For chiropractic students across the nation, National Board exams can be a source of anxiety and stress as they seek to master the material necessary to succeed. Though National Boards may not be the event D.C. students most look forward to on their calendars, they represent a major step forward for the chiropractic profession, allowing Chiropractic to be differentiated as a separate entity from medical licensure but still credible and upholding uniform high standards for chiropractors.

Prior to the first exams administered in 1965 by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), chiropractic candidates took the same basic science exams as medical doctor candidates. Each state created its own exam, so testing was not standard and did not uniformly uphold the highest standards.

To better serve the public, the NBCE was created, and today, all 50 states and the District of Columbia accept or require National Board exams as part of chiropractic licensure.

The National Board exams, as they are administered today, have 4 separate parts. Life University has an overall 2025 NBCE Pass rate of 86.5 percent, but our students particularly excel in the practical exam portion, Part IV, with a 93.3 percent pass rate. That exceeds the national average by over 7 percent.

We are so proud to support our students as they find success in National Boards and beyond, as we celebrate and recognize their hard work to prove their knowledge and abilities as chiropractors.

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