ADMITTANCE TO THE EXAMINATIONS

Because the NPLEX Examinations are administered in public facilities, NABNE must comply with the policies of sponsoring institutions, many of which ban the use of scented personal products. NABNE has adopted a fragrance-free policy at all test sites. Due to chemical sensitivities of other examinees and testing personnel, we ask that you refrain from using fragrances (such as essential oils, perfume, after-shave, and cologne) or strongly scented personal products (such as powder, hair spray, deodorant, etc.) during the days of examination. If you use noticeably scented products, the proctor may refuse to admit you to the testing room.

Before you leave home to go to the test site, be sure you have your current government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver’s license, government-issued identification card, or passport), and a printed copy of your Registration Ticket. Plan to bring a face mask, which you will be required to wear at all times once you have entered the test site. If you don’t have a face mask, you will not be allowed to enter the testing room. You may bring a pair of disposable gloves if you wish.

You are expected to be at the test site and ready to check in at the BEGINNING of the Admission and Seating time indicated on the exam schedule.  This will ensure that you have time to check in, be seated, and hear instructions before the testing period is scheduled to begin. If you arrive after the Admission and Seating time indicated on the exam schedule, you will not be admitted to take the current or subsequent section of the examination, your results from a section you took earlier in the current administration will be nullified, and you will forfeit all exam fees.

You will be admitted into the testing room only if you have been approved to take the examination(s) and have presented a printed copy of your Registration Ticket and one piece of current photo identification to the proctor. The first and last names on your photo identification must exactly match the first and last names on your Registration Ticket. Because you are not required to include your middle name on the application, it will not appear on your Registration Ticket.

You should keep your Registration Ticket and photo identification with you at all times during the testing period. You will need to refer to your Registration Ticket when filling in the identification information on every answer sheet you complete.

TESTING PROCEDURE

The Part I – Biomedical Science Examination will be administered in two sections, according to the Part I – Biomedical Science Exam Schedules. You will be allowed 2½ hours (150 minutes) to complete each 100-item section.

The Part II – Clinical Science Examination will be administered in three sections, according to the Part II – Clinical Science Exam Schedules. You will be allowed 3½ hours (210 minutes) to complete 135 items in each section of the Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination and 1½ hours (90 minutes) to complete 75 items in the Part II – Clinical Elective Examinations (Acupuncture, Pharmacology, Minor Surgery, and/or Parenteral Medicine).

Before the testing period begins, you will receive an answer sheet and exam booklet, and will be given instructions by the proctor. You must not open the exam booklet until you are instructed by the proctor to do so.

After the testing period begins, the proctor will write the beginning time and the ending time on the white board. In addition, the proctor will verbally announce when there are 60, 30, 15, 5, and 1 minute(s) remaining in the testing period.1 Pay attention to the announcements and manage your time accordingly, as you will not be allowed to transfer answers from the test booklet to your answer sheet after the proctor has announced the end of the testing period.

During the testing period, you will be permitted to leave the room only if you are accompanied by a proctor. Before you leave the room for any reason, you will be required to turn in all exam materials to a proctor. It is important to remember that you will not be given extra time to make up for time lost due to breaks you take during the testing period.

To avoid common errors associated with completing the exam answer sheet, you should keep these guidelines in mind:

  • Use only the pencil provided by NABNE.
  • Complete all personal identification sections of the answer sheet using information EXACTLY as it appears on your Registration Ticket. Completing this information correctly and consistently on every answer sheet will ensure that your results are attributed to you.
  • Fill in the bubbles darkly and completely. A mark that is too light or fills only part of the bubble could be interpreted by the optical mark reader as unanswered, and you might not be given credit for your intended answer.
  • Record ALL your answers on the answer sheet. You may write in your exam booklet, but you will be given credit for only those answers you have recorded on your answer sheet. Exam booklets are shredded after they are returned to NABNE.
  • Make sure you have marked your answer for each item on the correct line of your answer sheet. For example, marking your answer for item #4 in a bubble on the line designated for item #5 will cause all your remaining answers will be marked on the incorrect line.
  • Erase all stray marks or smudges on your answer sheet.
  • Do not fold or bend the answer sheet.

Some of the items will be very challenging.  You do not need to answer every item correctly to pass. While you should have no trouble completing the entire examination in the time allotted, some exam items will require more time to answer than others, and spending too much time on one item may cause you to feel pressured to speed through the rest.  When you encounter an item for which you do not know the answer with certainty, try to eliminate some of the response alternatives.  If, after eliminating one or two of the response alternatives, the correct answer is still not apparent, mark your best guess from among the remaining choices and return to the item later if time allows.  It is in your best interest to answer every item, even if it is a guess, because any item on the answer sheet you leave blank will be marked as incorrect.

At the end of the testing period, you will be instructed to close your exam booklet and put down your pencil. After the proctor has announced the end of the testing period, you will not be permitted to mark additional responses on your answer sheet. 

After you have completed the examination, you will be allowed to leave the room when the proctor has verified that you have turned in your answer sheet and exam booklet, and have signed and dated the Affirmation of Compliance.

1 If you choose to wear earplugs, it is your responsibility to track the time remaining in the testing period.