March 2010 Examinations
Applicant Eligibility |
Application |
Online Scores |
Test Plans |
Schedule |
Transcripts |
Reference Texts |
Fees |
Sample Test |
Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility rules vary for each of the NBCE written examinations.
Part I: Eligibility
Student Eligibility
The students from 30 U.S. and international chiropractic colleges are currently eligible to take the NBCE examinations. An applicant currently enrolled in one of these colleges is eligible to take Part I in his or her sophomore year with authorization by the dean or registrar of that college.
An applicant may take Part II in his or her junior year upon proper authorization by the dean or registrar. The NBCE strongly recommends that college representatives approve only the applications of students who have satisfactorily completed courses in the subjects being tested.
The courses must be completed by the application late cutoff date. Individual chiropractic colleges may establish additional requirements, provided they inform the NBCE.
While enrolled in a chiropractic college, examinees may take the examinations as many times as they choose, as long as published eligibility and application requirements are met; however, examinees are advised that individual states may impose different or additional requirements or restrictions. Once all examinations in Part I, Part II, Part III, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture have been passed, an individual may not retake these examinations without special requirement of a state licensing authority.
Doctors of Chiropractic Eligibility
Class I
Class I refers to a doctor of chiropractic who has graduated less than six months prior to the examination date and has never applied to take Part I or Part II while attending chiropractic college.
Class I applicants may establish eligibility by submitting an application that is authorized by the dean or registrar of the college from which the degree was granted.
If an individual previously registered for Part I and/or Part II, the NBCE does not require the signature of a college official for that part. The completed application may be mailed directly to the NBCE offices.
Class II
Class II refers to a doctor of chiropractic who has graduated at least six months prior to the examination date and has never applied to take Part I or Part II while attending chiropractic college.
Class II applicants may establish eligibility by providing documentation of their graduation from a chiropractic college whose students are eligible to take the NBCE examinations. This may be in the form of:
- the registrar’s signature on the eligibility line of the application
- a letter stating the date of graduation from the registrar of the attending college bearing the chiropractic college seal
- an official college transcript
- a copy of a doctor of chiropractic degree
Class III
Class III refers to a doctor of chiropractic or a student of chiropractic who has successfully passed all subject examinations.
Class III applicants are NOT eligible to retake any previously passed examination, except upon the written request or requirement from a state licensing authority. Scores from retake examinations based on this criteria do not void the original passing scores.
Most states accept passing NBCE scores regardless of the date of completion. Though some states require that historical scores be submitted, examinees are advised that only the most recent scores will be provided to licensing authorities upon receipt of a transcript request form.
Final decision for licensure of graduates from any chiropractic educational institution rests with individual state licensing boards.
Part I and Part II Retakes
Examinees who fail THREE OR MORE subjects in Part I or Part II will be required to retake the entire part. An examinee who fails one or two subjects per part is entitled to retake only the failed subjects in each part.
Part II: Eligibility
Student Eligibility
The students from 30 U.S. and international chiropractic colleges are currently eligible to take the NBCE examinations. An applicant currently enrolled in one of these colleges is eligible to take Part I in his or her sophomore year with authorization by the dean or registrar of that college.
An applicant may take Part II in his or her junior year upon proper authorization by the dean or registrar. The NBCE strongly recommends that college representatives approve only the applications of students who have satisfactorily completed courses in the subjects being tested.
The courses must be completed by the application late cutoff date. Individual chiropractic colleges may establish additional requirements, provided they inform the NBCE.
While enrolled in a chiropractic college, examinees may take the examinations as many times as they choose, as long as published eligibility and application requirements are met; however, examinees are advised that individual states may impose different or additional requirements or restrictions. Once all examinations in Part I, Part II, Part III, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture have been passed, an individual may not retake these examinations without special requirement of a state licensing authority.
Doctors of Chiropractic Eligibility
Class I
Class I refers to a doctor of chiropractic who has graduated less than six months prior to the examination date and has never applied to take Part I or Part II while attending chiropractic college.
Class I applicants may establish eligibility by submitting an application that is authorized by the dean or registrar of the college from which the degree was granted.
If an individual previously registered for Part I and/or Part II, the NBCE does not require the signature of a college official for that part. The completed application may be mailed directly to the NBCE offices.
Class II
Class II refers to a doctor of chiropractic who has graduated at least six months prior to the examination date and has never applied to take Part I or Part II while attending chiropractic college.
