1. COMLEX and USMLE Class of 2012

2. Agenda • Accreditation • Registration • Performance Statistics • Preparation • Resources • Exam Administration • Score Reports

3. Accreditation

4. AOA Accreditation Requirements • Class of 2008 and ALL SUBSEQUENT Classes (2009, 2010,....)MUST TAKE AND PASS COMLEX-USA I & II licensing examinations to graduate.

5. Registration

6. 2-Step Process • NBOME for authorization and payment • Prometric for test administration

7. COMLEX Registration • nbome.org • Bulletin of Information • $485 (2009 rates) $505 after July 10 • Forms on line • Going on NOW!! Unbelievable • For June test date

8. What Number??? • Secure Code Number to register • the NBOME e-mailed to you • Social Security Number • only to confirm your identity

9. Quarter 8 Deadline • June 26, 2010 • “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)

10. Prometric • Must register and pay with NBOME first • Still need test site • Thomson-Prometric • prometric.com • 8 sites in Missouri alone

11. 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

12. Best Advice • “Take all the licensing exams you can find and pass them.” (Dean Phil Slocum)

13. Alternative Advice • “Find all the licensing exams you can pass and take them.” (Tim Tucker)

14. Statistics

15. COMLEX and USMLE Level I Board Performance, Past 5 Years

16. 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.

17. USMLE Scores • Standard Scores (3-digit).  The minimal passing score for Part I is 182.  • Scaled Scores (2-digit). The minimal passing score for Part I is 75

18. Preparation

19. 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 • Looking at USMLE options

20. Significant COMLEX Dates • Review Notes Thanksgiving Break • Diagnostic January 9, 2010 • Review lectures April 20 – 23, 2010 • Mock Final Early May, 2009 • Finals week May 17 – 21, 2010 • Boards by June 26, 2010

21. USMLE Shelf Exam • March 23, 2009 (last year) First Monday of the Spring Quarter, March 22, 2010 • 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM • Required • Retired questions, integrated • Results are always low (35% is fine)

22. Suggestions: Anatomy • Know Uray’s innervations

23. 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”

24. Suggestions:Principles of Medicine • Direct relevance to boards • Tests were good preparation for COMLEX Attend specialists lectures

25. 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)

26. Suggestions:Pathology • Physiology integrated pathology • Endocrine • Lung capacity • Alcohol, Biochemistry and Drugs • Evan’s case studies helpful • Quizzes beyond “board difficulty”

27. Resources

28. NBOME Resources • COMLEX-USA Level 1, 2 and 3 Practice Items are available for purchase for about $10.00 per booklet. Please send a written request form along with your check for the booklet.

29. On-line Resources* • Portal, GI and Path, Year 1 • Kaplan Screen, Pharm Deck downloads *Other than Kaplan Q-Bank and streaming audio

30. Text Resources • First-Aid (USMLE) • Step Up (USMLE), more abstract • The “little path book,” (Schneider, Board Review Series) • Golan for Pathology or • Buy the Robbins Path textbook

31. Personal Resources • Study Aids • Summaries (combine them) • Concept maps • Examination study groups

32. Exam Administration

33. 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

34. What to bring • ID • Purses, lockers at some sites

35. What NOT To Bring • No Electronic Devices • No backpacks • No food, drink, or tobacco

36. What’s in Your Purse/Man Bag? • Prepare for endurance • Water bottles • Energy bars (avoid refined sugars) • Protein • Caffeine is a fickle friend • Manage medications

37. Cheating • Do not speak to one another while the examination is in progress. • Unethical conduct will be documented and reported to the NBOME.

38. Score Reports

39. Scores • Scores will be posted on the web 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 E-mail, TELEPHONE OR FAX.

40. What If You Fail? • This happens to OTHER people • They try again • They are condemned to a few months with Tim Tucker • Second attempt – a study plan • Third attempt – a residential program

41. 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.

42. Panel • Zach Hovorka 2011 • Sandra Sandhu 2011 • Timothy Sheneman 2011 • Michelle Hill 2010