After another strong showing in 2018, students in the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC), continue to set the pace among all chiropractic schools for board exam completion rates. During the most recent, four-year assessment period, CUKC students had an average completion rate of 95 percent, making it the best chiropractic institution in the nation in preparing chiropractic students for board examinations. The next closest school achieved a completion rate of 90.6 percent, and the national average for all schools over that same four-year period was 85.5 percent.
Board examinations are administered in four parts by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the official testing body of the chiropractic profession since 1963. The exams include both a written and practical portion and must be taken by all chiropractic students seeking licensure in the United States, and in many foreign countries. The purpose for the exams is to establish the level of competency possessed by chiropractic students seeking to become a licensed doctor of chiropractic. The high completion rate for CUKC means that since 2014, 95 percent of its chiropractic students passed all four parts of the board exam within six months after graduation.
Chiropractic schools are required to report their completion rates to the Council on Chiropractic Education each year for accreditation purposes. Each school must disclose their numbers on their website and update them annually. Not only did CUKC enjoy the highest average completion percentage since 2014, the four-year rate has risen in each of the last three years, meaning each new, four-year result continued to show gains for the institution.
Just as with dental, medical, veterinary and other professional degree programs, the chiropractic board exam offers an intense and comprehensive review of one’s knowledge of the field. Failure to complete all four parts of the exam with an acceptable score can prevent an individual from gaining licensure in the state of their choice. As exam performance is key to one’s professional success after school, board scores should play a significant role when considering where to attend chiropractic school. Any admissions advisor should be able to provide that information to a prospective student if asked.
