June 2024 marked one year since the NBOME completed transitioning its delivery of COMLEX-USA examinations to Pearson VUE. This was a multiyear, multidepartment project aimed at improving the test-taking experience for candidates. How has the first year of this partnership gone? Program Manager Tracy Spinks, gives us a breakdown.
Background on the transition
The NBOME began working with Pearson VUE in 2022 on the transition to deliver all COMLEX-USA examinations. Planning and implementation transcended numerous NBOME departments with project management strategies to ensure the NBOME was fully prepared. In January 2023, the NBOME began phasing in delivery of each Level of COMLEX-USA at Pearson VUE with Level 3 administrations.
Benefits for Candidates
By June 2023, all three COMLEX-USA levels were being administered at Pearson VUE testing centers and by the end of that year, more than 25,655 exams had been administered. Many benefits for candidates included pooled break time; a tool on the Pearson VUE website to assist in finding seat availability; and the creation of sample COMLEX-USA questions for each Level that mirror the test driver used in Pearson VUE testing centers.
Positive Outcomes
The transition has been positive overall; the NBOME has reported a 90 percent satisfaction rate for Pearson VUE testing centers among COMLEX-USA Level 1 and Level 2-CE candidates, and a 93 percent satisfaction rate for Level 3 candidates. Post-exam survey comments have supported this. One student noted: “The staff at [my] Pearson VUE center was exceptional at their jobs. They were very kind [and] it was a very pleasant test-taking experience.”
The NBOME also saw a 33 percent decrease in adverse testing conditions, and an 80 percent decrease in candidate test dislocations (moving to a different testing location).
Working for Continued Success
The majority of osteopathic medical students taking COMLEX-USA Level 1 and 2-CE examinations in 2024 are doing so between May and July, while resident physicians are taking Level 3 examinations throughout the year.
The NBOME and Pearson VUE teams continue to work together to ensure osteopathic candidates at osteopathic medical schools (COMs) and residency programs across the US have access to seats at Pearson VUE testing centers. Teams from Pearson VUE and NBOME meet bi-weekly to address candidate concerns, troubleshoot issues, and evaluate candidate and technology needs in real time.
“Having completed more than 50,000 candidate testing days at Pearson VUE since we transitioned to their network, we reflect on many successes,” said Mark Dawley, MBA, vice president for licensure assessment services. “Test candidates have benefited from more testing location options, fewer test administration disruptions than in recent years, and an improvement in the highlighting function allowing candidates to move confidently through their examinations. We continue to work with our testing partner Pearson VUE to enhance the test taker experience from scheduling through completion of the examination.”
Learn more about Pearson VUE.