2026 COMLEX Percentiles: Level 2-CE and Level 3
COMLEX percentiles show how a three-digit Level 2-CE or Level 3 score compares with candidates who took the same examination during the same testing cycle. Because NBOME recalculates percentiles for each cohort, there is no single permanent COMLEX percentile chart: your exam level and test date both matter.
Level 1 has been reported only as pass or fail since May 10, 2022, so current Level 1 results do not include a three-digit score or percentile. This guide explains how to obtain the correct current percentile for Level 2-CE and Level 3, how to read 2026 residency data, and which passing scores and exam formats are current.
Students comparing the two licensing sequences can also review the 2026 USMLE score percentiles guide.
Quick answer
COMLEX Percentiles and Passing Scores at a Glance
A passing score is not tied to one permanent percentile. To find the correct percentile, enter your score in the official NBOME converter and select both the examination level and the date you tested.
Official lookup
How to Find Your Current COMLEX Percentile
NBOME calculates percentiles after each testing cycle using the three-digit scores of candidates who tested in that cohort. As a result, the same score may have a different percentile in a different year. A COMLEX percentile is also not a percentage-correct score: it is a rank relative to a defined group of candidates.
- Enter your standard score Use the three-digit result shown on your Level 2-CE or Level 3 score report.
- Select the exam level Level 2-CE and Level 3 use separate cohorts and cannot be converted interchangeably.
- Select your test date Choose the date range that contains your examination date, then run the conversion.
Candidates who tested during the cycle beginning in June 2026 should choose that date range in the NBOME converter. NBOME states that these interim percentiles are subject to change until the full testing cycle ends on April 24, 2027. Candidates should check again after that date.
Source: NBOME COMLEX-USA Percentile Score Converter. This guide links to the official tool instead of estimating unpublished values or treating an older cohort as current.
Clinical knowledge examination
How to Interpret COMLEX Level 2-CE Scores
COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE is a one-day, computer-based examination with 320 single-best-answer questions administered across two four-hour testing sessions. Candidates receive a pass/fail designation, a three-digit standard score, and performance information. The current minimum passing score is 400.
The standard score is model-based and is not the number or percentage of questions answered correctly. NBOME states that score reports for Levels 1 and 2-CE are generally released two to six weeks after the end of the applicable testing window, although candidates should use the official score-release schedule for their examination date.
What Is a Good COMLEX Level 2-CE Score?
There is no universal “good” Level 2-CE score. The most useful comparison depends on the testing cycle, preferred specialty, applicant group, and programs under consideration. A percentile shows relative performance within one NBOME cohort; it does not establish a residency cutoff or calculate an applicant's probability of matching.
In the 2026 NRMP Program Director Survey, among responding programs that required U.S. DO seniors or graduates to take COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE for interview consideration, 43% required a passing result only, 35% preferred but did not require a target score, 20% required a target score, and approximately 2%—the remainder after rounding—required only completion, not a passing result. These percentages apply only to that subset of respondents. The survey's overall response rate was 12.7% (861 responses from 6,806 surveys sent), so the findings should be interpreted cautiously rather than treated as universal program policy.
Applicants should verify each program's current requirements directly. For preparation guidance, see the MedBoardTutors COMLEX Level 2-CE study guide.
COMLEX-USA is accepted for physician licensure in all 50 states, but residency application policies vary. Some programs accept COMLEX-USA alone, while others may request or require USMLE results. Confirm the current policy for every program on an application list.
Residency context
2026 COMLEX Level 2-CE Scores Among Matched U.S. DO Seniors
NRMP's 2026 Charting Outcomes report describes examination scores and other characteristics among consenting U.S. DO seniors. The values below are the Level 2-CE distributions for applicants who matched to their preferred specialty. They are historical observations, not recommended scores, program cutoffs, or guarantees of matching.
The middle 50% is the interval from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3). Applicants should read it alongside sample size and the rest of the NRMP report rather than interpreting the median as a target.
