Updated Part III Test Plan
(With Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation/DXI)
The NBCE Part III with DXI exam is composed of three types of test items.
The first two; Traditional multiple-choice (TMCQ), and Extended multiple-choice cases (EMCQ), are outlined below and comprise 80% of the exam content.
Case History - 11%
- Chief complaint
- Present illness
- Past history
- Family history
- Personal and social history
- Review of systems
Physical Examination - 8%
- General survey
- Head and neck examination
- Thorax and lung examination
- Cardiovascular examination
- Breast and axilla examination
- Abdominal examination
- Urogenital examination
- Rectal examination
Neuromusculoskeletal Examination - 12%
- Posture and gait analysis
- Standard spinal and extremity orthopedic procedures
- Standard neurological testing procedures
- Peripheral vascular examination procedures
Diagnostic Imaging - 11%
- Indications and contraindications for diagnostic imaging procedures
- Patient protection and positioning
- Normal anatomy
- Description and interpretation of images
Clinical Laboratory and Special Studies - 7%
- Urinalysis
- Hematology
- Serology
- Blood chemistries
- Stool analysis
- Joint fluid analysis
- Electrophysiologic recordings (EEG, ECG, EMG, and NCV)
Diagnosis or Clinical Impression - 16%
- Patient history
- Physical and neuromusculoskeletal examinations
- Diagnostic imaging
- Clinical laboratory and special studies
Chiropractic Techniques - 11%
- Indications and contraindications for chiropractic care
- Spinal adjustive techniques
- Extremity adjustive techniques
- Skeletal biomechanics
Supportive Interventions - 9%
- Physiotherapy modalities
- Nutrition and diet
- Corrective exercises and rehabilitation
- Protective body mechanics and ergonomics
- Patient education and self-care
- Wellness and lifestyle counseling
Case Management - 15%
- Formulation of a treatment plan and prognosis
- Appropriate procedures for case follow-up and review
- Patient referral and/or co-management
- Clinical documentation and informed consent
The third portion of the Part III with DXI exam is Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI). This section comprises approximately 20% of the exam content.
DXI - Arthritic Disorders - 30%
- Degenerative
- Inflammatory
- Metabolic/Crystalline
DXI - Congenital Anomalies and Skeletal Variants - 15%
- Spinal
- Extraspinal
- Scoliosis
DXI - Trauma - 10%
- Skeletal
- Soft tissue
DXI - Tumors and Tumor-like Processes - 20%
- Benign
- Primary malignant
- Metastatic
- Tumor-like
DXI - Miscellaneous Osteoarticular - 15%
- Hematological/Vascular
- Infections
- Nutritional/Metabolic
- Endocrine
DXI - Soft Tissue - 10%
- Chest
- Abdomen
- Miscellaneous
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