COMLEX-USA Level 3 Osteopathic Medical Practice
Build your confidence for COMLEX-USA Level 3 Osteopathic Medical Practice. Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.
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COMLEX Level 3 examination covering clinical management, evidence-based medicine, and independent osteopathic medical practice for licensure completion. Administered by National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners as a linear computer-based (levels 1, 2-ce, 3 at prometric); osce (level 2-pe, suspended) format exam. Key domains include Diagnosis and Assessment, Medical Jurisprudence and Ethics, Osteopathic Principles and Manipulative Medicine and Patient Management.
Sample Questions
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A 70-year-old woman presents to the ED with sudden-onset severe lower back pain radiating to the abdomen and a pulsatile abdominal mass on examination. BP 88/56, HR 120. She has a known 5.5-cm infrarenal AAA. Bedside ultrasound confirms the AAA. Per SVS 2018 (current) AAA rupture management, what is the most appropriate next step?
A 31-year-old woman at 28 weeks gestation has gestational diabetes. After nutrition therapy, fasting glucose values remain 104-112 mg/dL and 1-hour postprandial values are often 150-165 mg/dL. Fetal growth is appropriate. What is the most appropriate next treatment?
A 27-year-old man with acute right anterior shoulder pain after a bench-press injury presents for OMT. Examination reveals tender point at the medial coracoid process, with the patient describing reproducible pain on palpation. The physician chooses to perform Counterstrain (Strain-Counterstrain) technique. What is the optimal position to seek a 70% pain reduction at this anterior shoulder tender point?
A 35-year-old man presents to the ED 30 minutes after a witnessed seizure. He is now post-ictal but breathing on his own with SaO2 94%. His vitals: HR 110, BP 142/82, RR 18, T 37.4 C. He has had 3 generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the past hour, each lasting 2-3 minutes, with no return to baseline between. Per AAN 2016 (current) status epilepticus guidelines, what is the most appropriate immediate management?
A 65-year-old woman presents with new-onset progressive dyspnea and bilateral leg edema. Echocardiogram shows LVEF 60% with grade 2 diastolic dysfunction, mild mitral regurgitation, normal RV function, and a left atrial volume index of 38 mL/m2. NT-proBNP is 1,840 pg/mL. Which is the most likely diagnosis?
Exam insights and study advice
This exam matters because it serves as the final gatekeeper to independent practice, directly impacting patient safety and public trust. It validates that a physician can integrate osteopathic distinctiveness-including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and a holistic, systems-based approach-into the diagnosis and management of complex, undifferentiated patient presentations. Your performance confirms you possess the clinical judgment and decision-making skills required to handle the breadth of challenges encountered in real-world primary care and emergency settings, ensuring you are prepared to provide competent, comprehensive care to your future patients.
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