View 2026 Level 2-CE specialty medians for matched U.S. DO seniors
| Preferred specialty | Q1 | Median | Q3 | Matched N |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | 540 | 585 | 627 | 304 |
| Child Neurology | 499 | 547 | 627 | 22 |
| Dermatology | 594 | 631 | 662 | 26 |
| Emergency Medicine | 466 | 523 | 594 | 888 |
| Family Medicine | 450 | 493 | 549 | 1,013 |
| Internal Medicine | 473 | 530 | 599 | 1,435 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics | 499 | 567 | 626 | 44 |
| Interventional Radiology (Integrated) | 525 | 560 | 625 | 22 |
| Neurological Surgery | 489 | 564 | 610 | 9 |
| Neurology | 491 | 559 | 613 | 175 |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | 508 | 563 | 617 | 280 |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 574 | 623 | 687 | 94 |
| Otolaryngology | 553 | 603 | 644 | 17 |
| Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical | 463 | 511 | 570 | 92 |
| Pediatrics | 454 | 511 | 569 | 502 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 489 | 543 | 585 | 179 |
| Psychiatry | 463 | 513 | 572 | 448 |
| Radiation Oncology | 506 | 553 | 573 | 17 |
| Radiology-Diagnostic | 535 | 603 | 662 | 141 |
| Surgery-General | 527 | 590 | 645 | 238 |
| Vascular Surgery (Integrated) | 526 | 623 | 656 | 8 |
Source: NRMP 2026 Charting Outcomes for U.S. DO Seniors, Table 5. The report groups consenting applicants by preferred specialty and Match status.
The matched samples were only 8 for Vascular Surgery, 9 for Neurological Surgery, 17 for both Otolaryngology and Radiation Oncology, 22 for Child Neurology and Interventional Radiology, and 26 for Dermatology. NRMP suppressed Plastic Surgery and Thoracic Surgery statistics because fewer than five applicants consented. A median from a small group is especially unsuitable as a universal target or admissions threshold.
According to the 2026 NRMP Match results, 8,503 U.S. DO seniors were active applicants, meaning they certified a rank order list. Their PGY-1 Match rate was 93.2%; after placements obtained through the Match and SOAP were counted, the overall placement rate for these active applicants was 98.5%. These group-level outcomes do not show that one examination score caused an individual applicant's result.
Licensure examination
How to Interpret COMLEX Level 3 Scores and Percentiles
COMLEX-USA Level 3 assesses the osteopathic medical knowledge and competencies expected for safe, effective care in unsupervised clinical settings. Candidates receive a pass/fail designation, a three-digit standard score, and performance information. The current passing score is 350.
For examinations taken on or before December 19, 2026, Level 3 uses a two-day format with 420 multiple-choice questions and 26 clinical decision-making cases. For examinations taken on or after January 13, 2027, it uses a one-day format with 240 multiple-choice questions and 16 clinical decision-making cases. Candidates should confirm which format applies to their scheduled date.
What Is a Good COMLEX Level 3 Score?
There is no evidence-based universal Level 3 target for residency or fellowship selection. For many candidates, the immediate objective is to meet the passing standard and other licensure requirements. If a program or fellowship considers Level 3, confirm its current policy directly and use NBOME's converter to interpret the score within the correct testing cycle.
NBOME generally releases Level 3 results eight to ten weeks after the end of the applicable testing window. Candidates should consult the official score-release schedule for their examination dates.
Passing Level 3 does not by itself complete every licensure requirement. Examination time limits, attempt limits, postgraduate-training rules, and other conditions vary by jurisdiction. Review the FSMB state-specific licensure requirements and confirm the current rules with the relevant medical board.
For preparation and current-format guidance, see the MedBoardTutors complete COMLEX Level 3 guide.
Current standards
COMLEX Passing Scores, Reporting, and First-Time Pass Rates
The latest published NBOME performance data use different reporting windows for different levels. The percentages below are first-time pass rates for the stated periods, not predictions for an individual candidate.
| Exam | Score reporting | Passing standard | First-time pass rate | Reporting period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Pass/Fail only | 400 (reported Pass/Fail only) | 90.2% | 2025–2026 testing cycle |
| Level 2-CE | Pass/Fail + three-digit score | 400 | 92.5% | 2025–2026 testing cycle |
| Level 3 | Pass/Fail + three-digit score | 350 | 97.1% | Calendar year 2025 |
Sources: NBOME Scoring and Reporting, the NBOME Bulletin examination scores, and NBOME Examination Performance Data. The published first-time test-taker counts were 9,678 for Level 1, 9,096 for Level 2-CE, and 8,596 for Level 3 in the displayed reporting periods.
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Levels 1 and 2-CE
320 questions in one day
Two timed four-hour sessions contain eight sections of 40 questions.
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Level 3 through December 19, 2026
Two-day administration
420 multiple-choice questions plus 26 clinical decision-making cases.
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Level 3 from January 13, 2027
Level 3 becomes one day
240 multiple-choice questions plus 16 clinical decision-making cases.
Does COMLEX Level 1 Have Percentiles?
Not for current examinations. Level 1 has been reported as pass or fail since May 10, 2022. Candidates also receive a Formative Performance Profile, but no three-digit score or current percentile. NBOME's converter retains historical Level 1 conversions only through the 2021-2022 testing cycle.
How Much Osteopathic Principles and OMT Content Is on COMLEX?
