NATIONAL BOARD OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL EXAMINERS, INC.

Updated  07/01/2008

Our Mission.....The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners provides for the public welfare a means to assess competency in the health care disciplines relevant to Osteopathic Medicine.

COMSAE Phase 2 Released!

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Changes to 90 Day waiting period

In response to the concerns of candidates, Deans and NBOME staff, the NBOME Executive Committee has approved the following changes (effective immediately) to assist in the rescheduling of exams and expediting of COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Scores.

  1. Elimination of the 90 Day wait period for rescheduling of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. Therefore, candidates who fail Level 2-PE will have the opportunity to reschedule the examination upon receipt of their scores. Candidates should be reminded that rescheduling is still subject to date availability and students are allowed a maximum of three attempts in a 12-month period. Remediation by the school is strongly recommended before retaking the examination. Should students not find an acceptable date for rescheduling with our web-based scheduling program, they are encouraged to contact the Clinical Skills Testing Center directly at 610-825-6551 for assistance.
  2. Additional examination dates and sessions for COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. We now have the capacity to test 4000 students between June 2, 2008 and January 31, 2009. Should a student fail the examination during this time period, he or she should still have the opportunity to retake the examination and receive a second score report prior to graduation (provided that the student is proactive in remediating and rescheduling upon receipt of the first score report). Students should also be reminded that retaking the examination in a timely fashion does not ensure a passing score on the examination. Students should be encouraged to schedule their examination soon, as over 3100 candidates have already scheduled for the 2008-2009 testing cycle.

We greatly appreciate the feedback from our students and Deans. We hope that the above changes assist you in scheduling and rescheduling should the need arise.

Thank you,

Erik Langenau, D.O.

Vice President for Clinical Skills Testing, NBOME

For maintenance announcements and updates, please go Here!!

NEW--COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Scores for June 2008 Candidates

Candidates who take COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE in the month of June 2008 are in an expedited score window and therefore are likely to receive their scores significantly earlier than the usual 10-12 week period from their examination date.  While there are no guarantees, and score release dates could be affected by circumstances beyond NBOME’s control, it is anticipated that 2008 scores are likely to be released in 6-8 weeks during this time. For those candidates who take Level 2-PE by May 19, 2008, scores are targeted for release between June 15 and June 25, 2008, and for those candidates who take Level 2-PE by June 30, 2008, scores are targeted for release between July 25 and August 1, 2008.  The availability of the 2008 scores as described herein is dependent on the current concentrated test-taking distribution of candidates, and should not be expected during other times in future test cycles.  As the system is dynamic, and candidates self-select to cancel and reschedule regularly, those who are looking for open dates are advised to check the online registration system regularly for available test sessions, and to call the NBOME Helpdesk with further questions.

Registration Problems

Due to technical problems, registrations for Comlex-USA CBT examinations made online between February 13 and February 17 may not have been processed properly.  If you are unable to schedule an examination and get the message "The identification number entered was not recognized, Please try again", please return to the NBOME online system and re-register for that exam.  Note that the fee you paid is retained in the system and you will not be asked to pay again.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

COMLEX Scores Released

The following COMLEX-USA examination scores have been mailed and are available online:

* Level 1 examinations taken on or before May 29, 2008.

* Level 2-CE examinations taken on or before May 2, 2008.

* Level 2-PE examinations taken on or before May 19, 2008.

* Level 3 examinations taken on or before June 1, 2008.

The COMLEX Level 1, Level 2 CE, and Level 3 examinations report both three-digit and two-digit standard scores.  The minimal passing 3-digit standard score for Level 1 and Level 2 (CE) is 400, for Level 3 is 350.  The two-digit standard score is directly converted from a three-digit score such that 75 is designated as the minimum two-digit passing score.  A two-digit score is NOT a percentile score or the percentage of items answered correctly.
 


IMPORTANT NOTICE
TO
COMLEX-USA CANDIDATES

The NBOME has updated some administrative procedures for the computerized COMLEX.

1.   In response to requests from students for more flexibility in utilizing their exam time, the NBOME has modified its policy regarding the lunch break that is permitted to students during the administration of COMLEX-USA as of August 1, 2005.

      This accommodation has resulted in the lunch break being administered differently than is specified in the CD Tutorial available on disk or from the NBOME website. Rules regarding other breaks during the examination remain unchanged.

      Therefore, the following rules pertaining to the exam breaks supersede all previous instructions provided in the CD Tutorial, and should be adhered to until otherwise notified by the NBOME.

a)   One optional 10-minute break is permitted during the morning exam session and one optional 10-minute break is permitted during the afternoon exam session.

b)   The two optional breaks are permitted midway through the two exam sessions, after completion of Section 2 and Section 6.

c)   The 10-minute breaks will count against the total exam time.

d)   The lunch break is now optional.  The time permitted for the lunch break is 40 minutes, and this time does not count against the total exam time.  The lunch break begins when the morning exam session is completed.

e)   The afternoon exam session will begin once the 40 minutes given for the lunch break have passed.  Candidates must return to the test center promptly by the end of the lunch break to avoid losing any time for the afternoon exam session.

f)    Any other break, unless approved as part of an ADA accommodation provided to the candidate, in writing, by the NBOME, shall be considered unauthorized and subject to review by the NBOME.

g)   Candidates are encouraged to ask the test center proctors about the break schedule if they have any questions regarding the exam breaks.

2.   Candidates taking the COMLEX-USA at any Thomson Prometric test center are also advised that if they would like to change the brightness and/or contrast of the exhibits in the exam, they may adjust the monitor at their testing station.  Notify the proctor if assistance is needed in adjusting the monitor settings.
 

The NBOME is extremely pleased to announce that Erik Langenau, D.O., F.A.A.P., F.A.C.O.P, has been appointed to the position of VP for Clinical Skills Testing effective May 1, 2008.   

Dr. Langenau comes to the NBOME from Maimonides Infants and Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn, where he has served as Program Director for the Osteopathic Pediatrics Residency Program, Associate Program Director for the Pediatrics Residency Program, and faculty attending in outpatient, emergency department and hospital pediatrics. Over the course of his 9 years at Maimonides, Dr. Langenau has worked extensively with standardized patients and OSCEs, and has presented on related topics at national and international conferences, including AACOM, AAMC, Association for Medical Education in Europe, Ottawa Conference on Clinical Competence, and International Simulation In Healthcare. Along with his many teaching awards since his graduation from NYCOM, Dr. Langenau was named one of America’s Top Pediatricians in 2006 by Consumer’s Research Council of America. A graduate of Cornell University, Dr. Langenau has also been involved with the NBOME for a number of years, serving as an item writer a member of the Level 2-CE Item Review Committee, as well as a panelist for Level 2-PE Standard-Setting 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Langenau!

 

 

 

COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Information

Travel to NBOME National Center for Clinical Skills Testing

Orientation Guide for COMLEX-USA Level 2- PE

View Instructional Program Video on COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE

 

 


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