1.1 APMLE Part I Exam Structure, Policies & Scoring
Key Takeaways
APMLE Part I has 205 multiple-choice items, 150 scored and 55 unscored pretest items, with a four-hour testing limit and no scheduled breaks.
NBPME scores Part I with the Rasch item response theory model on a 55–99 scale; a scaled score of 75 or higher passes, and the scaled score is not a percentage.
Lower Extremity Anatomy is the largest discipline at 25% of scored items; microbiology and immunology, pathology and pharmacology are 14% each, general anatomy and physiology 12% each, and biochemistry 9%.
Meazure Learning delivers the exam; the Part I fee is $925, the 2026 window is October 7–9, and 2027 windows are July 7–9 and October 6–8.
NBPME places no limit on attempts, but some state boards limit attempts for licensure, and each retake requires a new registration and fee.
1.1 APMLE Part I Exam Structure, Policies & Scoring
Independent Study Guide Notice: Independent study guide by OpenExamPrep. This educational resource is developed independently by OpenExamPrep and is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) or Meazure Learning.
What the APMLE Part I Measures
The American Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination (APMLE) Part I is the first national board examination in the podiatric licensing sequence. It is owned by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME). According to the NBPME Policies and Procedures Manual, Part I measures knowledge of the basic science areas that underpin podiatric medical practice.
Candidates who began the APMLE sequence after January 1, 2010 must pass the parts in order: Part I before Part II, and Part II before Part III. To be initially eligible for Part I, the dean of a CPME-accredited college of podiatric medicine must confirm that the candidate is a currently enrolled second-year student or has attained equivalent training. Once deemed eligible, a candidate stays eligible for that examination.
Administration, Timing and Logistics
The NBPME contracts with Meazure Learning to deliver the APMLE. Part I is a computer-based test given at Meazure Learning test centers. The NBPME previously used Prometric, which is why older guides and scores still mention it.
| Item | Official detail (NBPME and apmle.com) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 205 multiple-choice items | 150 scored items plus 55 pretest items |
| Testing time | Four hours | About 70 seconds per item on average |
| Appointment length | Up to five hours | Includes up to one hour for check-in, unscheduled breaks and an end-of-exam questionnaire |
| Breaks | No scheduled breaks | The clock keeps running during any unscheduled break |
| Fee | $925 (Part I) | Paid to Meazure Learning after dean approval; each attempt requires a new registration and fee |
| Other fees | Reschedule $50, transfer to another window $100, cancellation $50, score recheck $100 | Deadlines depend on how close you are to the appointment |
| 2026 window | October 7–9, 2026 (registration deadline September 16, 2026) | Scores released November 2, 2026 |
| 2027 windows | July 7–9, 2027 and October 6–8, 2027 | Scores released July 30 and October 29, 2027 |
| Results | About three weeks after the exam | Posted to your Meazure Connect account; never released by phone or email |
The Meazure interface includes a built-in calculator, annotation tools, an exam notepad, text highlighting and strikethrough, and adjustable font size. Practice exams are available through the Meazure Connect portal. If power fails during the exam, the clock stops and resumes where it left off.
Important
The clock does not stop for breaks. The manual states there are no scheduled breaks and that the clock "will continue to run" during unplanned, unscheduled breaks. You must also stay seated unless test center staff authorize you to leave. Practice full four-hour sessions so your pacing holds up.
The Official Content Outline
The NBPME Part I content outline lists seven disciplines. The percentages describe the share of scored items in each area. The 55 pretest items are proportionate to the blueprint, but they do not count toward your score.
