The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners has revised its Ethics and Boundaries (E&B) post-licensure examination, with the major change being a shift from multiple-choice to computer-based essay format.
The E&B exam is one of two post-licensure examinations currently offered by the National Board (the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic, which "assesses the clinical competency of licensed or previously licensed practitioners in areas reflecting clinical conditions generally encountered in chiropractic practice" and is administered only at the request of a state or foreign licensing board, is the other). The E&B exam "requires that examinees demonstrate an acceptable level of understanding and judgments pertaining to appropriate relationships and interactions required in unsupervised chiropractic practice." State boards can customize the exam topics to fit the circumstances of the individual being examined.
The E&B exam's essay scenarios cover four distinct areas: 1) boundary violations (doctor with patient and doctor with staff); 2) fraud billing and coding, and kickback / steering schemes; 3) doctor's duties and office protocols, including standards of care and patient records / documentation; and 4) unprofessional conduct: alcohol and/or substance abuse and negligent / inappropriate behavior. The exam is administered six times per year.
For additional information regarding the NBCE Ethics and Boundaries Exam, visit www.nbce.org and click on "Post-Licensure Examination." An interactive sample essay scenario is also available online at www.nbce.org/post/sample-eandb.html
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