Introducing the Communication Learning Assessment

Confidence Begins with Practice

Effective, patient-centered communication is a core clinical competency.  The Communication Learning Assessment (CLA) is a formative, skill-building tool designed to help medical students develop the empathy, judgment, and adaptability required for real patient conversations.

Through simulated clinical scenarios and actionable feedback, CLA helps students strengthen essential communication skills and build confidence—preparing them for meaningful engagement with patients during clerkship.  

CLA is a digital, app-based learning assessment that uses realistic, diverse video-based patient scenarios to help students practice essential communication skills. Rather than testing knowledge, CLA focuses on how students communicate—how they respond to emotions, explain next steps, and build trust.

Each encounter is paired with guided reflection and exemplars, helping students identify strengths, recognize gaps, and understand how to improve.

Medical schools face growing challenges when teaching communication skills:

  • Communication is a required competency, but instruction and assessment vary widely
  • Faculty time, curriculum space and budgets are limited
  • Students need more opportunities to practice before high-stakes clinical encounters

CLA addresses these challenges by offering scalable, evidence-based practice that can help strengthen patient-centered communication skills without adding to faculty workload. 

 

Learn More About CLA

Get an inside look at CLA from Vice President of the Office of Research Strategy Krista Mattern, PhD and Director of Curriculum Affairs Stephanie Mann, MD, MS, HPED, and find out how to join the Community of Practice.

thumbnail showing video title "CLA: The Importance of Formative Assessment and Feedback"

Designing a tool to develop and measure patient-centered communication skills

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thumbnail showing video title "CLA: Improving Patient-Centered Communication Skills"

Improving communication skills before the first clinical encounter

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Join the Community of Practice!

Faculty using CLA are invited to join the CLA Community of Practice, an NBME-facilitated online community created to support implementation.

Designed to help medical schools successfully integrate the CLA tool into their curriculum, this community brings together NBME staff and faculty who are using CLA in their programs.

Community members can:

  • Share implementation strategies and lessons learned
  • Discuss best practices and challenges with faculty at other institutions
  • Access consultative support from an NBME learning specialist tailored to their educational context 

For more information, contact cla@nbme.org.