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Exam Administration

The application period for the February 2027 NPLEX administration will be open October 1-30, 2026.

Download the Candidate Handbook!

The Candidate Handbook has the most up-to-date schedules, policies, and examination procedures. The handbook is updated for the current NPLEX administration.

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NPLEX EXAM DATES

See Important Dates.

See Scheduling Your Prometric Testing Appointment

Prometric manages testing appointment scheduling and scheduling support directly. Candidates who have received a Pre-Registration email but experience difficulty scheduling, cannot locate an available appointment, or continue experiencing unresolved scheduling difficulties should contact Prometric directly at smt-operationsteam@prometric.com.

Candidates who believe they did not receive a Pre-Registration email should review spam, junk, and filtered email folders. NABNE has historically recommended using a personal email address rather than a school-issued email address during registration because institutional email filtering systems may block automated emails containing scheduling links.

Prometric Testing Demonstration Site

This is a link to the Prometric testing demonstration site. In this demo of the Prometric testing platform, there is access to a calculator. When taking the NPLEX on the Prometric testing platform, examinees will not have access to this feature.

Click Here

PROMETRIC TEST SITES

In February 2027, the NPLEX will be administered in person only at Prometric testing centers in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. NABNE does not offer online examinations or virtual proctoring.

You can view Prometric testing centers that will be offering the February 2027 NPLEX here: Prometric Testing Centers

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR EXAM DAY

Plan ahead for your exam day by learning what to expect at a Prometric Test Center. Access the information you need to know via the following links:

Prepare for Your Exam Day

Prometric Test Center Policies

Prometric Pre-Approved Items

  • If you need a testing accommodation or item not on the Pre-Approved Items list, you can complete the NABNE Testing Accommodations Request and Evaluator’s Report Form to request testing accommodations.
  • Nursing/breastfeeding candidates may request to bring and use their breast-pumping equipment during the standard break for the NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science Examination only. Requests are required because NABNE needs to let Prometric know in advance to ensure they have the appropriate space available. For this request to be granted, a letter from your treating professional must be submitted directly to NABNE, no later than the current application deadline. You can obtain the Lactation Space Request Form by emailing testingaccommodations@nabne.org.

Prometric Testing Support

Prometric Test Center Closures

Electronic equipment, including cell phones, tablets and laptop computers, may not be brought into the testing room and candidates will not be permitted to access cell phones or other electronic devices during breaks.

Bluetooth-attached electronic medical devices will be permitted in the Prometric testing room only if the Bluetooth connection is disabled and external remote-control devices such as cell phones are silenced and remain outside of the testing room.

 

NPLEX EXAMINATION FORMATS

Part I – Biomedical Science Examination (BSE)

  • The BSE has a total of 200 questions.
  • It is administered in two sections. Both sections are administered on the same day.
  • Each section consists of 100 questions.
    • The entire examination consists of 50 case clusters. Each case provides a brief summary of the case, including the patient’s diagnosis. You are asked four questions on aspects of the biomedical sciences that pertain to that case.
  • You have 2.5 hours to complete each section.
  • You are premitted two unscheduled breaks, up to 10-minutes each, during each section (the testing clock will continue to run). In addition, there is an optional 1-hour break between sections of the examination. For the NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science Examination only, you are permitted to leave the test center and have locker access during the optional 1-hour break between sections.

Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination (CCSE)

  • The CCSE has a total of 400 questions
  • It is administered in three sections over three consecutive days. Each section is administered on a different day.
  • You are required to sit for all three sections.
  • Each section consists of approximately 133 questions.
  • You have 3.5 hours to complete each section.
  • The examination consists of 75-85 clinical summaries, which may include a description of a patient’s chief concern, their medical history, and pertinent objective findings.
  • You are asked a series of four to six questions relating to the clinical summary. There may be some stand-alone questions, but the majority are case-based as described above.
  • You are permitted two unscheduled breaks up to 10-minutes each during each section (the testing clock will continue to run). No locker access is permitted during these unscheduled breaks.

NPLEX Part II – Clinical Elective Examinations (EEs) 

  • Each elective examination consists of 75 questions.
  • Each elective examination is administered during separate days to avoid scheduling conflicts.
  • You have 90 minutes to complete each elective examination.
  • Some of the elective examinations have brief clinical summaries followed by a series of questions, some of the elective examinations have only stand-alone questions, and some have a combination of both.
  • Basic math calculations may appear on the Elective Pharmacology and the Parenteral Medicine Examinations. Approximately 1% of the questions (1 out of 75) may require basic functions such as division or multiplication.
  • You are permitted two unscheduled breaks of up to 10 minutes each during the examination (the testing clock will continue to run). No locker access is permitted during these unscheduled breaks.

AFTER THE EXAMINATIONS

After the examinations have been administered, NPLEX follows an extensive post-test process to ensure that the items on which the examinee’s results are based are fair, valid, and reliable, and that cut scores have been set to appropriately discriminate between the examinees who have met the criteria and those who have not. The post-test analysis (PTA) process involves the NPLEX staff psychometrician, psychometric consultants, ND staff, biomedical and clinical exam chairs, the NPLEX Board, and other ND volunteers.

Due to this comprehensive effort, it takes several weeks to complete the Scoring Process.

NABNE OBLIGATION TO ADMINISTER EXAMINATIONS

Administration by Prometric and Events Beyond NABNE’s Control

Examinations may be delivered at testing centers operated by Prometric or its affiliates. Prometric is an independent contractor and is not an agent of NABNE. Testing disruptions, technical issues, delays, interruptions, cancellations, or other administrative events may occur.

NABNE is not responsible for delays, interruptions, or cancellations caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to technical failures, weather events, public health conditions, or testing center closures. If an examination cannot be administered as scheduled because of such circumstances, NABNE may reschedule the examination or provide another remedy in accordance with its policies.

