NBCE Part II study guide
NBCE Part II · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
NBCE Part II is one of the pre-licensure examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), the Greeley, Colorado-based organization that develops and administers chiropractic board examinations in the United States. On the NBCE's own site, Part II is grouped with Parts I and III and the PHT under a single navigation entry - "Pre-Licensure Computer-Based Exams (Parts I, II, III, PHT)" - which tells candidates two useful things: Part II is delivered by computer, and the hands-on requirement is a separate event, listed independently as the "Pre-Licensure Practical Exam (Part IV)." The exam is aimed at chiropractic students nearing the end of their clinical training and at graduates completing the examination requirements that state licensing boards use when issuing a license to practice. The NBCE Part II study guide has 6 sections and about 1,548 words.
01General Diagnosis
General diagnosis is a structured process: chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical/surgical/family/social history, review of systems, vital signs, and a focused physical exam. Characterize symptoms by onset, location, quality, severity, timing, aggravating and relieving factors, and associated symptoms.
280 words, about 1 min02Neuromusculoskeletal Diagnosis
Neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis combines regional inspection, palpation, range of motion, orthopedic provocative tests, neurologic screening, and functional assessment. Localize the lesion by anatomy: dermatomes for sensory findings, myotomes for motor weakness, and deep tendon reflexes for reflex arcs.
267 words, about 1 min03Diagnostic Imaging
Diagnostic imaging should answer a specific clinical question. Select the modality based on the suspected tissue and urgency: radiography for bone alignment and gross pathology, CT for complex bone trauma, MRI for soft tissue and neurologic detail, and ultrasound for selected soft-tissue or vascular questions.
276 words, about 1 min04Chiropractic Technique
Chiropractic technique requires patient selection, informed consent, positioning, directed force, and reassessment. Understand the difference between manipulation and mobilization, the role of segmental dysfunction, and the importance of biomechanics and comfort.
258 words, about 1 min05Principles and Practice of Chiropractic
Practice principles emphasize evidence-based, patient-centered care: diagnosis, informed consent, shared decision-making, conservative management, and outcome reassessment. Understand natural history, the biopsychosocial model, scope of practice, ethics, and documentation.
232 words, about 1 min06Associated Clinical Sciences
Associated clinical sciences connect chiropractic practice to internal medicine, pharmacology, laboratory medicine, emergency care, and behavioral health. Know common systemic presentations, medication effects, laboratory patterns, and referral thresholds.
235 words, about 1 min