NBCE Types of Exams 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which NBCE part must be passed before a candidate is eligible to sit for Part III?
- Physiotherapy only
- Part II only
- Parts I and II (Correct answer)
- Parts I, II, and Physiotherapy
Correct answer: Parts I and II
NBCE requires successful completion of Parts I and II before a candidate may sit for Part III.
Question 2: The NBCE Part IV (SPEC) examination replaced which older format of assessment?
- A written multiple-choice test on anatomy
- A live practical examination with standardized patients (Correct answer)
- An oral defense before a faculty panel
- A state-specific jurisprudence exam
Correct answer: A live practical examination with standardized patients
Part IV was redesigned from a hands-on practical exam with live patients to the current computer-based SPEC format.
Question 3: Which subject area is NOT tested in NBCE Part I?
- General anatomy
- Microbiology and public health
- Diagnostic imaging (Correct answer)
- Physiology
Correct answer: Diagnostic imaging
Diagnostic imaging is covered in NBCE Part II, not Part I, which focuses on basic biomedical sciences.
Question 4: A candidate who fails one section of NBCE Part I must:
- Retake all six sections of Part I
- Retake only the failed section (Correct answer)
- Automatically forfeit their eligibility
- Appeal to the state board for a waiver
Correct answer: Retake only the failed section
NBCE policy allows candidates to retake individual failed sections rather than repeating the entire Part I examination.
Question 5: The Nutrition examination offered by the NBCE is best described as:
- A mandatory requirement for all states
- An optional specialty/elective exam accepted by some state boards (Correct answer)
- A prerequisite for Part IV
- Part of the core Part II examination
Correct answer: An optional specialty/elective exam accepted by some state boards
The NBCE Nutrition exam is an elective exam that certain state boards accept as part of licensure requirements.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the format of NBCE Part III?
- Open-book written exam with clinical scenarios
- Multiple-choice written exam covering clinical sciences and case management (Correct answer)
- Oral examination before an examining board
- Hands-on demonstration of adjusting techniques
Correct answer: Multiple-choice written exam covering clinical sciences and case management
Part III is a multiple-choice written examination organized around clinical vignettes testing case history, examination, diagnosis, and management.
Question 7: The NBCE score scale for its written examinations (Parts I–III) uses a standard score range of:
- 0–100
- 200–800 (Correct answer)
- 1–36
- 300–700
Correct answer: 200–800
NBCE written exams report scores on a 200–800 scale with a passing score set at 375.
NBCE Types of Exams 3
Which NBCE part must be passed before a candidate is eligible to sit for Part III?