Top 3 Tips You Should Know About COMLEX-USA® Level 1

In This Article

COMLEX-USA® Level 1 measures your knowledge of the biomedical sciences relevant to solving clinical problems and promoting osteopathic medical care.

Tip 1: Should you take both USMLE® and COMLEX-USA®?

To obtain physician licensure from an osteopathic school, you must take and pass all three levels of the COMLEX-USA. Some osteopathic schools are now requiring that their students also take the USMLE, so make sure you check your school’s requirements.

Tip 2: The Pros and Cons of Taking Both COMLEX-USA and USMLE

If your school does not require the USMLE, you may still consider taking the test. Most residency programs accept both COMLEX-USA and USMLE, however, you should check with the individual programs as this may determine whether you have to also take this exam. Taking the USMLE might also be beneficial as residency programs can compare your scores with those of your allopathic peers.

Keep in mind that these exams are expensive. Make sure you are prepared and feel confident that you can do well. Osmosis’ comprehensive content library and powerful study schedule tool can help you get organized and stay on track so you’re using your study time most efficiently.

Tip 3: How to Prepare for COMLEX-USA® Level 1

Regardless of your decision, the content covered on COMLEX-USA Level 1 spans the same content covered in the USMLE Step 1, so it’s more than okay to use the same resources. Remember, Level 1 tests your foundational knowledge of the basic sciences. Osmosis videos along with accompanying flashcards are a great way to review foundational concepts in an easy, digestible (and joyful!) format.

The key difference is that Level 1 also covers Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine or OMM. Not only does Osmosis include over 3,300 board practice questions, it also has over 340 OMM questions.

To maximize your studying, follow these three easy steps using Osmosis’ content:

Watch a video (before and after lecture) to get a solid foundation
Review with flashcards to help you with long term retention
Apply what you’ve learned using case-based practice questions to test and strengthen your understanding

USMLE® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). COMLEX-USA® is a registered trademark of The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Osmosis or this website.

Additional COMLEX Resources

Key Takeaways

COMLEX-USA Level 1 assesses foundational biomedical science knowledge in the context of clinical problem-solving and osteopathic medical care.
Osteopathic students should review their school requirements and prospective residency programs when considering whether to take both COMLEX-USA and USMLE.
Level 1 preparation overlaps substantially with foundational science review while also requiring focused study of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.
Combining videos, flashcards, and case-based practice questions supports a learn-review-apply study approach.
A structured study schedule can help students organize board preparation and use limited study time more efficiently.