Quick answers: NBCE Part I
What is on the NBCE Part 1 exam?
NBCE Part I tests the basic sciences in six domains, weighted by the NBCE's test plan: Spinal Anatomy 22%, General Anatomy 20%, Physiology 18%, Pathology 16%, Chemistry 13%, and Microbiology 11%. The exam has 255 questions in total, given in two sessions of three domains each.
How long is NBCE Part 1, and what is the format?
Part I is a computer-based test with 255 questions in two sessions. The NBCE allots 3 hours 26 minutes of testing time inside a 4-hour appointment that also includes a tutorial, an end-of-exam survey, and an optional 15-minute break after the first session. It is given at chiropractic colleges and Prometric centers.
When is NBCE Part 1 offered?
Parts I, II, III, and Physiotherapy share one computer-based calendar. The NBCE lists ten 2026 windows: Jan 10-25, Feb 14-Mar 1, Mar 14-29, Apr 11-26, Jun 6-21, Jul 11-26, Aug 8-23, Sep 12-27, Oct 10-25, and Nov 7-22. Scheduling closes 17 days before your test date.
Who can take NBCE Part 1?
Students at an eligible chiropractic college can take Part I in their second year, and the college registrar must approve the application. The related courses must be finished by the application deadline. Graduates and retakers have extra requirements, and a passed Part I can't be retaken unless a state licensing authority requires it.
How is NBCE Part 1 scored, and what is a passing score?
Scores are scaled from 125 to 800, and a score of at least 375 passes Part I. Questions are weighted by difficulty, so a score is not a percent correct. The NBCE says scoring runs across all six domains, where a surplus in one can offset a minimal shortfall in another. Scores are generally available online within about four weeks of the exam.
How do I study for NBCE Part 1?
Build the plan from the NBCE's weights. Split study hours roughly in proportion to each domain's share (Spinal Anatomy at 22% gets about twice the time of Microbiology at 11%), take a baseline test in every domain, then shift hours to your weakest domains and retest. Finish with full-length, timed practice. The step-by-step plan is below.
Where can I find NBCE Part 1 practice questions?
The NBCE sells official sample tests: 50 questions per domain for $15 each, or $60 for all domains, with an overall score but no answer review. ChiroEDU's Part 1 practice exams are a separate product: 24 fifty-question tests (four attempts per domain) with item analysis.
Facts in this block come from the NBCE: Part I · Part I Test Plan · Eligibility · Dates · Scoring · Sample test fees · CBT changes FAQ. Checked September 30, 2026.
What Part I covers
Part I is a computer-based test of the basic sciences: 255 questions across six domains, split into two sessions. The NBCE's test plan weights each domain as a percentage of the exam. The last two columns below are simple arithmetic on those weights (weight times 255 questions, and weight times an 80-hour study budget), so treat them as planning guides, not NBCE numbers.
| Session | Domain | Share of exam | About how many of 255 questions | Hours in an example 80-hour plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | General Anatomy | 20% | 51 | 16 |
| Spinal Anatomy | 22% | 56 | 18 | |
| Physiology | 18% | 46 | 14 | |
| Session 2 | Chemistry | 13% | 33 | 10 |
| Pathology | 16% | 41 | 13 | |
| Microbiology | 11% | 28 | 9 |
Spinal Anatomy is the single biggest domain, and the two anatomy domains together are 42% of the exam. Inside each domain, the test plan spreads weight fairly evenly: its subtopics run from 10% to 19% each, so no single chapter carries a domain. Breadth matters more than depth in one corner.
Format, timing, and scoring
- Testing time: 3 hours 26 minutes of actual testing, inside a roughly 4-hour appointment that includes a tutorial, a survey, and an optional 15-minute break.
- Scoring: scaled from 125 to 800. The passing score is 375. The NBCE weights items by difficulty, so it isn't a simple percent-correct. Per the NBCE's 2024 FAQ on computer-based testing changes, Part I and Part II are scored across all six domains together: a surplus in one domain can offset a minimal deficit in another, but not a significant one.
- Order and navigation: items are grouped by domain, the timer covers all six domains, and there is an optional break halfway. The NBCE's computer-based exams are forward-only: you answer each question before moving on and can't return to earlier ones.
- Results: the NBCE posts a score-release date for each testing window (for example, October 12, 2026 for the September 12 to 27 window) and says scores are generally available within four weeks of the exam.
- Fee: $710 (NBCE fee schedule).
When to take it
You're eligible for Part I in your second year at an eligible chiropractic college, with your registrar's approval. In 2026 the NBCE runs Part I in ten computer-based windows between January and November (there is no May window), each with an on-campus weekend. Scheduling closes 17 days before your test date, and changes get more expensive the closer you get: free 30+ days out, $50 at 18 to 29 days, and no changes inside 17 days. The NBCE's published schedule covers 2026; check its dates page for 2027 windows.
How to study for NBCE Part 1
Knowing the material and performing on a timed, six-domain computer exam are two different skills. The plan below uses only what the NBCE publishes (weights, format, timing) and keeps the rest to ordinary test-prep practice.
- Start with the NBCE's own documents. Print the Part I test plan and check off subtopics as you cover them. The NBCE builds Part I from its reference texts, which are the same books most colleges teach from.
- Take a baseline test in each of the six domains. One 50-question test per domain shows where you actually stand. The NBCE's sample tests and ChiroEDU's domain exams both work for this.
- Split your hours by weight. Start proportional to the table above: with 80 hours, about 18 go to Spinal Anatomy and about 9 to Microbiology. Then move hours away from domains where your baseline is strong and toward the ones where it isn't.
- Cover subtopics evenly. Because no subtopic is worth more than 19% of its domain, skipping one costs you a predictable slice of the test.
- Review every miss and every lucky guess. A missed question only helps if you learn why the right answer is right. Write the reason down.
- Retest each weak domain after a round of study. If the score doesn't move, change how you're studying, not just how long.
- Rehearse the real clock. In the last two weeks, sit at a computer with no phone for the full sequence: three domains, a short break, three more domains, about 3 hours 26 minutes of testing in all.
- Work backward from the deadline. Scheduling closes 17 days before the test date, so pick your window first, then set your study calendar.
About outside materials: the NBCE states that third-party courses and study guides are not affiliated with or endorsed by it. Its own sample tests run $15 per domain and report one overall score, with no review of individual answers.
How ChiroEDU's Part 1 course fits the plan
ChiroEDU's Part 1 course follows the same structure as the plan above: an exam for each of the six domains, four attempts at every domain, 24 total 50-question tests, and a detailed item analysis after each one. Use the first attempt as your baseline (step 2), the later attempts as your retests (step 6), and the item analysis for step 5. For daily reps between exams, ChiroQuiz covers the Part 1 domains with instant explanations. ChiroEDU is independent of the NBCE.
After Part I
Part I is also a prerequisite for Part III and Part IV. See the full NBCE exam sequence, or move on to the Part II guide.
Sources: NBCE Part I · Part I Test Plan · Part I Eligibility · Fee Schedule · Understanding Scores · Deadlines · CBT changes FAQ (2024). Checked September 30, 2026; confirm dates and fees with the NBCE before you register. ChiroEDU is independent and not affiliated with the NBCE.