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One of the biggest mistakes students make when studying for NBCE Part III Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI) is assuming the exam is testing radiology knowledge alone.
It’s not.
NBCE Part III DXI questions are written to test how you think, not how many diagnoses you can memorize. Once you un...
Failing a board exam can feel devastating — especially when you’ve worked so hard to get this far. But here’s the truth: Failing an NBCE exam does not define your future as a chiropractor.
Thousands of smart, dedicated students fail boards every year…
and go on to become successful DCs.
What matt...
One of the most important skills tested on the Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI) portion of NBCE Part III is knowing when not to treat.
Students often assume boards reward confident diagnosis. In reality, Part III frequently rewards something more subtle—and more important:
Recognizing red f...
One of the biggest myths in board prep is:
“The more practice questions you do, the better you’ll score.”
Unfortunately, that’s not true.
A giant pile of practice questions can actually hurt your score if:
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The questions aren’t NBCE-style
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The explanations are shallow
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The distractors...
Soft tissue questions on the Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI) portion of NBCE Part III often catch students off guard.
Not because they’re obscure—but because many students subconsciously think: “X-rays are for bones.”
NBCE knows this, and soft tissue DXI questions are designed to test whet...
One of the questions students whisper — but rarely say out loud:
“How many people actually fail boards?”
It’s a fair concern. Board exams are expensive, stressful, and tied to your entire future career. Understanding pass rates doesn’t just give context — it helps you prepare smarter.
Let’s dig i...
Tumors and tumor-like processes are one of the most anxiety-provoking categories in the Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI) portion of NBCE Part III.
Not because students can’t learn the material—but because they assume:
“If it’s a tumor question, I have to know the exact diagnosis.”
NBCE doe...
 One of the most common questions chiropractic students ask is:
“How long do I actually need to study for boards?”
The frustrating answer most people get:
“It depends.”
But that’s not helpful when you’re balancing:
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Clinic
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Exams
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Life responsibilities
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And a shrinking timeline
...
The NBCE Part IV exam is the final practical step in most chiropractic students’ journey toward licensure — and it’s unlike any of the earlier written board exams.
Instead of multiple-choice screens…
You’ll be evaluated on real-world clinical skills — from history and examination to technique, cas...
Trauma imaging questions on the Diagnostic Imaging Interpretation (DXI) portion of NBCE Part III are some of the most predictable—and still frequently missed—questions on the exam.
Not because trauma is unfamiliar, but because students often:
Overfocus on naming fractures instead of recognizing pa...
Each year, the NBCE releases performance data that gives us an inside look at how chiropractic students are actually doing on board exams — not guesses, not anecdotes, but real numbers.
At first glance, the 2024 pass rates might seem reassuring. Many parts show solid overall performance.
But when ...
Preparing for NBCE boards can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to choose the right board review program. With so many options, how do you know which one will actually help you pass?
We analyzed the most commonly recommended board review resources among chiropractic students and com...
