United States Medical Licensing Exam/
Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination
=USMLE is for allopathic medical schools (MD)
=COMLEX is for osteopathic medical schools (DO)
BOTH are medical schools that require medical licensing exams. They test the same concepts, basic sciences, clinical information, but the COMLEX has an "
OMM portion" that requires
knowledge of osteopathic manipulative medicine (emphasis on musculoskeletal and function-structure "physical therapy"). Each exam consists of 3 different tests known as "Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3".
If you are a med student, you have to take either the USMLE/ COMLEX test. "After finishing the 1st 2 yrs. of med school, I have to take Step 1, and then one yr. later, I have to take Step 2, and then
right before I graduate, I have to take Step 3.
Sheesh...that's a lot of tests and
money!!"