COMLEX-USA Level 3 is the final exam on the road to DO licensure. NBOME describes it as a computer-based examination that assesses an osteopathic resident's competence for the unsupervised practice of osteopathic medicine (NBOME, Level 3). For residents, that means studying around call, night float and clinic.
We tutor Level 3 one-on-one, online, on a schedule that fits residency. We start from your test window, your practice scores and how much time you really have each week, then build a plan you can keep.
How we tutor COMLEX Level 3
- A schedule built around your call and rotation calendar, with short sessions on heavy weeks.
- CDM case practice, so the clinical decision-making format is familiar before test day.
- Management-first review, since osteopathic patient care is at least 40% of Level 3.
- A plan for the format you will actually sit, two-day or the one-day exam starting January 13, 2027.
- Focused help on weak spots such as biostatistics, where our residents have worked with Alexandra.
Who tutors COMLEX Level 3
Level 3 prep is led by Dr. Shauhin “Sean” Moazezi, DO, a board-certified internist who works with residents on Level 3, including residents who had failed it before, as both reviews below describe. Dr. David Wadie, DO is a cardiology fellow who regularly teaches residents and fellows.
For residents weak in statistics, Alexandra Llovet runs focused biostatistics sessions; one review below credits her with exactly that.
Level 3 is changing. NBOME lists both formats on its examination format page:
| Through January 12, 2027 | From January 13, 2027 |
|---|
| Days | Two days, within a 14-day window | One day |
| Sessions | Four sessions of 3.5 hours (two per day) | Four 2-hour sessions |
| Multiple-choice questions | 420 | 240 |
| CDM cases | 26 (each with two to four questions) | 16 |
| Breaks | Between sections, per the Bulletin | Optional, from 60 minutes of pooled break time |
NBOME says the new format will contain fewer test questions but the blueprint will not change (NBOME, Level 3). If your window falls near January 2027, we plan for the format you will actually sit.
What is the passing score for COMLEX Level 3?
NBOME lists the Level 3 passing score as 350. You receive a three-digit standard score, a pass/fail designation and a graphical performance profile. Level 3 scores take longer than the other levels: NBOME says eight to 10 weeks (NBOME, scoring and reporting).
What Level 3 covers: the NBOME blueprint
For Level 3, the competency-domain minimums NBOME publishes tilt furthest toward managing patients.
| Dimension 1: competency domain | Minimum % of Level 3 |
|---|
| Osteopathic principles, practice and manipulative treatment | 10% |
| Osteopathic patient care and procedural skills | 40% |
| Application of knowledge for osteopathic medical practice | 15% |
| of which: foundational biomedical sciences knowledge base | 10% |
| Practice-based learning and improvement | 8% |
| Interpersonal and communication skills | 5% |
| Professionalism | 6% |
| Systems-based practice | 6% |
NBOME's clinical-presentation minimums, the second dimension of its blueprint, do not change between levels: musculoskeletal is at least 13% and community health and wellness at least 12% on Level 3 as on Levels 1 and 2-CE. Full list: NBOME, Level 3.
Osteopathic patient care and procedural skills is at least 40% of Level 3, the largest share of any COMLEX level, and foundational science falls to at least 10%. Level 3 tests how you manage patients, not what you memorised in second year. Source: NBOME, Level 3 blueprint.
Failed COMLEX Level 3?
Residents should know the NBOME Bulletin of Information 2026-2027 limit: four scored attempts per level, and no more than four at a level within 12 months. Both residents quoted below had failed Level 3 more than once before working with us, which is why we treat each attempt as one to plan around.
We work extensively with repeat test takers, including residents who have been out of test mode for years. Both reviews below are from residents who came to us after failing Level 3 more than once. If you are also an internist heading toward boards, see our ABIM tutoring.
While you wait for your Level 3 score
Level 3 takes the longest to score: NBOME says eight to 10 weeks (NBOME, scoring and reporting). The report includes a three-digit standard score measured against the 350 passing score, a pass/fail designation and a performance profile.
For residents, that wait usually overlaps with a busy stretch of training, so plan around it: note the expected release window, check any program or licensing deadlines that depend on the result, and keep your notes in case a retake is needed.
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