Subject Exams

Subject Examinations from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) will be administered in core clinical clerkships for which these examinations are available. The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) subject exam for Osteopathic Principles and Practice will be administered at the end of the core rotation in Manipulative Medicine. Assigned students must sit for the appropriate subject examination administered at the completion of each of their rotations. Any student who is unable to sit for the subject examination at the scheduled time is referred to the course director for an excused absence and
reassignment of test date.

The subject examination for each core clinical rotation shall be a barrier to the student receiving his/her final grade determination for the course. All students must pass the subject examination with a score of 70 (scaled) or above.

Core Clerkship Subject Examinations will be graded and a scaled score will be calculated based on national performance data. Failure of a subject exam results in a grade of incomplete in the rotation, and failure of the second shelf exam in the same rotation results in the failure of the rotation. If a student fails a second shelf exam, he or she must appear, in person, before the Student Performance Committee (SPC) for recommendation of remediation.

If a student fails a core shelf examination, he/she will be given one opportunity to remediate the exam. This is true of each required shelf exam in the core rotations.   Successful remediation will permit the student to receive a maximum grade of 70 in the course, pending the successful passing and completion of all other components of the course requirements. Failure of any remediation constitutes a failure in the course.

The dates and times for remedial subject exams may be determined by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Director of Clinical Education, and/or the Director of Testing and Evaluation Services. Students may  be required to return to campus to sit for these remedial examinations regardless of their clerkship schedule or location.

Shelf exams are required for the following assigned rotations:

• Family Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Surgery

• Pediatrics

• OB/GYN

• Psychiatry

• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

In addition to the Subject exams, departments may require a departmental exam as part of the requirements for passing the course. These exams will address the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the diseases  and conditions listed in the objectives section of each course syllabus.