Osteopathic Medical School’s Inaugural Class on Track for COMLEX-USA® Success with Kaplan

Angela Carrick, DO, FACOEP, FACEP, Associate Dean of Pre-Clerkship Education and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, shares how partnering with Kaplan to provide COMLEX-USA Level 1 prep for her osteopathic medical school’s inaugural class has proven to be an invaluable resource for their students.

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination, or COMLEX-USA, is a series of exams administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) in the United States. These exams are designed to assess the medical knowledge and clinical skills of osteopathic medical students and graduates. The COMLEX-USA series is made up of three levels taken at different points in a student’s education.

• COMLEX-USA Level 1: Assesses foundational biomedical sciences knowledge relevant to the practice of medicine.
• COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE (Cognitive Evaluation): Evaluates clinical science knowledge and clinical problem-solving ability.
• COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE (Performance Evaluation): Assesses clinical skills through hands-on patient encounters.
• COMLEX-USA Level 3: Assesses the ability to apply medical knowledge and clinical skills in managing patients in an unsupervised setting.

Partnering with Kaplan for COMLEX-USA Success

A new osteopathic medical school in Kansas was concerned about having a standardized way to measure their students' success and preparedness for board exams. Their goal was to provide their students with a product that aligned with the COMLEX-USA blueprint. Ultimately, they wanted to ensure that their students were on track for COMLEX-USA success. To achieve these goals, they partnered with Kaplan in fall 2023 to provide DO: Preclinical (Level 1) Review + Assess prep to their inaugural class of osteopathic medical students.

Kaplan: A Stellar Choice for COMLEX-USA Level 1 Preparation

Hear what Angela Carrick, DO, FACOEP, FACEP, Associate Dean of Pre-Clerkship Education and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, had to say about how Kaplan’s prep for the COMLEX-USA Level 1 exam has supported her osteopathic medical school’s inaugural class. 

Why did you choose Kaplan for your COMLEX-USA prep?

Angela: Our decision to integrate Kaplan into our curriculum for COMLEX-USA Level 1 preparation stemmed from a thorough comparison of six different products. Kaplan emerged as the clear choice thanks to its long-standing reputation for excellence, robust performance analysis capabilities, and comprehensive module structure.

What makes Kaplan’s COMLEX-USA prep stand out from the competition?

Angela: One of Kaplan's standout features is its structured approach, which includes a warm-up quiz, content module, and final quiz. This ensures a thorough learning experience tailored to students' needs. Moreover, Kaplan's exceptional customer service has been a constant throughout our partnership. From booking appointments with their physician director to resolving queries promptly, their support has been exemplary. The availability of a full-length practice test—a rarity in the market—adds significant value to Kaplan's offering, allowing students to simulate real exam conditions effectively.

What impressed you the most about working with Kaplan?

Angela: In terms of responsiveness, Kaplan's team has consistently impressed us with their swift communication and efficient problem-solving. Feedback from our students echoes our sentiments, highlighting Kaplan's user-friendly interface and high-yield content as key strengths. In summary, Kaplan has proven to be an invaluable resource for our COMLEX-USA Level 1 preparation. With its stellar reputation, comprehensive study tools, and unparalleled support, we wholeheartedly recommend Kaplan to any institution or individual seeking top-tier exam preparation assistance.

About Kaplan’s COMLEX-USA Level 1 Prep: Review + Assess

Kaplan DO: Preclinical (Level 1) Review + Assess are just two of the many products offered in Kaplan’s suite of COMLEX-USA test prep.

Kaplan’s DO Preclinical (Level 1) Review is the perfect self-study tool to cover essential content, target weak areas, and progress toward higher scores. Students can navigate from diagnostic tests to lectures and content, then return to self-testing to see where they stand. Its features include over 200 hours of video covering basic science review and 3,020 practice questions across quizzes, assessments, and post-tests.

Kaplan’s DO Preclinical (Level 1) Assess features our Qbank of 3,800 exam-like questions written by faculty and reviewed by high scorers. Our full explanations explain right and wrong answers and include references. Additionally, it provides access to the Kaplan Educator Portal and Kaplan Quiz Builder experiences, which include an additional 800 sequestered questions.

The Importance of the COMLEX-USA Exam

Succeeding on the COMLEX-USA exam is a critical part of an osteopathic student’s journey to becoming a licensed physician.

• Licensure: Passing all levels of the COMLEX-USA series is necessary for obtaining a license to practice osteopathic medicine in the U.S.
• Residency: Performance on the COMLEX-USA exams is a critical factor in securing residency placements. Osteopathic students may also take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE®) in addition to the COMLEX-USA exam to broaden their residency options.
• Standardization: The COMLEX-USA exam ensures that all osteopathic physicians have met a standardized level of competency, ensuring quality care for patients.

Empower Your Students with COMLEX-USA Prep from Kaplan

Kaplan’s comprehensive approach to COMLEX-USA prep ensures students have a successful medical career. Kaplan’s offerings include pre-recorded video products (Review), Qbanks/Assessments (Assess), Live Online/dedicated instruction (Engage), and/or interactive patient cases through iHuman Patients (Simulate). Kaplan offers a multitude of options for different learning styles and different institutional needs, from cost-effective pre-recorded videos to the most engaging and interactive custom-built review courses.

Request a demo of COMLEX-USA prep from Kaplan by contacting us today.

USMLE® (United States Medical Licensing Examination®) is a joint program of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). COMLEX-USA® is a registered trademark of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. (NBOME). These organizations are not affiliated with Kaplan, and they neither endorse nor contribute to the creation of these products.