SPECIAL PURPOSES SPECIAL PURPOSES EXAMINATION FOR EXAMINATION FOR

CHIROPRACTICCHIROPRACTIC

A post-licensure exam for licensed A post-licensure exam for licensed or previously licensed or previously licensed

practitionerspractitioners

from the from the NBCE

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

What Is SPEC?What Is SPEC?

Special Purposes Examination For Special Purposes Examination For ChiropracticChiropractic SPEC assesses competency and SPEC assesses competency and

licensing eligibility in areas generally licensing eligibility in areas generally encountered in chiropractic practice: encountered in chiropractic practice: clinical competency, patient clinical competency, patient evaluation and case management.evaluation and case management.

SPEC is to be used at the SPEC is to be used at the request/requirement of state request/requirement of state licensing boards.licensing boards.

When to Use SPECWhen to Use SPEC

Again, SPEC must be authorized by Again, SPEC must be authorized by state licensing agencies for use in state licensing agencies for use in their jurisdictions.their jurisdictions.

Circumstances to use SPEC include:Circumstances to use SPEC include: Disciplinary action, including Disciplinary action, including

assessment of clinical competencyassessment of clinical competency Suspension, revocation or licensure Suspension, revocation or licensure

lapselapse State-to-state reciprocity/endorsementState-to-state reciprocity/endorsement

What SPEC is What SPEC is NotNot

SPEC is SPEC is notnot for those who are entering for those who are entering practice for the first time.practice for the first time.

SPEC is SPEC is notnot for initial licensing purposes. for initial licensing purposes. SPEC isSPEC is notnot for routine license renewal. for routine license renewal. SPEC does SPEC does notnot replace NBCE Parts I, II, replace NBCE Parts I, II,

III and IV.III and IV.

ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION

Administration of the Administration of the ExamsExams

SPEC is a computerized exam. SPEC is a computerized exam. It is offered six times per year at It is offered six times per year at

Pearson Professional Centers Pearson Professional Centers located throughout the U.S. located throughout the U.S.

Applications and other required Applications and other required forms are available onlineforms are available online

http://mynbce.org/prepare/spec

Exam Administration Exam Administration DetailsDetails

SPEC requires approximately three SPEC requires approximately three hours of test administration time hours of test administration time (two equal sessions of 90 minutes (two equal sessions of 90 minutes each). each).

Both sessions must be completed in Both sessions must be completed in order to receive a score from the order to receive a score from the NBCE. NBCE.

2015 Exam Fees & Dates2015 Exam Fees & Dates

SPEC Fee: SPEC Fee: $1500 $1500 Exam dates for 2015:Exam dates for 2015:

Examination DateExamination Date Application Application DeadlineDeadline

September 28-October September 28-October 3, 20153, 2015

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015

November 30-December November 30-December 55

November 5, 2015November 5, 2015

Exam dates for 2016 Exam dates for 2016 available soon available soon

APPLICATIONAPPLICATION

Applicant EligibilityApplicant Eligibility

To establish eligibility, individuals To establish eligibility, individuals must meet all of the following must meet all of the following requirements:requirements: The applicant must hold or have The applicant must hold or have

held a license to practice held a license to practice chiropractic. Please note: the chiropractic. Please note: the license may have lapsed or been license may have lapsed or been suspended or revoked, etc.suspended or revoked, etc.

Eligibility Eligibility continued

The applicant must provide written The applicant must provide written authorization from a state or authorization from a state or international licensing agency. international licensing agency. This authorization may be in the This authorization may be in the form of a requirement or request.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 ApplyTo Apply

Application is available at Application is available at www.mynbce.org Examinee will need to create a user Examinee will need to create a user

account.account. A completed and signed application must A completed and signed application must

be mailed with fees to the NBCE.be mailed with fees to the NBCE. The application must include a SPEC The application must include a SPEC

Authorization and Transcript Request Authorization and Transcript Request completed and signed by the licensing completed and signed by the licensing agency, bearing an official state/national agency, bearing an official state/national seal or stamp. seal or stamp.

Test AccommodationsTest Accommodations

The NBCE and Pearson VUE make The NBCE and Pearson VUE make every attempt to honor requests for every attempt to honor requests for applicants who require special testing applicants who require special testing arrangements due to a physical or arrangements due to a physical or learning disability, including temporary learning disability, including temporary limitations. limitations.

To view specific documentation To view specific documentation required for test accommodations, required for test accommodations, please view the brochure at please view the brochure at www.mynbce.org. .

PREPARATIONPREPARATION

SPEC Test PlanSPEC Test Plan

The SPEC test plan is derived from The SPEC test plan is derived from information gathered from a practice information gathered from a practice analysis survey conducted by the analysis survey conducted by the NBCE. NBCE.

The practice analysis survey is The practice analysis survey is updated every five years, with the updated every five years, with the most recent survey results published most recent survey results published in early 2015. in early 2015.

SPEC Test PlanSPEC Test Plan

SPEC contains multiple-choice SPEC contains multiple-choice questions selected by a committee that questions selected by a committee that includes state regulatory board includes state regulatory board members.members.

SPEC includes clinical case SPEC includes clinical case presentations requiring the examinee to presentations requiring the examinee to demonstrate the appropriate clinical demonstrate the appropriate clinical understanding and judgments required understanding and judgments required in unsupervised general chiropractic in unsupervised general chiropractic practice. practice.

SPEC Test Plan SPEC Test Plan WeightingsWeightings

Topics includeTopics 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 SPECPreparing for SPEC

A thorough review of the subjects to be A thorough review of the subjects to be tested is the most helpful preparation.tested is the most helpful preparation.

Suggested reference texts are available Suggested reference texts are available at www.mynbce.org.at www.mynbce.org.

A sample test is available on the NBCE A sample test is available on the NBCE website: https://sampleexams.nbce.org/. website: https://sampleexams.nbce.org/.

The sample test costs $15 and consists The sample test costs $15 and consists of 50 multiple choice questions.of 50 multiple choice questions.

SCORINGSCORING

SPEC ScoresSPEC Scores The NBCE recommends a passing The NBCE recommends a passing

score of 375. score of 375. Scores are mailed directly to Scores are mailed directly to

examinees within three weeks of the examinees within three weeks of the exam date. exam date.

Scores are also sent to the state Scores are also sent to the state board that initially requested/required board that initially requested/required that the examinee take SPEC. The that the examinee take SPEC. The state has the sole determination of state has the sole determination of how SPEC scores are used in their how SPEC scores are used in their licensing of chiropractors. licensing of chiropractors.

Score ReportingScore 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 (www.mynbce.org).

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…To Find Out More…

Visit the NBCE website at Visit the NBCE website at www.mynbce.org..

Call us at 1-800-964-6223.Call us at 1-800-964-6223.