| Discipline | Share of scored items | Approximate scored items (of 150) | Main outline headings | Where this guide covers it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Extremity Anatomy | 25% | About 37–38 | Osteology, arthrology, myology, angiology, neurology (lumbar and sacral plexuses), embryology (limb bud, rotation, prenatal and postnatal development) | Chapters 1–4 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 14% | About 21 | Bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, zoonoses, resistance, laboratory methods, sterilization, vaccines, immune mechanisms, hypersensitivity, transplant and tumor immunology | Chapters 5–6 |
| Pathology | 14% | About 21 | General pathology (cell injury, inflammation, repair, hemodynamics, neoplasia) and organ-system pathology | Chapters 7–9 |
| Pharmacology | 14% | About 21 | General principles, autonomic and cardiovascular drugs, antimicrobials, analgesics, anesthetics, CNS and glycemic agents, DMARDs, antineoplastics, hormones, toxicology | Chapters 10–12 |
| General Anatomy | 12% | About 18 | Head and neck, thorax and abdomen, back, upper extremities, histology, neuroanatomy, integument, pelvis and perineum | Chapters 13–14 |
| Physiology | 12% | About 18 | Neuro, muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, GI, endocrine, hematology, exercise and temperature regulation | Chapters 15–16 |
| Biochemistry | 9% | About 13–14 | Acids and buffers, carbohydrate, lipid, protein and nucleotide metabolism, bioenergetics, enzymes, hormones and signaling, blood chemistry, molecular biology, nutrition, genetics | Chapters 17–18 |
Lower extremity anatomy alone is a quarter of the scored exam. Adding general anatomy brings anatomy to 37%, so anatomy deserves the largest share of study time. The other disciplines are still substantial: microbiology and immunology, pathology and pharmacology together make up 42% of scored items.
How Part I Is Scored
The NBPME scores the APMLE with an Item Response Theory model known as the Rasch model. Every scored item has a calibrated difficulty, computed from data collected while the item was pretested. Your score uses the number of items you answer correctly together with an ability estimate that takes the difficulty of those items into account. It is then converted to a scaled score.
- The scale runs from 55 to 99.
- A scaled score of 75 or higher passes.
- The scaled score is not a percentage, so 75 does not mean 75% correct.
- Forms are statistically equated, so candidates who see different questions are held to the same standard.
- The passing standard is criterion-referenced. The NBPME set it at a level of competence the Board judged to represent minimum standards of practice, and the exam is not graded on a curve.
Pretest items look the same as scored items and are spread throughout the exam, so treat every question as if it counts. Because your score reflects correct answers, answer every item before time runs out.
Note
Score reports. Passing candidates see only "PASS"; no scaled score is given. Failing candidates receive their failing scaled score (55–74), the score needed to pass, the minimum and maximum possible scores, and a diagnostic indicator for each content area ("below" or "at or above" the level of minimum competence). A pass is reported to your school; a fail is reported to your school and to CASPR. Examination reviews are not permitted.
Pacing Strategy
With 205 items in 240 minutes, the average time per item is:
A practical checkpoint plan:
- Hour 1: about item 55. Answer, flag uncertain items and move on.
- Hour 2: about item 110. You should pass the halfway point (item 103) before the two-hour mark.
- Hour 3: about item 165. Fatigue often peaks here, so read the final sentence of each stem (the lead-in) carefully.
- 3:45: finish item 205, leaving about 15 minutes to revisit flagged items.
Any unscheduled break comes out of these four hours, so build a small buffer into each checkpoint if you expect to need one.
Retakes and State Board Rules
- The NBPME places no limit on the number of times you may take the examination. However, some state boards limit how many attempts a licensure candidate may have, so check the rules for the state where you plan to practice.
- Each attempt requires a new registration and the full fee. Part I is offered in a limited number of windows each year, so a failed attempt usually means waiting for the next window.
- Your college sets its own academic-progress rules for students who do not pass, such as when you may start clinical rotations. Check your college's policy early.
- You may ask Meazure Learning in writing, within 24 hours of testing, not to have your scores reported. This voids the attempt, no fee is refunded and a new registration is needed to retest.
Which statement correctly describes the APMLE Part I passing standard and score report?
A scaled score of 75 on a 55–99 scale; passing candidates are told only that they passed
75% of scored items correct (113 of 150); all candidates receive their numerical score
A scaled score of 80; passing scores are reported numerically to residency programs
A curved cut that passes candidates above the 30th percentile of the same administration
According to the NBPME Part I content outline, which discipline has the largest share of scored items?
Pathology at 22% of scored items
Pharmacology at 18% of scored items
Microbiology and Immunology at 20% of scored items
Lower Extremity Anatomy at 25% of scored items
A candidate is planning pacing and breaks for the 205-item APMLE Part I. Which statement matches the official timing policy?
Two scheduled 15-minute breaks are given, and the clock stops during them
Unscheduled breaks pause the clock for up to 10 minutes if the proctor is told
The exam has four 60-minute blocks with optional 30-minute pauses between them
There are no scheduled breaks, and unscheduled breaks use up the four hours
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.