NABNE Exam Security and Integrity Policy

Misadministration 

A misadministration is any error, event, circumstance, irregularity, or other concern associated with the registration, administration, scoring, or reporting of an examination that may affect the standardized, fair, or secure administration of an exam or the validity or reliability of examination results (“Misadministration”). Misadministration may affect an individual or group of candidates, a test center, or an entire examination administration. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Improper start time;
  • Improper or unauthorized testing accommodations;
  • Power outages or  system disruptions;
  • Weather-related incidents or test center or administration disruptions;
  • Defective equipment or software;
  • Errors in the administration, processing, scoring or reporting of an examination; or
  • Suspected or actual unauthorized access to or disclosure of examination content.

NABNE reserves the right to investigate and respond to actual or suspected Misadministration concerns and to take appropriate action, regardless of whether a candidate caused, contributed to, or benefited from a Misadministration. NABNE may, in its sole discretion, implement appropriate responses to address the Misadministration. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Correcting a scoring error;
  • Delaying, rescheduling, or terminating an examination administration; or
  • Holding, delaying, invalidating, or cancelling scores.

Misadministration does not require proof of misconduct by a candidate. NABNE’s decision to withhold, invalidate, or cancel a score due to Misadministration is not, by itself, a finding that a candidate engaged in prohibited behavior or otherwise violated the Agreement.

NPLEX Candidate Exam Security and Integrity Responsibilities

As an NPLEX Candidate, you are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the NPLEX content and the integrity of the NPLEX process, and for complying with all NPLEX rules, instructions, and procedures communicated before, during, and after the examination. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Following all instructions provided by test center personnel
  • Presenting Acceptable Identification and complying with all applicable check-in procedures 
  • Completing the NPLEX independently and without unauthorized assistance or aids.
  • Protecting NPLEX content from disclosure, reproduction, sharing, transmission, or other unauthorized use;
  • Reporting any suspected or known violations of the Agreement, irregular behavior, Misadministration, or NPLEX content compromise
  • Cooperating with NABNE’s requests for information in connection with a score review or exam security investigation

Prohibited Behavior

You are prohibited from engaging in conduct that in any way compromises or attempts to compromise NPLEX content, the validity of scores, or the integrity of the NPLEX , the NPLEX process, or examination results (“Prohibited Behavior”). Examples of Prohibited Behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Providing a fake, misleading, or modified identification document;
  • Impersonating another candidate or allowing another individual to test on your behalf;
  • Giving, receiving, seeking or using unauthorized assistance;
  • Accessing or attempting to access unauthorized materials, devices, software, applications, artificial intelligence, communications, or other tools after the examination has started and before it has concluded;
  • Bringing or attempting to bring unauthorized materials, devices, software or applications into the secure testing room;
  • Attempting to interfere or circumvent, or actually interfering with or circumventing, examination security, information security, monitoring, or testing technology;
  • Failing to follow test center staff instructions, warnings, or signage (such as “staff only” signage);
  • Copying, recording, photographing, or memorizing for later reproduction confidential NPLEX content;
  • Transmitting, disclosing, soliciting, possessing, sharing, or distributing confidential NPLEX content; or
  • Failing to cooperate with an investigation or providing false or misleading information in connection with an investigation. 

Investigation and Score Review

NABNE may initiate an investigation or score review based on any information obtained before, during, or after an NPLEX administration. By way of example, and without limitation, this may include testing records, test center reports, digital video recording, statistical analyses, aberrant data forensics, interviews, or reports from third parties.

While an investigation or score review is pending, NABNE may withhold the release of a score or place a reported score under review. A reported score under review will not be further reported pending the outcome of the investigation or score review.

Once NABNE has sufficiently advanced its investigation or score review, NABNE will provide the you with notice of the matter under review. You will have a reasonable opportunity to submit a written explanation and relevant supporting information to NABNE. Your failure to honestly and promptly respond during an investigation or score review may be considered in resolving a matter. NABNE will consider timely submitted information from you in making its final determination.

Outcomes and Remedies

Following an investigation or score review, NABNE may take reasonable action appropriate to protect the validity of NPLEX results, the integrity of the testing process, and the examination program. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Releasing, withholding, or cancelling scores;
  • Requiring or permitting a candidate to retest, with or without a fee;
  • Issuing a temporary or permanent restriction concerning future eligibility to take the NPLEX; 
  • Reporting the matter to regulatory or licensure bodies, institutions, or law enforcement; or
  • Taking any other action authorized by contract or law, including but not limited to seeking civil damages or injunctive relief.

A score may be withheld or canceled if NABNE determines, in its sole discretion, that based on the information reasonably available to it, the questioned score is not sufficiently valid to be reported. This may be due to Misadministration, a testing irregularity, Prohibited Behavior, violation of the Agreement, or a violation of law. A finding that a score is invalid does not necessarily require a finding that you engaged in prohibited conduct. NABNE will maintain internal records of investigations and score reviews for operational and exam security purposes.

Candidates must preserve the confidentiality of examination content even after completing the NPLEX. Participation in an investigation or score review does not authorize you to reproduce, disclose, obtain, or distribute NPLEX examination content or relieve you of other obligations under the Agreement.

Notice and Appeal

NABNE will provide notice to you via email of NABNE’s decision and any available appeal procedures. You may appeal within 14 days after the notice of the decision has been issued. Your appeal must identify the basis for the appeal and include any information you wish NABNE to consider during the appeal. The appeal will be reviewed by an authorized individual in NABNE who was not part of the original decision-making process, where practicable. NABNE’s decision on appeal is final unless otherwise required by law or NABNE policy.

Download the full Irregular Behavior and Examination Security Policy here.