The August 2026 NPLEX application period will be open April 1 - May 1, 2026
NABNE
- Qualifies applicants to take the NPLEX
- Administers the NPLEX with it’s partner Prometric
- Sends exam results to examinees and regulatory authorities
- Manually verifies responses on answers sheets upon request
NPLEX
- Surveys the profession to determine the competencies that an entry-level ND must master
- Publishes the competencies on which examinees will be tested
- Develops the NPLEX
- Establishes the passing score
- Scores the NPLEX
States and provinces in the US, US Territories, and Canada (with the exception of Ontario) that regulate the naturopathic medical profession recognize NABNE as the examining body and the NPLEX as the examinations that will ensure that naturopathic physicians/doctors who are licensed/registered meet minimal competency standards. NABNE and NPLEX have been endorsed by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND), and the naturopathic medical programs recognized by the CNME.
NABNE (the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners) is an independent, nonprofit organization formed as a service to the naturopathic profession and the agencies that license/register naturopathic physicians.
The purpose of NABNE is to determine the eligibility of applicants to take the NPLEX, to administer the NPLEX to examinees, and to send exam results and transcripts to regulatory authorities. The institutions that regulate naturopathic medicine grant authority to NABNE to be the examining body for the naturopathic medical profession through their agreement to use the results of the NPLEX in their determination of a candidate’s eligibility for licensure (US) or registration (Canada, with the exception of Ontario).
The NABNE Board works with an Advisory Council comprised of representatives of:
- The Federation of Naturopathic Medicine Regulatory Authorities (FNMRA) representing the state/provincial naturopathic regulatory authorities
- The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)
- The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC)
- The Council of Chief Academic and Clinical Officers (CCACO) representing the eight CNME-approved naturopathic medical programs
- The Naturopathic Medical Student Association (NMSA)
- The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
- The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)
- The naturopathic profession at large
NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to prepare valid and reliable biomedical science examinations (Part I) that assess the readiness of students to enter the clinical phase of training, and clinical science examinations (Part II) that assess the entry-level competence of candidates who plan to become licensed/registered naturopathic physicians.
The purpose of NPLEX is to provide excellent board examinations that are reliable and will provide a valid assessment of a candidate’s readiness to be a safe pracitioner. NPLEX follows the testing standards set forth in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education). These are the standards endorsed by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR), a North American organization, of which NABNE and NPLEX are members.
Both NABNE and NPLEX tax returns are available upon request.
THE NPLEX EXAMINATIONS
The NPLEX exams are competency-based. A competency-based exam is an assessment designed to evaluate ability to perform specific skills or tasks in a profession. focusing on a practical application of knowledge rather than just memorization. The exams utilize clinical scenarios as a framework for demonstrating proficiency in naturopathic medical principles and application.
The Part I Biomedical Science Examination (BSE) may be taken after you have completed all biomedical science coursework at an approved naturopathic medical program (ANMP). The purpose of the BSE is to ensure that the student has acquired the foundation in biomedical sciences that is essential to clinical training, as well as for practice as a naturopathic medical doctor.
The Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination (CCSE) may be taken after you have passed the Part I Examination. The purpose of the CCSE is to ensure that a graduate has acquired the broad foundational knowledge to practice as minimally competent naturopathic medical doctor. Minimal competence is the term used for professional licensing exams, to gauge the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary to safely practice as a licensed/registered naturopathic medical doctor.
The Part II – Elective Examinations (EEs) in Acupuncture (AEE), Elective Pharmacology (EPE), Minor Surgery (MSEE), and Parenteral Medicine (PMEE) assess minimal competence in additional areas that may not be addressed in the CCSE. You might be required to take some or all Part II Elective Examinations or to take additional examinations administered by a regulatory authority.
NPLEX is committed to creating exams that are free from bias. While we recognize the impact of individual identies (icluding, but not limited to, genetic ancestry, gender identity, sexuality, ability, socioeconomic status, and cultural heritage) on health, every effort has been made to avoid reproducing sterotypes that lead to disparities in healthcare.