Key Differences Between COMAT vs COMLEX Level 2 CE Exams
Article Summary:
COMAT exams are rotation-level assessments taken during clinical clerkships that focus on single specialties and are often used for grading or benchmarking by medical schools. In contrast, COMLEX Level 2-CE is a high-stakes licensure exam that evaluates broad, integrated clinical reasoning across multiple disciplines and is required for progression toward osteopathic medical licensure. COMAT exams are shorter and institution-administered, while Level 2-CE is a longer, standardized exam taken at certified testing centers.
As you progress through your osteopathic studies, you’ll find yourself preparing for the COMLEX Level 2 CE and possibly the COMAT exams as well. As you prepare for these exams, it’s important you know the key differences between the two. Let’s review the similarities and differences in this COMAT vs COMLEX overview.
COMAT Exam Series
The NBOME’s COMAT exam series tests on eight core clinical disciplines: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Osteopathic Principles and Practice, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery.
Each subject exam is designed as an end-of-course or clinical rotation assessment. COMAT examinations assess an osteopathic student’s achievement level on those subjects, with an emphasis on clinical application. COMAT is the only osteopathically distinctive subject examination series.
Unlike COMLEX Level 2 CE, COMAT exams are not explicitly required for osteopathic certification. However, depending on your institution, COMAT exams may play a significant role in your class standings. In 2015, the NBOME started to allow COMAT exams to be administered at either a testing center or by your institution via tablet.
How Long Are COMAT Exams?
While the COMAT exams are taken in a very similar format to other COMLEX exams, the number of questions (125) and length of the exam (2 hours and 35 minutes) is significantly shorter.
COMLEX Level 2 CE
COMLEX-USA Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) is a problem-based and symptoms-based assessment.
The exam covers a wide array of topics including: emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, osteopathic principles and neuromusculoskeletal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and other relevant areas.
This exam must be taken at a certified testing center. Questions on the Level 2-CE exam can range from single answer, multiple choice, matching items, and questions with audio-visual components.
Much like your Level 1 exam, 400 is the minimum passing score for the Level 2-CE. Unlike the COMAT exams, it is required by the NBOME that you pass the Level 2-CE exam in order to continue on your path to becoming a licensed osteopathic physician.
How Long is the COMLEX Level 2 CE?
Unlike COMAT exams, the Level 2-CE exam is much longer at 400 items and is broken up into two four-hour sessions in the same day.
DSM-5 Usage on Comlex Exams
The COMLEX-USA exams now reference DSM-5 terminology when assessing psychiatric and behavioral health conditions. Earlier transition language reference DSM-IV-TR is no longer emphasized, and students should be familiar with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria as part of their preparation.
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