COMLEX and USMLE Class of 2009

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 payment 2.Prometric for test administration

COMLEX Registration nbome.org –Bulletin of Information $465 Forms on line Contact by March For May or June test date

Quarter 8 Deadline “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. (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

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 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

Significant COMLEX Dates DiagnosticDecember 5, 2006 Review manuals December 12, 2006 Review lectures January – April, 2007 Mock FinalMay 2, 2007 Finals weekMay 14 – 18, 2007 Boards byJune 14, 2007

USMLE Shelf Exam March 27, :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 (Buckler) 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 $8.00 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) 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.ID 2.Purses, lockers at some sites

What NOT To Bring 1.No Electronic Devices 2.No backpacks 3.No food, drink, or tobacco

What’s in Your Purse? 1.Prepare for endurance 2.Water bottles 3.Energy bars (avoid refined sugars) 4.Protein 5.Caffeine is a fickle friend 6.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 electronically 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 , TELEPHONE OR FAX.

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.