Osteopathy School Listings Home            

   Osteopathy Schools Feedback Feedback

Osteopathy Schools Feedback
Site Search




Osteopathy Listings
Osteopathy Careers
Osteopathy Schools FAQs
Osteopathy Schools Examination
Osteopathy Schools Finance
Osteopathy Top Schools/School Rankings
Osteopathy Top Graduate School
Osteopathy Admissions
Reference Books

Preparing for the Exam Creating a Study Plan MCAT Test Day Tips Board Examinations and Licensure

Board Examinations and Licensure

Osteopathic physicians are eligible for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, other territories and areas of the United States, and many foreign countries. Licensure is determined by each state through the appropriate licensing board.

In order to be licensed as an osteopathic physician, one must:

• Graduate from an accredited U.S. college of osteopathic medicine.

• Successfully complete a licensure exam sequence accepted by a state’s licensing board (COMLEX-USA or USMLE).

• Successfully complete one to three years of graduate medical education (varies by individual state requirement).

Following residency training, the osteopathic physician takes certification examinations from the specialty board that oversees her/ his particular specialty. Board certificationis required by many hospitals for hospital staff membership, and many health insurance companies, in order for the physician to obtain reimbursement from third-party payers.

Osteopathic physicians stay abreast of the latest medical developments related to their specialty training through continuing medical education programs. CME requirements are determined by each state’s licensure board. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) also requires its members to complete a certain number of CME credits to maintain board certification.

For state-specific licensure information, please visit www.docboard.org.

In addition to full licensure in the United States, many foreign countries recognize the American DO degree and grant full licensure to American-trained DOs who wish to practice internationally. The scope of licensure is determined by each country.

Medical Licensure Exams

Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure Exam (COMLEX-USA): The COMLEX-USA or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensure exam is a standardized test of medical knowledge. The goal of the exam is to assess competencyin the areas of study related to practicing medicine. It tests the medical knowledge and clinical skills that are considered essential for an osteopathic physician to practice medi-cine without supervision. The COMLEX-USA includes standard test questions, and a pass/ fail observed examination performed by the student.

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Licensure

Examination (COMLEX-USA), Levels 1, 2 Cognitive Evaluation and Performance Evaluation(CE and PE) and 3, are adminis-tered by the National Board of Osteopathic

Medical Examiners (NBOME). Level I of the exam is taken after the second year of medical school prior to the last two years of clerkship training. Level 2-CE is taken at the end of the clinical clerkship years prior to graduating from osteopathic medical school.

COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is an examination developed to test physical examination skills and is also taken prior to graduation. Level 3 is taken prior to the end of the internship year.

COMLEX-USA Level 1 and 2 (CE and PE) are required for graduation from an osteopathic medical college. Each of the osteopathic col-leges has its own requirements for progres-sion through the stages of the COMLEX-USA before graduation.

The National Board of Osteopathic Medical

Examiners (NBOME) is the organization that administers the COMLEX-USA exam. The NBOME is a separate organization from the colleges of osteopathic medicine and has as its role the protection of the public. All 50 states in the United States accept COMLEX-USA as a licensure exam for the practice of medicine by osteopathic physicians.

To learn more about the COMLEX-USA exam, please visit www.nbome.org/.

United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) Osteopathic medical students and residents also are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE), which is taken by students in allopathic (MD-granting) medical schools.

Preparing for the Exam Creating a Study Plan MCAT Test Day Tips Board Examinations and Licensure
Our Network Of Sites:
Apply 4 Admissions.com               | A2ZColleges.com  | OpenLearningWorld.com  | Totaram.com
Anatomy Colleges.com                 | Anesthesiology Schools.com  | Architecture Colleges.com | Audiology Schools.com
Cardiology Colleges.com            | Computer Science Colleges.com | Computer Science Schools.com | Dermatology Schools.com
Epidemiology Schools.com          | Gastroenterology Schools.com  | Hematology Schools.com     | Immunology Schools.com
IT Colleges.com                | Kinesiology Schools.com  | Language Colleges.com  | Music Colleges.com
Nephrology Schools.com             | Neurology Schools.com  | Neurosurgery Schools.com | Obstetrics Schools.com
Oncology Schools.com    | Ophthalmology Schools.com | Orthopedics Schools.com       | Osteopathy Schools.com
Otolaryngology Schools.com | Pathology Schools.com  | Pediatrics Schools.com   | Physical Therapy Colleges.com
Plastic Surgery Schools.com | Podiatry Schools.com   | Psychiatry Schools.com   | Pulmonary Schools.com 
Radiology Schools.com | Sports Medicine Schools.com | Surgery Schools.com  | Toxicology Schools.com
US Law Colleges.com | US Med Schools.com | US Dental Schools.com

Copyright © 2000-2011 Osteopathy Schools, All Right Reserved. | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer