The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) is a requirement if you’re obtaining a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. This exam has three levels that are meant to assess your knowledge of osteopathic medicine. If you’re preparing to take the COMLEX-USA, consider enlisting the help of a professional test prep company. To help, we’ve ranked the top eight COMLEX-USA prep courses.
- Kaplan — Top Pick
- Wolf Pacc — Best Live Online Course
- Killexams — Most Affordable
- Med Learnity — Best Instructors
- PASS Program — Best Tutoring Program
- True Learn — Best Online Course
- National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) — Best Free Practice Exams
Our Ranking Criteria
In selecting the best COMLEX-USA prep courses for this list, we considered several important factors. Most importantly, we’ve selected those that have proven track records of successfully helping students score well on their exams. Additionally, we looked at courses that offer multiple format options, as well as personalized instruction and tutoring for students who might need extra help.
Flexible scheduling and adaptable formats
Many osteopathy students keep busy schedules that involve coursework and practical work in addition to studying for their COMLEX-USA exams. Because of this, it’s important that prep courses are able to offer flexible scheduling and adapt to the formats that work best for students.
Personalized instruction
Having access to extra tutoring or personalized instruction is vital for a lot of students who are preparing for exams. If you’ve previously taken the test and need extra help or if you’re keeping a busy schedule and feel overwhelmed with studying independently, personalized instruction is often the best way to ensure success when it comes time to take your COMLEX-USA test.
The Best COMLEX-USA Prep Courses
Kaplan — Top Pick
Kaplan offers a broad range of prep courses for students at all stages in their education. Its COMLEX-USA prep courses help you prepare for the examinations with flexible learning options. Kaplan offers a self-directed program that includes more than 1,400 practice questions, along with testing and studying strategies and resources. It also offers a more structured test prep course, which includes access to its entire question bank along with progress reports, step-by-step study guides, and interactive videos. For an additional cost, you can access tutoring and live help. Kaplan’s courses are focused on COMLEX Level 1, and this company does not offer prep courses for COMLEX Level 2 or COMLEX Level 3.
Need-to-knows:
- $209 to $399
- Self-directed and on-demand online courses
- Free 7-day trial
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Wolf Pacc — Best Live Online Course
Wolf Pacc provides intensive COMLEX-USA prep courses that you can access live online. The courses are focused on helping students learn practical approaches without emphasizing memorization. Topics covered include behavioral science, microbiology, genetics, physiology, and osteopathic-specific curriculum. Courses are offered in four-week and eight-week sessions, helping students to obtain the right amount of extra help to suit their needs. Eight-week sessions include access to a comprehensive question bank and a pass guarantee, which lets students retake the course for free if they don’t pass their test within 60 days of completing the program.
Need-to-knows:
- $2,900 – $4,900
- Live online courses, Tutoring
- Free tuition guarantee
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Killexams — Most Affordable
Killexams is focused on providing students with practice questions and study materials to help them pass COMLEX-USA exams. When you sign up, you’re provided with a link to download the company’s software, which includes a large question bank and comprehensive Q&A study materials. This program does not include live or on-demand lectures or tutoring. Questions provided by Killexams are often featured on the actual test, which provides students with the opportunity to get a taste of the real thing. Killexams offers three-, six-, and 12-month access options, all of which include a success guarantee and free technical support.
Need-to-knows:
- $39 – $122
- On-demand online courses
- Money-back guarantee
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Med Learnity — Best Instructors
Med Learnity exclusively provides tutoring for osteopathy students and med students. Its team of experienced tutors understands the ins and outs of the COMLEX tests and offers help with all levels of these exams. Med Learnity will provide you with a free session upon sign up, letting you try a session before committing to long-term tutoring. Each of Med Learnity’s tutors has taken COMLEX-USA exams before and are currently working as doctors. They tailor test prep to meet your individual needs and offer mentoring and study tips along the way.
Need-to-knows:
- Cost available via custom quote
- Online classes
- Live online tutoring
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PASS Program — Best Tutoring Program
PASS Program offers full-day COMLEX-prep courses that take place five days a week for five or 12 weeks. Courses are offered live online and include access to on-demand videos for six months, as well as practice exams, evening drill sessions, and live support. Additionally, students receive two one-on-one tutoring sessions weekly with their tuition and are able to purchase additional sessions for an extra cost if needed. Instructors offer continuous monitoring of your progress, and if you fall behind, an instructor will intervene and provide extra support.
