The NBCE Board of Directors has approved the move of public health exam content from the Microbiology and Public Health examination in the basic sciences battery of exams (Part I) to the Chiropractic Practice examination of clinical sciences series of exams (Part II). The new Microbiology exam will be administered with the September 2010 Written Examinations, while the changes to the Chiropractic Practice exam will be instated with the March 2011 administration.
This change increases the weighting of the public health content of the NBCE exams, a change made to better reflect current chiropractic educational and practice standards, and is based on a recent Delphi study that elicited feedback from chiropractic colleges on their curriculum.
The new Microbiology test plan weightings are:
| 1. Immunology | 23% |
| 2. Bacteria | 20% |
| 3. Viruses and prions | 15% |
| 4. Fungi | 10% |
| 5. Parasites | 10% |
| 6. Epidemiology and disease control | 22% |
The weightings of the Chiropractic Practice exam will be adjusted as follows:
| 1. Spinal analysis and patient evaluation | 27% |
| 2. Chiropractic adjustive technique | 28% |
| 3. Patient care | 25% |
| 4. Community health and wellness | 11% |
| 5. Occupational and environmental health | 9% |
These exam updates have been reported to academic officers and college presidents at recent meetings, and college officials have expressed support for the change. NBCE staff are now working to update reference texts and exam content for the revised exams. The NBCE Web site and Examination Information Brochure will be updated soon.
Source: National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
