Resolution: S-20-32: MINIMUM FIRST TIME BOARD PASSAGE RATES

[Valerie Lile]

WHEREAS, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) requires a licensing exam series, currently the COMLEX USA, to be taken by all osteopathic medical students in order to graduate from a COCA accredited medical school¹; and

WHEREAS, Element 6.12 of COCA standards requires that “the COM must publish to the public the
COMLEX -USA Level 1, Level 2 CE, Level 2 PE, and Level 3 first time pass rate for all students in
each class at the COM.”¹; and

WHEREAS, there is no minimum first time board passing requirement that COMs must achieve to maintain accreditation; and

WHEREAS, theoretically COMs may have a 5% first time board passage rate and face no ramifications from an accreditation perspective; and

WHEREAS, theoretically COMs may have a first time board passage rate that is 2 standard deviations below the national average and face no ramifications from an accreditation perspective; and

WHEREAS, a protection is not in place to protect students from potential future predatory schools; and

WHEREAS, after COCA determined that medical schools could be ‘for profit’ and the establishment of Rocky Vista University, we have seen a proliferation of for profit osteopathic medical schools, 4 new for profit independent schools and one branch campus²; and

WHEREAS, COMs should be held accountable to hit a minimum threshold for first time board passage rates to protect our future graduates; and, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that SOMA adopt an official position that COMs should be held to a minimum first time board passage rate standard, either through a fixed percentage minimum such as a rolling average of 92% over a 3 year period or within .5 standard deviation of the national average, with the minimums being no lower than 90% or 1 standard deviation of the national average; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that SOMA advocate to COCA to adjust their continuing accreditation standards such that Element 6.12 includes a minimum first time board passage rate, either through a fixed percentage minimum such as a rolling average of 92% over a 3 year period or within .5 standard deviation of the national average, with the minimums being no lower than 90% or 1 standard deviation of the national average; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that SOMA advocate to AACOM to create a centralized resource where all COMs first time board passage rates are located.

Explanatory Statement

Currently, first time board passage rates are posted on each individual COM’s website. These numbers are in different places on different websites and can be very difficult and convoluted. This data is already published and available but not in an efficient and accessible manner. AACOM creating a centralized document with all of this data will make decisions easier for students when deciding on which school they wish to attend.

 

References

1. American Osteopathic Association. (2018). Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (Element 10.4). https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/com-continuing-accreditation-standards.pdf
2. Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (2020). https://osteopathic.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/colleges-of-osteopathic-medicine.pdf /

____________________________________________________________________________

Submitted by:

Harris Ahmed, OMS IV- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
Furzan Azam, OMS II, AT Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Walid Moughabel, OMS III, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
Matthew Mansour, OMS I, Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University

 

Action Taken:
Date:
Effective Time Period: Ongoing

[Author]

Posts