After your second year and graduation, you must pass two rigorous professional board exams, NPLEX I & II in order to practice as a physician. The NPLEX exams, administered by NABNE, are international examinations that assess your general knowledge in a variety of areas including basic sciences, diagnostic and therapeutic subjects and clinical sciences. Successfully passing is required to practice as a naturopathic doctor in licensed states and Canadian provinces.
In states that regulate licensure of naturopathic physicians, you are required to take and pass both the NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science and Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination. Depending on where you choose to practice, you may also be required to take and pass the NPLEX Part II Clinical Elective Examinations to be eligible for licensure in some jurisdictions.
These exams are necessary to determine that you have knowledge of the full scope of naturopathic medicine. We take pride in ensuring that you are more than prepared for NPLEX.
Sonoran University students have significantly outscored the average all-school pass rate since 2016. NPLEX Part 1 focuses on biomedical sciences and is typically taken after the second year of coursework.
NPLEX Exam Preparation
Sonoran University includes NPLEX preparation in the curriculum. The NPLEX is a two-part exam. The first part focuses on Biomedical Sciences and is taken after the second year of coursework. The second part is focused on Core Clinical Sciences and is taken after graduation.
Students take this exam upon completion of all biomedical science coursework, typically after the 2nd year of the program. Students must pass this exam and graduate from an ND school before moving onto the NPLEX Part II – Clinical Science Examinations.
Every licensed state and province requires that you pass the NPLEX Part II – Core Clinical Science Examination and the Part II – Core Science Examination.
Some states and provinces require graduates to pass either or both NPLEX Part II – Clinical Elective Examinations in Minor Surgery and Acupuncture, or to take additional examinations administered by a regulatory authority.
For more information on NPLEX exams, individual state requirements and the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), the accrediting body, please visit www.nabne.org.