100+ Free NPLEX I Practice Questions

NPLEX Part I is the biomedical sciences licensing exam administered by NABNE (North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners). It is the first of two exams required to become a licensed naturopathic doctor in the US and most Canadian provinces. The exam contains 200 multiple-choice items covering anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics, microbiology and immunology, and pathology. Candidates at CNME-accredited ND programs typically sit for Part I after completing their second-year biomedical sciences coursework.

Part I is delivered in two sections on the same day: a morning session of 100 items (2.5 hours) and an afternoon session of 100 items (2.5 hours), with a 1-hour break between sections. Total testing time is 5 hours. Items are multiple-choice with single best answers, often presented as short clinical vignettes focused on biomedical basis rather than diagnosis or treatment. The exam is administered at Prometric testing centers.

NABNE uses scaled scoring. A converted (scaled) score of 75 is the minimum passing mark, which typically corresponds to answering roughly 60-70% of items correctly depending on exam difficulty. Importantly, candidates must pass each of two general exam areas (GEAs) independently: Structure/Function (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and genetics) and Disease/Dysfunction (microbiology and immunology, pathology). Failing either GEA means failing the entire exam.

You must be enrolled in or a graduate of a naturopathic medical program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) and must have completed all required biomedical sciences coursework. Most ND schools require students to pass NPLEX Part I before beginning clinical rotations in the third year. International candidates from non-CNME programs are not eligible.

NABNE does not post a single flat fee publicly — the application fee bundles the NPLEX Study Guide, registration, and examination administration. Fees are paid in US dollars through the NABNE applicant portal. Candidates should check nabne.org/fees for the current fee schedule before applying. Additional fees apply for manual scoring ($50), transcripts ($30), deferrals, and retakes.

NPLEX Part I is offered twice yearly, typically in August and February, at Prometric testing centers throughout the US and Canada. Application and registration deadlines fall several months before each administration. Check the NABNE Important Dates page for the current exam schedule and registration windows.

Candidates who fail may retake NPLEX Part I at the next scheduled administration. You must reapply through the NABNE applicant portal and pay the applicable reexamination fee. Because most ND programs require Part I for clinical rotation eligibility, failing can delay graduation. Candidates who fail should focus remediation on the specific general exam area (Structure/Function or Disease/Dysfunction) where they fell short.

Plan 3-6 months of dedicated review after completing second-year coursework. Use standard medical textbooks — Robbins Basic Pathology, Guyton Physiology, Lehninger Biochemistry, Moore Clinically Oriented Anatomy, and Levinson Medical Microbiology. Supplement with NABNE's official NPLEX Study Guide (included with application), BoardVitals or Wild Brilliance Press question banks, and timed full-length practice exams to build pacing and endurance.