Need-to-knows:
- $2,999 to $5,999
- In-person (Urbana, IL), Live online, On-demand online courses
- Housing available
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True Learn — Best Online Course
True Learn provides test prep for an array of exams that are administered to aspiring healthcare professionals. Its COMLEX-USA test prep courses are available online and feature extensive practice exams that include simulations meant to mimic the real test. True Learn also includes first aid references with its courses and provides access to detailed answer explanations to help you study effectively. COMLEX prep is available for all three levels of the test. True Learn provides students with access to an app for iOS and Android devices to help with progress tracking and studying on the go.
Need-to-knows:
- $199 – $729
- On-demand online courses
- More than 1,500 practice questions
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NBOME — Best Free Practice Exams
In addition to administering exams for osteopathic medicine students across the country, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners provides free access to resources and practice tests online. Online practice tests are meant to mimic the real test and include real questions from past examinations. In addition to its COMLEX-USA Level 1 practice exam, you can log on to the website to take a self-assessment to determine what areas need more study before you take real COMLEX-USA tests.
Need-to-knows:
- Free access
- On-demand online practice tests and assessments
- Practice tests feature real questions
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Choose the Right COMLEX-USA Prep Course for You
Every test taker has different needs when it comes to test prep, so it’s important for you to consider your own unique goals when you choose the best COMLEX-USA prep course. Go through the following steps to determine the best COMLEX prep course for you.
Calculate your prep time
The amount of time you need to prepare for your exams depends on what you need to study and what your personal goals are. Look for a prep course that offers enough time to help you feel comfortable taking the test. It’s advised to give yourself several months to study for the COMLEX-USA and to add 15% on to however much time you think you need.
Consider your learning style
Before you settle on a COMLEX-USA prep course, take some time to determine your learning style. If you don’t know it already, you can take a quick test at Education Planner for free. While some students are better at hands-on learning, others are visual or auditory learners. Once you figure out what works best for you, look for a test prep course that suits that learning style.
Compare costs
Your budget should be taken into account when you choose a course. COMLEX-USA test prep courses can vary dramatically in price, ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand.
Look for must-have features
When you select a COMLEX-USA prep course, you might want to consider looking for a class that offers the following features:
- A money-back guarantee
- Tutoring and live support
- Plenty of practice questions and exams
- Free trials to ensure you like the platform
COMLEX-USA Frequently Asked Questions
What are the important dates for taking the COMLEX-USA?
COMLEX-USA tests are administered at testing centers. Each test is offered almost daily, including on Saturdays, and testing sessions are a total of four hours. Tests can be booked once students are provided with registration details from the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), and while there aren’t deadlines for registration, you do need to provide at least 30 days’ notice to reschedule or cancel a test without penalty.
Are there accommodations for disabilities?
The NBOME provides accommodations for disabilities when they’re requested in advance. It typically takes up to 75 days for the NBOME to approve and process accommodation requests so it’s important to make requests as soon as you know they’re needed. Accommodation requests must be submitted with supporting documentation, including a personal narrative explaining the impairment and an evaluation from a physician or other qualified professional.
Where can I find practice tests?
Practice tests can often be obtained from the test prep courses listed above. Additional practice tests can be found online at the NBOME’s website.
How early should I prep?
When it comes to the COMLEX-USA test, the sooner you start studying the better. Most test experts recommend starting exam prep about six months prior to your testing date, taking time to cover a broad range of topics and increasing daily study time as the testing date approaches.
How many practice tests should I take before the actual exam?
It’s important to use practice tests to monitor your study progress and to determine what areas you may require extra support in. It’s recommended that you take practice tests regularly in the months leading up to your exam date with most students taking at least one practice test every one to two weeks.
How long are most COMLEX-USA prep courses?
The length of COMLEX-USA prep courses varies in length, with some offering boot camp style prep in just a few weeks and others offering intensive prep over several months to years.
How much does COMLEX-USA prep cost?
The cost of COMLEX-USA prep courses varies depending on the provider and additional services offered. Many of these courses provide students with a custom quote that’s based on their individual needs.
| Company | Cost |
| Kaplan |
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| Wolf Pacc |
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| Killexams |
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| Med Learnity |
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| PASS Program |
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| True Learn |
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| NBOME |
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