SPECIAL PURPOSES EXAMINATION FOR CHIROPRACTIC A post-licensure exam for licensed or previously licensed practitioners from the from the NBCE

OVERVIEW

What Is SPEC? Special Purposes Examination For Chiropractic Special Purposes Examination For Chiropractic SPEC assesses competency and licensing eligibility in areas generally encountered in chiropractic practice: clinical competency, patient evaluation and case management. SPEC assesses competency and licensing eligibility in areas generally encountered in chiropractic practice: clinical competency, patient evaluation and case management. SPEC is to be used at the request/requirement of state licensing boards. SPEC is to be used at the request/requirement of state licensing boards.

When to Use SPEC Again, SPEC must be authorized by state licensing agencies for use in their jurisdictions. Again, SPEC must be authorized by state licensing agencies for use in their jurisdictions. Circumstances to use SPEC include: Circumstances to use SPEC include: Disciplinary action, including assessment of clinical competency Disciplinary action, including assessment of clinical competency Suspension, revocation or licensure lapse Suspension, revocation or licensure lapse State-to-state reciprocity/endorsement State-to-state reciprocity/endorsement

What SPEC is Not SPEC is not for those who are entering practice for the first time. SPEC is not for those who are entering practice for the first time. SPEC is not for initial licensing purposes. SPEC is not for initial licensing purposes. SPEC is not for routine license renewal. SPEC is not for routine license renewal. SPEC does not replace NBCE Parts I, II, III and IV. SPEC does not replace NBCE Parts I, II, III and IV.

ADMINISTRATION

Administration of the Exams SPEC is a computerized exam. SPEC is a computerized exam. It is offered six times per year at Pearson Professional Centers located throughout the U.S. It is offered six times per year at Pearson Professional Centers located throughout the U.S. Applications and other required forms are available online Applications and other required forms are available online

Exam Administration Details SPEC requires approximately three hours of test administration time (two equal sessions of 90 minutes each). SPEC requires approximately three hours of test administration time (two equal sessions of 90 minutes each). Both sessions must be completed in order to receive a score from the NBCE. Both sessions must be completed in order to receive a score from the NBCE.

2015 Exam Fees & Dates SPEC Fee: $1500 SPEC Fee: $1500 Exam dates for 2015: Exam dates for 2015: Examination Date Application Deadline September 28-October 3, 2015 September 3, 2015 November 30-December 5 November 5, 2015 Exam dates for 2016 available soon

APPLICATION

Applicant Eligibility To establish eligibility, individuals must meet all of the following requirements: To establish eligibility, individuals must meet all of the following requirements: The applicant must hold or have held a license to practice chiropractic. Please note: the license may have lapsed or been suspended or revoked, etc. The applicant must hold or have held a license to practice chiropractic. Please note: the license may have lapsed or been suspended or revoked, etc.

Eligibility Eligibility continued The applicant must provide written authorization from a state or international licensing agency. The applicant must provide written authorization from a state or international licensing agency. This authorization may be in the form of a requirement or request. This authorization may be in the form of a requirement or request. Please note that the NBCE does not limit the number of times a person may take SPEC; individual licensing agency policies may, however, limit recognition of multiple scores.

To Apply Application is available at Application is available at Examinee will need to create a user account. Examinee will need to create a user account. A completed and signed application must be mailed with fees to the NBCE. A completed and signed application must be mailed with fees to the NBCE. The application must include a SPEC Authorization and Transcript Request completed and signed by the licensing agency, bearing an official state/national seal or stamp. The application must include a SPEC Authorization and Transcript Request completed and signed by the licensing agency, bearing an official state/national seal or stamp.

Test Accommodations The NBCE and Pearson VUE make every attempt to honor requests for applicants who require special testing arrangements due to a physical or learning disability, including temporary limitations. The NBCE and Pearson VUE make every attempt to honor requests for applicants who require special testing arrangements due to a physical or learning disability, including temporary limitations. To view specific documentation required for test accommodations, please view the brochure at To view specific documentation required for test accommodations, please view the brochure at

PREPARATION

SPEC Test Plan The SPEC test plan is derived from information gathered from a practice analysis survey conducted by the NBCE. The SPEC test plan is derived from information gathered from a practice analysis survey conducted by the NBCE. The practice analysis survey is updated every five years, with the most recent survey results published in early The practice analysis survey is updated every five years, with the most recent survey results published in early 2015.

SPEC Test Plan SPEC contains multiple-choice questions selected by a committee that includes state regulatory board members. SPEC contains multiple-choice questions selected by a committee that includes state regulatory board members. SPEC includes clinical case presentations requiring the examinee to demonstrate the appropriate clinical understanding and judgments required in unsupervised general chiropractic practice. SPEC includes clinical case presentations requiring the examinee to demonstrate the appropriate clinical understanding and judgments required in unsupervised general chiropractic practice.

SPEC Test Plan Weightings Topics include Topics include Patient interview (16%) Patient interview (16%) Physical examination (11%) Physical examination (11%) Neuromusculoskeletal examination (13%) Neuromusculoskeletal examination (13%) X-ray examination (11%) X-ray examination (11%) Clinical lab and special studies (6%) Clinical lab and special studies (6%) Diagnosis or clinical impression (12%) Diagnosis or clinical impression (12%) Chiropractic techniques (11%) Chiropractic techniques (11%) Supportive techniques (8%) Supportive techniques (8%) Case intervention strategies (12%) Case intervention strategies (12%)

Preparing for SPEC A thorough review of the subjects to be tested is the most helpful preparation. A thorough review of the subjects to be tested is the most helpful preparation. Suggested reference texts are available at Suggested reference texts are available at A sample test is available on the NBCE website: A sample test is available on the NBCE website: The sample test costs $15 and consists of 50 multiple choice questions. The sample test costs $15 and consists of 50 multiple choice questions.

SCORING

SPEC Scores The NBCE recommends a passing score of 375. The NBCE recommends a passing score of 375. Scores are mailed directly to examinees within three weeks of the exam date. Scores are mailed directly to examinees within three weeks of the exam date. Scores are also sent to the state board that initially requested/required that the examinee take SPEC. The state has the sole determination of how SPEC scores are used in their licensing of chiropractors. Scores are also sent to the state board that initially requested/required that the examinee take SPEC. The state has the sole determination of how SPEC scores are used in their licensing of chiropractors.

Score Reporting Scores are reported approximately three weeks following the exam. The state authorizing the SPEC exam will receive the score. Additionally scores will be posted to the examinee’s MyNBCE user account ( The NBCE recommends a passing score of 375. If the score is below 375, the examinee will be required to retake both sessions.

To Find Out More… Visit the NBCE website at Visit the NBCE website at Call us at Call us at