Class II applicants may establish eligibility by providing documentation of their graduation from a chiropractic college whose students are eligible to take the NBCE examinations. This may be in the form of:
- the registrar’s signature on the eligibility line of the application
- a letter stating the date of graduation from the registrar of the attending college bearing the chiropractic college seal
- an official college transcript
- a copy of a doctor of chiropractic degree
Class III
Class III refers to a doctor of chiropractic or a student of chiropractic who has successfully passed all subject examinations.
Class III applicants are NOT eligible to retake any previously passed examination, except upon the written request or requirement from a state licensing authority. Scores from retake examinations based on this criteria do not void the original passing scores.
Most states accept passing NBCE scores regardless of the date of completion. Though some states require that historical scores be submitted, examinees are advised that only the most recent scores will be provided to licensing authorities upon receipt of a transcript request form.
Final decision for licensure of graduates from any chiropractic educational institution rests with individual state licensing boards.
Part I and Part II Retakes
Examinees who fail THREE OR MORE subjects in Part I or Part II will be required to retake the entire part. An examinee who fails one or two subjects per part is entitled to retake only the failed subjects in each part.
Part III: Eligibility
Student Eligibilty
There are presently 30 U.S. and international chiropractic colleges whose students are eligible to take the NBCE examinations. Students enrolled in one of these colleges are eligible to take the Part III Examination when they have completed Part I and are within nine months of graduation prior to the time of the examination. The NBCE withholds release of official Part III transcripts until the examinee has passed Part II.
Initial Part III eligibility requires that applications be signed by the dean or registrar of the examinees’ respective colleges.
Final decision for licensure of graduates from any chiropractic educational institution rests with individual state licensing boards.
Doctor of Chiropractic Eligibility
A doctor of chiropractic who holds a valid license to practice chiropractic issued after Dec. 31, 1988, must first pass Part I to take the Part III Examination. The NBCE withholds release of official Part III transcripts until the examinee has passed Part II.
A doctor of chiropractic who holds a valid license to practice, issued on or before December 31, 1988, is eligible to take Part III upon submission of a notarized letter from an authorized representative of a state board which has licensed the applicant. The letter must verify that the applicant is licensed by that agency, that the applicant’s license is not currently under suspension, and that there is no known disciplinary action in effect or pending.
Part III Retakes
The NBCE does not limit the number of times an examinee may retake Part III prior to passing;
however, individual licensing authorities may place restrictions on how many times a licensure applicant is allowed to retake Part III. Once a passing score is achieved, examinees will not be permitted to retake Part III without a written request or requirement from a state licensing authority.
Physiotherapy: Eligibility
General Requirements
To be eligible to take the Physiotherapy Examination, an applicant must have successfully completed 120 hours of instruction in physiotherapy, prior to the application late cutoff deadline. This physiotherapy instruction must be taken at and/or recognized by one of the 30 chiropractic colleges whose students are currently eligible to take the NBCE examinations.
Physiotherapy may be taken individually or in conjunction with other NBCE written examinations. A separate fee is required to take the Physiotherapy Examination. Final decisions for licensure of graduates from any chiropractic educational institution rest with individual state licensing boards.
Student Eligibilty
To establish initial student eligibility for the Physiotherapy Examination, the application must be signed by the registrar of the college, or the applicant must provide documentation showing completion of 120 hours of physiotherapy instruction.
Doctor of Chiropractic Eligibilty
A doctor of chiropractic who has never taken the Physiotherapy Examination must provide documentation specifically stating the completion of 120 hours
of physiotherapy instruction or obtain the signature of a college official. A copy of one’s doctor of chiropractic degree does not meet this requirement.
Acupuncture: Eligibility
General Requirements
To be able to take the Acupuncture Examination, an applicant must have successfully completed 100 hours of instruction in acupuncture, prior to the application late cutoff date. The acupuncture instruction must be taken at and/or recognized by:
- one of the 30 chiropractic colleges whose students are currently eligible to take the NBCE examinations
- a college or university accredited by an
accrediting body recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education
A separate fee is required to take the Acupuncture Examination. The Acupuncture Examination may be taken individually or in conjunction with other written examinations, as scheduling allows.
Final decisions for licensure of graduates from any chiropractic educational institution rest with individual state licensing boards.
Student Eligibilty
To establish initial student eligibility for the Acupuncture Examination, the application must be signed by the dean or registrar of the college.
Doctor of Chiropractic Eligibilty
To establish eligibility to take the NBCE Acupuncture Examination, a licensed chiropractor may:
- submit an NBCE application to the college from which he or she graduated for an official signature
- submit a letter from one of the 30 U.S. or international chiropractic colleges whose students are currently eligible to take the NBCE examinations, stating that the candidate has completed 100 hours of acupuncture instruction
- submit a letter from a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education stating that the candidate has completed 100 hours of acupuncture instruction
