Since 2004, SCNM students have surpassed the averages on the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX), the test administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). Overall SCNM students’ scores improve on the all-colleges average, and in 2006 SCNM set the bar for the Basic Sciences portion of the exam by scoring well above the average in all five subjects, the highest of those being a whopping 18% above average in physiology.

All graduates of the seven approved Naturopathic medical colleges in the U.S. and Canada must pass both the Basic Science and Clinical portions of the exam to be licensed in any of the 16 states or 5 Canadian provinces that recognize Naturopathic physicians. NPLEX is given twice a year, once in February and again in August, and consists of two main portions, Basic Sciences and Clinical modalities. Biomedical subjects, such as anatomy and pathology, fall under the first portion and practical modalities, such as botanical medicine and nutrition, fall under the second. Three elective exams are also offered, in minor surgery, homeopathy and acupuncture.

But the NPLEX is not only important to SCNM students, but also to the college’s administration. After students take the test, Dr. Richard Eberst, SCNM Provost and Vice President, receives an evaluation of the students’ averages from SCNM as well as the averages from all seven of the colleges. SCNM spends a considerable amount of time gathering and interpreting NPLEX data, “We take this test more seriously than everyone else,” said Dr. Eberst, who uses the data to better assist and understand the students, both those who are excelling and who are failing. Students must voluntarily provide their individual scores to the school, and Dr. Eberst encourages that as much as possible. “Without getting individual scores it becomes very difficult to know how we’re doing,” he said.

When Dr. Eberst’s predecessor began gathering NPLEX data in 2001, SCNM scores were below the average and in a few short years scores now are exceeding expectations. “As a young school…we’re making good progress,” said Dr. Eberst. Since 2005 Dr. Deborah Wollner has served as the Assistant Provost for Strategic Planning and Assessment, tracking the data of the test and how the students have done. Dr. Eberst believes the tests have gotten more difficult as the profession and the testing organization has matured. The standard in Naturopathic Medicine is constantly rising. Too, in recent years there has been more SCNM involvement in the NPLEX test creation process. “Over the last four years more and more of our faculty has gotten involved in writing the exam and understanding how NPLEX works…so we’ve become much more of a player,” said Dr. Eberst. Two members of SCNM faculty serve as chairs of NPLEX sections, Dr. Nick Buratovich chairs physical medicine and Dr. Timothy Schwaiger chairs physiology.

SCNM students are required to take the first half of the test, the Basic Sciences portion, two years into their education, which is when they have completed those courses. The Clinical portion is then taken about two years later, sometime around graduation. Dr. Eberst explained, “We all have about the same amount of study time before the NPLEX February exam, but before the summer exam we have less” than the other Naturopathic schools. This timing issue was part of the genesis to switch from the current quarter system to a semester system, which will go into effect in 2008.

In another move to help SCNM students improve, and to perhaps assist the entire Naturopathic medical profession in general, SCNM administration and faculty are establishing competencies to create measurable outcomes for our Naturopathic medical students. This is new in the profession, but Dr. Eberst believes a key to propelling the profession and the school into the future. In the meantime, Dr. Eberst appreciates the work that NABNE does. “They’re trying to improve the whole field.”