NBCE Chiropractic Exams Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

MyNBCE describes Part I as a multiple-choice exam of 255 questions in 3 hours 26 minutes covering General Anatomy, Spinal Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Pathology and Microbiology; the portal mock uses 255 questions in 206 minutes. Part II covers General Diagnosis, Neuromusculoskeletal Diagnosis, Diagnostic Imaging, Principles of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Practice and Associated Clinical Sciences. Part III covers Case History, Physical Examination, Neuromusculoskeletal Examination, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Laboratory and Special Studies, Diagnosis or Clinical Impression, Chiropractic Techniques, Supportive Interventions, Case Management and Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation, with extended multiple-choice cases that have two responses.

Most U.S. chiropractic licensing boards require passing NBCE examination parts, so these exams are steps between chiropractic college and a license to practice.

Chiropractic students and graduates preparing for NBCE Parts I, II and III.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

NBCE sets the retake rules and fees for each part; confirm the current policy on mynbce.org before you plan another attempt.

NBCE reports a scaled score for each part and the passing score is 375. Part III uses extended multiple-choice cases that the portal adapts to single-response questions, so the mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check. Format: Part I has 255 questions in 3 hours 26 minutes; the portal mock combines content from the parts into one 255-question, 206-minute set with single-response questions. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

MyNBCE describes Part I as a multiple-choice exam of 255 questions in 3 hours 26 minutes covering General Anatomy, Spinal Anatomy, Physiology, Chemistry, Pathology and Microbiology; the portal mock uses 255 questions in 206 minutes. Part II covers General Diagnosis, Neuromusculoskeletal Diagnosis, Diagnostic Imaging, Principles of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Practice and Associated Clinical Sciences. Part III covers Case History, Physical Examination, Neuromusculoskeletal Examination, Diagnostic Imaging, Clinical Laboratory and Special Studies, Diagnosis or Clinical Impression, Chiropractic Techniques, Supportive Interventions, Case Management and Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation, with extended multiple-choice cases that have two responses. Part I and Part II computer-based multiple-choice · Part III case-based with extended multiple-choice items · passing score 375 on a scaled score · six domains per part for Parts I and II. NBCE reports a scaled score for each part and the passing score is 375. Part III uses extended multiple-choice cases that the portal adapts to single-response questions, so the mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check.

NBCE publishes weights per part rather than one combined chart, so the portal names the subjects of each part and does not show combined percentages.

Your chiropractic college and NBCE decide when you may register for each part. Confirm the eligibility rules for your part on mynbce.org and with your college.

MyNBCE lists $710 for each of Parts I, II and III. Retakes are charged under the current NBCE policy, and your state board may charge its own fees.

Licensing, renewal and continuing education are set by each state board, not by NBCE; check your board for what applies after you pass.

Work through the exam topics one area at a time, finish with timed full-length practice runs of 255 questions in one sitting.

This guide follows the MyNBCE pages for Parts I to III and the NBCE student FAQ (test plans from August 2024); NBCE changes exam rules and fees from time to time, so check mynbce.org before you register.