Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations

The Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) are professional licensing exams administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Clinical-level students and graduates naturopathic medical schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) are required to pass the exams before being permitted to practice naturopathic medicine in a U.S. state or Canadian province.[1] (Some naturopaths who graduated prior to the advent of the NPLEX were licensed by examinations administered by state licensing boards).

NPLEX Part I -- Biomedical Sciences Examination

Part I is a biomedical sciences examination which consists of 200 multiple-choice questions.[2] Eligibility for the exam requires completion of biomedical sciences coursework at an CNME-approved naturopathic medicine program.[3] The exam covers the following topics:

NPLEX Part II -- Clinical Science Examination

Part II is a three-day, examination of naturopathic clinical sciences; it includes 3 main sections and 2 electives, organized in clinical cases with several multiple-choice questions about each case.[2] The exam covers the following topics:

Clinical Elective Sections (for certificate or licensure in some U.S. states)

Locations

Both the Part I and Part II examinations are offered twice a year in seven locations in North America:[4][5]

Performance and quality

Very little is known about the NPLEX exam, and it has been called a mystery by those outside the naturopathic community.[6][7] No external review has been conducted on the NPLEX to assess whether examinees can safely and effectively diagnose and treat disease using established medical standards.[8] In 2014, sample questions from the NPLEX Blue Print and Study Guide published by NABNE were entered into the public record of the Colorado state legislature.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cherkin, Daniel C.; Deyo, Richard A.; Sherman, Karen J.; Hart, L. Gary; Street, Janet H.; Hrbek, Andrea; Cramer, Elaine; Milliman, Bruce; Booker, Jennifer; Mootz, Robert; Barassi, James; Khan, Janet R.; Kaptchuk, Ted J.; Eisenberg, David M. (2002). "Characteristics of Licensed Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, and Naturopathic Physicians". Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 15 (5): 378–390.
  2. 1 2 "NPLEX Examination Overview". North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. Retrieved August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Eligibility Requirements". North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. Retrieved Aug 2015.
  4. ↑ "Exam Schedules". North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners website. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  5. ↑ "Test Sites". North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners website. Retrieved 2013-09-12.
  6. ↑ Atwood IV, Kimball. C. (March 26, 2004). "Naturopathy, pseudoscience, and medicine: Myths and fallacies vs truth". Medscape General Medicine 6 (1): 33. PMC 1140750. PMID 15208545.
  7. ↑ "Testimony In Opposition to H. 2003 and S. 1091: An Act to Create a Board of Registration in Naturopathy". Massachusetts Medical Society. Massachusetts Medical Society. Retrieved Aug 2015.
  8. ↑ Society for Science-Based Medicine (2014). Report to the Maryland Board of Physicians Naturopathic Advisory Committee: Recommendations for Naturopathic Regulation (Report). Retrieved 2015.
  9. ↑ "BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1075" (PDF). CLICS Committee Summary Database. Colorado Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. Retrieved 2015.

External links

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