Student Assessment
At Rowan-Virtua SOM, training and assessment are closely linked to develop competence in our students. Our competency milestones are specifically linked to assessments across the curriculum in both courses and clerkships and include knowledge and performance components. Student competency performance is tracked across all four years of the curriculum, whereas the assessment of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) largely occurs during clerkships, beginning in the second year.
Competency measures are included in the SOMetrics dashboard, which is utilized by the Student Evaluation of Performance (STEP) Committee, leadership, and the Center for Student Success to provide students with guided support in progressing along their milestones. Students culminate their training and demonstrate residency-readiness in their Capstone OSCE and residency boot camp.
Qualifying Written and Clinical Exams
In addition to written and clinical assessments administered within the curriculum to gauge student performance, students also take specific written and clinical qualifying exams at multiple points throughout their studies. Results from these exams are used to provide formative and summative feedback on student development. The qualifying exams taken throughout a student’s time at Rowan-Virtua SOM are listed below in the order they are typically administered and are accompanied by a description of each exam.
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test Foundational Biomedical Sciences (COMAT FBS) Comprehensive Exam is administered once during a student’s first year as a formative assessment, and again during a student’s second year as a summative assessment. The content of the assessment focuses on measuring student ability and knowledge regarding 16 content areas in foundational biomedical sciences >>See more information
The Benchmark and Capstone Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are internal exams used to assess student progress in performing core clinical skills, which are essential clinical skills required for entering residency. The Benchmark OSCE is administered during year two, before a student enters their Clerkship training, and provides formative feedback on students’ clinical performance. The Capstone OSCE is administered during year three and is a summative examination. Students must pass both assessments, and the results of these assessments are used to evaluate each student’s clinical readiness for their COMLEX Level 2-PE exam.
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Examination (COMSAE) Phase 1 & Phase 2 are self-assessment examinations for osteopathic students and residents taken to gauge the base of their knowledge and ability as they prepare to take the COMLEX cognitive examinations (Level 1 and 2-CE respectively). COMSAE Phase 1 is administered during a student’s second year and COMSAE Phase 2 during the third year. Though considered formative, all students are required pass COMSAE Phase 1 & 2 in preparation for COMLEX. >>See more information
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 1 is the first examination towards eventual medical licensure as an osteopathic physician (D.O.) and is administered at the end of a student’s pre-clerkship training in the second year. The exam is designed to assess the application of the biomedical sciences through clinical presentations. All Rowan-Virtua SOM students are required to take and pass COMLEX Level 1 before taking COMLEX Level 2-CE. >>See more information
For students attending allopathic institutions, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 is a required examination towards eventual medical licensure as an allopathic physician (M.D.). Rowan-Virtua SOM students are not required to take the USMLE, though many of our students elect to. Additional information is provided to our students as they progress in their training to assist with the decision of whether or not to take the USMLE. >>See more information
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT) Clinical Subject series are summative assessments administered at the end of the core clerkships. There are eight clinical subject exams: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Osteopathic Principles and Practice, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery. The exams are designed for standardized assessment in these core disciplines, and are used to assess an osteopathic student's achievement level in those subjects, with an emphasis on clinical application. The subject areas of Geriatrics as well as Neuromuscular Medicine and Pain Management do not have a COMAT exam, but our faculty have developed an in-house departmental exam that functions similarly to a COMAT in assessing student achievement levels in those disciplines. Students must successfully pass all COMAT Clinical Subject Exams and Departmental Exams in order to pass the respective clerkship rotations. >>See more information
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE) is an assessment of clinical competency, which includes emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, osteopathic principles, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery. COMLEX Level 2-CE is a required examination towards eventual medical licensure as an osteopathic physician (D.O.). All Rowan-Virtua SOM students are required to take and pass the COMLEX Level 2-CE exam prior to graduation. >>See more information
For students attending allopathic institutions, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) is the second examination towards eventual medical licensure as an allopathic physician (M.D.). Rowan-Virtua SOM students are not required to take the USMLE Step 2-CK, though some of our students may elect to. Additional information is provided to our students as they progress in their training to assist with the decision of whether or not to take the USMLE. >>See more information
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 2- Performance Evaluation (PE) exam is an assessment of clinical skills. COMLEX Level 2-PE is a required examination towards eventual medical licensure as an osteopathic physician (D.O.). All Rowan-Virtua SOM students are required to take and pass the COMLEX Level 2-PE exam prior to graduation. >>See more information
It should also be noted that although not included in the graphic above, after graduation, and during residency training, Rowan-Virtua SOM students are required to take and pass COMLEX Level 3. COMLEX Level 3 is designed to assess the osteopathic physician's ability to solve clinical problems and manage the care of patients as a physician. COMLEX Level 3 is a required examination towards eventual medical licensure as an osteopathic physician (D.O). >>See more information