Why Do Osteopathic Medical Students Take the USMLE Step 1?

Authors

Constantino G. Lambroussis, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
John Weston, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Richard R. Terry, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Jennifer Spencer, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow

Author Credentials

Constantino Lambroussis DO, MS

Assistant Director of Osteopathic Principles & Practices at LECOM Elmira

John Weston DO

Director of Osteopathic Principles & Practices at LECOM Elmira

Richard Terry DO, MBA

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM Elmira

Jennifer Spencer

Clinical Coordinator at LECOM Elmira

Abstract

In 2022, 4722 osteopathic medical students chose to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (USMLE Step 1) in addition to the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 1 (COMLEX Level 1). Both of these examinations are currently pass/fail assessments to demonstrate clinical knowledge competency. Osteopathic medical students are only required to take the COMLEX series of examinations for graduation from an osteopathic medical school while allopathic medical students are only required to take the USMLE Step series of examinations instead. Correlation between these examinations exists, and information from multiple entities has been for the COMLEX and the USMLE to be classified as equivalent. Our study surveyed osteopathic medical students to understand the reason as to why they take the USMLE Step 1, even though the USMLE series of examinations are not a requirement for graduation from an osteopathic medical school.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Lambroussis CG, Weston J, Terry RR, Spencer J. Why Do Osteopathic Medical Students Take the USMLE Step 1?. Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery. 2024; 4(2). doi: 10.53785/2769-2779.1203.