Who is eligible to take the NPLEX?

See Eligibility Requirements

Which naturopathic medical programs are approved?

See Approved Naturopathic Medical Programs

Why are students or graduates from only certain naturopathic medical programs eligible?

To be eligible to take the NPLEX, an individual must have completed educational requirements at one of the naturopathic medical education programs currently accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). The Council’s in-depth accreditation process promotes high-quality naturopathic medical education and training that leads to safe and effective practice of naturopathic medicine. The Council’s educational standards provide the basis for licensing/registering naturopathic physicians/doctors in the US and Canada. The CNME is recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit doctoral programs in naturopathic medicine. To become an approved naturopathic medical education program (ANMP), the school must:

• Provide two years of graduate-level biomedical science coursework as a foundation for clinical training
• Meet standard requirements for appropriate curriculum and clinical experience
• Give students a thorough knowledge of diagnostic techniques that can only be acquired through direct contact with actual patients
• Require supervised clinical practice on patients seeking naturopathic medical care
• Have been accredited or pre-accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)

If I have completed a medical program outside of the US or Canada, am I eligible to take the NPLEX?

See Eligibility Requirements

How do I apply to take the NPLEX?

See Application Process

Can I be assured that the information I give to NABNE with my application is kept confidential?

See Confidentiality

Does NABNE require transcripts from my naturopathic medical college or undergraduate college?

NABNE does not require transcripts from your undergraduate college or from your naturopathic medical college. NABNE does require a letter verifying that you have completed all academic requirements appropriate to the examination(s) you are applying to take. NABNE will be working directly with the registrar from your ANMP to receive the letter required to determine your eligibility to take the NPLEX. When NABNE has received this letter and all materials required to complete your application, you will be approved to take the examination(s) and your online registration status will be updated accordingly.

When will I know if I have been approved to take the examination(s)?

See Confirming Your Eligibility

Can I postpone my examination(s) until the next administration?

See Cancellation

How do I submit a change of address?

See Address Change Form

How do I report a name change?

See Name Change Form

Where can I get an Examinee Handbook?

See Examinee Handbooks

How much does it cost to take the NPLEX?

See Fees

How do I apply to take the NPLEX?

See Application Process

Can I be assured that the information I give to NABNE with my application is kept confidential?

See Confidentiality

Does NABNE require transcripts from my naturopathic medical college or undergraduate college?

NABNE does not require transcripts from your undergraduate college or from your naturopathic medical college. NABNE does require a letter verifying that you have completed all academic requirements appropriate to the examination(s) you are applying to take. NABNE will be working directly with the registrar from your ANMP to receive the letter required to determine your eligibility to take the NPLEX. When NABNE has received this letter and all materials required to complete your application, you will be approved to take the examination(s) and your online registration status will be updated accordingly.

When will I know if I have been approved to take the examination(s)?

See Confirming Your Eligibility

Can I postpone my examination(s) until the next administration?

See Cancellation

How do I submit a change of address?

See Address Change Form

How do I report a name change?

See Name Change Form

How should I study for the examinations?

As part of your application, you will receive a link to a PDF of the current NPLEX Blueprint & Study Guide for the NPLEX examination(s) you have applied to take in the Confirmation Receipt you receive by email. If you are not applying to take the NPLEX but wish to obtain a PDF of the study guide, you may download a copy via the Handbooks & Forms page of the NABNE website.

The NPLEX Blueprint and Study Guides are updated regularly. A study guide downloaded before the current application period may not contain updated blueprint changes.

Many other sources produce study materials, but NPLEX cannot verify whether those materials accurately represent the content of the NPLEX examinations. This does not mean that those materials may not be helpful, it just means that they are not in any way affiliated with NPLEX.

Study guides produced by individuals or organizations not affiliated with NPLEX can be useful in preparing to take the examination(s). NPLEX cannot warrant, however, that the information contained in these materials is representative of the content of the NPLEX examinations.

Are there any practice examinations I can take?

NPLEX does not publish complete practice examinations. The NPLEX Blueprint and Study Guide has a few examples of the types of items you may encounter on an examination. NPLEX recommends that you read through the sample items to get a complete picture of the item formats. Some non-NPLEX preparation courses do provide practice examinations; however, those examinations are not developed by NPLEX, and NPLEX cannot guarantee that they reflect the content of, or adequately prepare you to take, the examination(s).

How do I request a testing accommodation?

Contact NABNE for information you need to request a testing accommodation.

When is the NPLEX administered?

See Important Dates

Where will the NPLEX be administered?

See Exam Administration

What do I need to know about the exam administration?

See Exam Administration

See Testing Regulations

What happens after the exam administration?

See Scoring Process

What will the report of my exam results be like?

See Reporting of Exam Results

Can I appeal to have my scores changed if I fail any examinations?

See Issues and Appeals

Can I find out how students/graduates from each of the approved naturopathic medical programs performed?

NPLEX does not release these statistics to the public. You will need to contact each individual Approved Naturopathic Medical Programs to request this information. 

Is there a limit on the number of times I can take an NPLEX exam?

NABNE does not limit the number of times you can take an NPLEX examination. You may, however, be required to fulfill additional requirements in order to be eligible to take or retake the examination(s) if you:

• Graduated from an ANMP more than five (5) years ago and have not passed both the NPLEX Part I and NPLEX Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination.
  
• Have not passed the NPLEX Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination within ten (10) years of passing the NPLEX Part I – Basic Science Exam Series or Biomedical Science Examination.

If either of these circumstances apply to you, contact NABNE regarding additional eligibility requirements.

What is the difference between a report of exam results and a transcript?

• A report of exam results contains the exam results from a single NPLEX exam administration (e.g., only the results from NPLEX examinations you took in the current NPLEX administration).
• A transcript contains the exam results from every NPLEX examination you have ever taken.

How do I order Transcripts?

See Transcripts

Is NABNE a licensing board?

NABNE is not a licensing board. NABNE is an examining board. Passing the NPLEX does not guarantee that you will be eligible for licensing/registration in a jurisdiction.

Each regulatory authority has its own unique requirements for licensing/registration and may require that you take additional (non-NPLEX examinations). NABNE is not involved in the preparation, coordination, scheduling, or administration of these examinations.

If I pass the NPLEX, can I be licensed in every jurisdiction?

Jurisdictional requirements take precedence over NABNE policies regarding:

• Waiver of the NPLEX Part I examination requirement (e.g., whether or not the regulatory authority will accept non-NPLEX Part I results, etc.)
• Other (e.g., the number of times an examination may be retaken, etc.)

Check with the regulatory authority in the jurisdiction in which you plan to practice to determine their requirements.

Which states and provinces regulate the naturopathic profession?

See State and Provincial Requirements for Licensure/Registration

How do I find out which NPLEX Examinations are required by each regulatory authority?

See State and Provincial Requirements for Licensure/Registration

How do I contact a regulatory authority?

See State & Provincial Contacts

Is it illegal to practice as a naturopath in an unlicensed state if I have not graduated from a CNME-approved naturopathic program and have not passed the NPLEX?

Diagnosis of diseases/conditions by an unlicensed naturopath is illegal in most states. Although you may be able to prescribe botanical substances, if you cannot diagnose, the treatment may or may not be appropriate. Furthermore, if at some point an unlicensed state or province does pass a naturopathic licensing law, you may no longer be allowed to practice as a naturopath if you are not licensed.