Chiropractic Boards - Part 3 Exam Overview

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Reference Text for Part Three

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TEST PLAN Part Three Overview

1. Case History (11%)
Competency description: The successful examinee can identify factors necessary for obtaining a complete case history, and apply this knowledge to a clinical picture.
Examples include:
- Chief complaint
- Present illness
- Past history
- Family history
- Personal and social history
- Review of systems

2. Physical Examination (9%)
Competency description: The successful examinee can select appropriate physical examination procedures and apply knowledge of these procedures to a clinical picture.
Examples include:
- General survey
- Head and neck examination
- Thorax and lung examination
- Cardiovascular examination
- Breast and axilla examination
- Abdominal examination
- Urogenital examination
- Rectal examination

3. Neuromusculoskeletal Examination (11%)
Competency description: The successful examinee can select appropriate neuromusculoskeletal examination procedures and apply knowledge of these procedures to a clinical picture.
Examples include:
- Posture and gait analysis
- Standard spinal and extremity orthopedic procedures
- Standard neurological testing procedures
- Peripheral vascular examination procedures

4. Diagnostic Imaging (11%)
Competency description: The successful examinee demonstrates knowledge of all areas of diagnostic imaging pertinent to chiropractic practice (including radiographs, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic ultrasound, and nuclear bone scans).
Examples include:
- Indications and contraindications for diagnostic imaging procedures
- Patient protection and positioning
- Normal anatomy
- Description and interpretation of images

5. Clinical Laboratory and Special Studies (7%)
Competency description: The successful examinee will demonstrate understanding of the rationale for ordering specifi c clinical laboratory tests and special studies and to demonstrate ability to interpret the results of these tests or studies.
Examples include:
- Urinalysis
- Hematology
- Serology
- Blood chemistries
- Stool analysis
- Joint fl uid analysis
- Electrophysiologic recordings (EEG, ECG, EMG, and NCV)

6. Diagnosis or Clinical Impression (14%)
Competency description: Based on information gathered in the various areas of examination, the successful examinee can identify the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for a patient's complaints.
Sources of information include:
- Patient history
- Physical and neuromusculoskeletal examinations
- Diagnostic imaging
- Clinical laboratory and special studies

7. Chiropractic Techniques (14%)
Competency description: The successful examinee will demonstrate knowledge of all areas of chiropractic technique.
Examples include:
- Indications and contraindications for chiropractic care
- Spinal adjustive techniques
- Extremity adjustive techniques
- Skeletal biomechanics

8. Supportive Interventions (8%)
Competency description: The successful examinee demonstrates knowledge of techniques and procedures that are supportive of or adjunctive to the chiropractic adjustment.
Examples include:
- Physiotherapy modalities
- Nutrition and diet
- Corrective exercises and rehabilitation
- Protective body mechanics and ergonomics
- Patient education and self care
- Wellness and lifestyle counseling

9. Case Management (15%)
Competency description: The successful examinee selects an approach to the management or disposition of a case that is consistent with the clinical impression or diagnosis.
Examples include:
- Formulation of a treatment plan and prognosis
- Appropriate procedures for case follow-up and review
- Patient referral and/or co-management
- Clinical documentation and informed consent

 
 

Chiropractic Board Review Books
NBCE Chiropractic National Board Review & Exam Reference Books.

Part Three Reference Books
Part Three - Chiropractic Board Exam Reference Text

 

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