COMLEX-USA Exam Information and Outline
Osteopathic Physician
COMLEX-USA Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official COMLEX-USA exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by NBOME. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Test Detail:
The COMLEX-USA (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States) is a series of three exams designed to assess the knowledge and clinical skills of osteopathic physicians. The COMLEX-USA exam is administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). The following description provides an overview of the COMLEX-USA exam.
Course Outline:
To prepare for the COMLEX-USA exam- candidates typically complete a comprehensive medical education program- including preclinical and clinical coursework- as well as clinical rotations in various specialties. The coursework covers a wide range of medical topics- including anatomy- physiology- biochemistry- pharmacology- pathology- and clinical medicine. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in medical knowledge and clinical skills necessary for osteopathic practice.
Exam Objectives:
The COMLEX-USA exam aims to assess the candidate's proficiency in various domains of osteopathic medical practice. The exam objectives include the following:
1. Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP):
- Knowledge and application of osteopathic principles
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) skills and techniques
- Understanding the integration of osteopathic principles in patient care
2. Biomedical Sciences:
- Knowledge and understanding of basic medical sciences- including anatomy- physiology- biochemistry- pharmacology- microbiology- and pathology
- Integration of basic science principles in clinical decision-making
3. Clinical Skills and Patient Care:
- Clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
- Patient management and treatment planning
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills with patients and healthcare team members
4. Clinical Medicine:
- Diagnosis and management of common medical conditions
- Understanding of various medical specialties and subspecialties
- Application of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice
Exam Syllabus:
The COMLEX-USA exam syllabus covers a broad range of medical knowledge and clinical skills. The syllabus includes topics from various medical disciplines- including:
- Anatomy and embryology
- Physiology and pathophysiology
- Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Pharmacology and therapeutics
- Microbiology and immunology
- Pathology and laboratory medicine
- Osteopathic principles and practice
- Clinical medicine and differential diagnosis
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
The COMLEX-USA exam is divided into three levels: Level 1- Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE)- and Level 2-Performance Evaluation (PE). Each level assesses different aspects of medical knowledge and clinical skills. The exam format includes multiple-choice questions- clinical case simulations- and hands-on practical exams for OMT skills.