NATIONAL BOARD EXAM ELIGIBILITY

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) was established to maintain uniformly high standards of excellence in the chiropractic profession and chiropractic education. The NBCE primarily prepares and administers examinations to qualified applicants. State licensing boards and/or legal agencies governing the practice of chiropractic may accept, at their discretion, those individuals who have successfully completed any part of the examinations.

NBCE exams include written exams Parts I, II, III, and PT, as well as clinical practical exam Part IV. All states require some or all parts of the NBCE exams to be passed as a prerequisite for licensing. A directory of state licensing requirements can be found in the Professional Licensure section of the Catalog or on the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards’ website at www.fclb.org.

Parker University is responsible for certifying that students are eligible to take National Boards in accordance with the deadlines set by the NBCE. Because of the importance of performance on National Board examinations, Parker University has requirements for certifying students for National Board eligibility.

The NBCE schedule allows all students on the standard 10-trimester curriculum to take all parts of the NBCE exams prior to graduation, but students who fail or withdraw from classes, on a special schedule, or take a leave of absence from the program may experience a delay in qualifying for NBCE exams.

Parker University is an official test site for Computer-Based testing (CBT) of the National Boards. However, the number of exam sessions, dates of the exams, and the number of students permitted to take the exams at the University are determined by NBCE.

NBCE Exam Timeline

Students are expected to fulfill the requirements of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams within the timeline outlined below. While exam fees are included in the cost of attendance during the earliest eligible trimester, additional funding (Grad PLUS Loan or Alternative Loan) may be borrowed to cover the registration fees.

Part 1

• Exam Eligibility: Trimester 5, upon the completion of Trimesters 1-4 basic science coursework.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: Trimester 5, and Special Schedule 5.

• Requirement: Successful completion is required for registration in Trimester 8 Internship 1 Practicum and Clinic Development 1 (Winter 2026 and beyond).

Part 2

• Exam Eligibility: Upon completion of Trimesters 1-7 coursework.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: Trimester 8.

• Requirement: Exam must be taken before graduation. Passing score required to participate in CBI (Summer 2026 and beyond).

Part 3

• Exam Eligibility: After passing NBCE Part 1 and during enrollment in Trimester 8 or 9 or 10.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: Trimester 8.

• Requirement: Exam must be taken before graduation.

Part 4

• Exam Eligibility: After passing NBCE Part 1 and during enrollment in Trimester 9 or 10.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: Trimester 9.

• Requirement: Exam must be taken before graduation.

Physiotherapy (PHT) Exam

• Exam Eligibility: After successful completion of Parker's physiotherapy course sequence.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: PHT exam costs are not automatically included in a student’s cost of attendance as the exam is not required in all states. Students should contact One Stop at ask1stop@parker.edu to discuss eligibility and funding options.

• Licensure Note: Passing the PHT exam is required for licensure in Texas. Students should review the Professional Licensure Disclosure to verify requirements in other states.

Graduation Requirement

Successful completion or current registration for Parts 2-4 is required for graduation.

NBCE Exam Retake Policy

Parker University is committed to supporting students' success on the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams. Students who do not pass an NBCE exam on their first attempt must complete a board review course before retaking the exam.

Board Review Requirement

Students must:

• Enroll in a board review course approved by Parker University.

• Obtain approval from their academic advisor to ensure the board review course aligns with their program of study.

• Complete the board review course as outlined by the course provider.

Financial Aid Eligibility for Board Review Course(s)

A Grad PLUS Loan and an Alternative Loan may be used to pay for educational expenses, including board review course(s) and travel expenses related to board reviews.

• Students should contact One Stop at ask1stop@parker.edu to discuss eligibility and funding options.

• The student must complete the Cost of Attendance Increase form and provide documentation of the board review course, including the cost, course description, travel expenses, and enrollment verification.

• Once the Office of Financial Aid determines eligibility and approves the funding, the funds will be disbursed according to the institution’s disbursement schedule.

Financial Aid for Retake Board Exam(s)

Current students who need to retake any portion of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams are eligible to apply for a Grad PLUS Loan or an Alternative Loan to cover the exam fees. To qualify for financial aid, students must complete a Parker University-approved board review course before retaking the exam, as outlined in the Board Review Requirement section of this policy.

• Financial Aid Eligibility: Retake board exam costs are not automatically included in a student’s cost of attendance as the exam is not required for all students. Students should contact One Stop at ask1stop@parker.edu to discuss eligibility and funding options.

• Financial aid is not available once a student has exited the University.

By implementing these policies and processes, Parker University aims to support student success on the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams and maximize the effectiveness of financial aid funds.