bottles3. Energy bars (avoid refined sugars)4. Protein5. Caffeine is a fickle friend6. Manage medications

Cheating

1. Do not speak to one another while the examination is in progress.

2. Unethical conduct will be documented and reported to the NBOME.

Score Reports

Scores

• Scores will be posted on the web 4 – 6 weeks after the exam (the day you leave town).

• Paper results with limited analysis will be mailed shortly thereafter.

• NO SCORES WILL BE REPORTED BY E-mail, TELEPHONE OR FAX.

What If You Fail?

• This happens to OTHER people• They try again• They are condemned to a few months with

Tim Tucker• Second attempt – a study plan• Third attempt – a residential program

COMLEX Change of Address

• Candidates who wish to change their address must notify the NBOME office in writing before results are mailed.

• Any change of address may not be recorded until two weeks after receipt.

Panel

• Zach Hovorka 2011• Sandra Sandhu

2011• Timothy Sheneman

2011• Michelle Hill

2010