Under the current COMLEX-USA blueprint, the minimum allocation for the combined Osteopathic Principles, Practice, and Manipulative Treatment competency domain is 12% on Level 1 and 10% on both Level 2-CE and Level 3. The exam blueprint is the appropriate source for current content weighting; a single 12%-20% range should not be applied across all three levels.
NBOME generally allows four scored attempts at each examination level and no more than four attempts within a 12-month period, including incomplete or voided attempts. A possible final attempt beyond the limit requires an explicit request from a medical licensing agency and supporting documentation. State boards may impose stricter rules, so review the current NBOME eligibility and retake policy before applying.
Transparency
Sources and Methodology
This guide prioritizes current primary sources from NBOME, NRMP, and FSMB. It avoids converting means into percentiles, estimating unpublished percentile values, or presenting historical Match data as an individual prediction.
- Percentiles: NBOME's official converter must be used with the candidate's examination level and testing date. Level 2-CE values for the 2026-2027 cycle are interim until April 24, 2027.
- Specialty data: the table reproduces the median, first quartile, third quartile, and matched sample size from Table 5 of the 2026 NRMP U.S. DO Seniors report.
- Match interpretation: NRMP data describe historical groups of consenting applicants. They are not designed to predict an individual's Match result.
- Pass rates: Level 1 and Level 2-CE use the latest full published testing-cycle figures; Level 3 uses the latest calendar-year figure. These periods are displayed in the table.
- Update schedule: recheck NBOME percentile data after each testing cycle and review formats, passing standards, and NRMP data at least annually.
- NBOME Percentile Score Converter
- NBOME Scoring and Reporting
- NBOME Bulletin examination scores and passing standards
- NBOME Examination Format
- NBOME Bulletin introduction and licensure recognition
- NBOME COMLEX-USA Blueprint
- NBOME COMLEX-USA Examination Performance Data
- NBOME Testing Windows and Score Release Dates
- NRMP 2026 Charting Outcomes for U.S. DO Seniors
- NRMP 2026 Program Director Survey
- FSMB State-Specific Licensure Requirements
Common searches
Frequently Asked Questions About COMLEX Percentiles
What percentile is a 500 on COMLEX Level 2-CE?
It depends on the testing cycle. NBOME calculates Level 2-CE percentiles from the performance of candidates in a specific cycle, so a score of 500 can map to different percentiles in different years. Enter 500, choose Level 2-CE, and select your examination date in the official NBOME converter.
What percentile is a 600 on COMLEX Level 2-CE?
There is no timeless percentile for a 600. Use the official NBOME converter and select the testing cycle containing your exam date. For the 2026-2027 Level 2-CE cycle, the current result is interim and may change after April 24, 2027.
What is a good COMLEX Level 2-CE score?
There is no universal good score. Interpret a result using the correct testing-cycle percentile, the applicant's preferred specialty, each program's current policy, and the rest of the application. NRMP specialty medians are historical observations, not required targets.
What are the current COMLEX passing scores?
Level 1 and Level 2-CE use a passing standard of 400; Level 3 uses 350. Level 1 candidate reports show only Pass/Fail, not the underlying numeric score. Always check NBOME before the examination in case a standard changes.
Does COMLEX Level 1 have a percentile?
Current Level 1 examinations do not report a percentile or three-digit score. Level 1 has been pass/fail since May 10, 2022. Historical conversions remain available through the 2021-2022 testing cycle.
Is a COMLEX score the same as percentage correct?
No. NBOME converts raw performance into a model-based standard score. A percentile is then a comparison with candidates in a defined testing cohort; neither number is simply the percentage of questions answered correctly.
Do residency programs accept COMLEX without USMLE?
COMLEX-USA is accepted for physician licensure in all 50 states, but residency application policies are not uniform. Applicants should verify whether each program accepts COMLEX-USA alone or requests an additional USMLE result.
Can I retake a passed COMLEX level to improve my score?
No. A passed COMLEX-USA examination cannot be retaken solely to obtain a higher score. Narrow licensing-agency exceptions relate to attempt limits and require documentation; they are not routine score-improvement opportunities.
Does a COMLEX percentile predict whether I will match?
No. It describes where a score falls within an NBOME testing cohort. It does not account for specialty, clinical performance, letters, experiences, interviews, program preferences, or the rest of an application. NRMP likewise warns that its historical data are not an individual Match prediction tool.
Bottom line
How to Use COMLEX Percentiles in Your Study and Match Strategy
COMLEX percentiles are most useful as context. Use NBOME's official converter for the correct exam level and testing cycle, interpret NRMP data for the correct applicant group, and avoid treating one score as a universal residency threshold.
Then build a study and application plan around the full picture: content mastery, osteopathic principles, clinical performance, letters, experiences, interviews, program fit, and realistic specialty and program research.