I’m not sure if everyone knows this, but to get your license in the U.S., chiropractors have to take FIVE National Board licensure exams. You read that correctly, yes five. Parts 1, 2, 3, Physiotherapy “PT” and part 4s. I’ll be the first to tell you, they are not cheap and with the obvious statement; if you fail, you have to repay and retake. No pressure there!
The struggle with boards is you honestly never know what to expect on the exam. With so much information for the examiners to choose from, studying can seem like a constant uphill battle, especially with school midterms and finals thrown in the mix.
The other part is how many resources there are to study from. On the one hand, it feels great to have so many options, but each one is drastically different from the other, so the piles of paper and login information for the material can be a bit overwhelming.
What got me through was having one study buddy (seriously the best decision I made!!) and attending board reviews. I learn by listening, not just simply reading, so even though they were soul sucking weekends, I found so much value in them because I knew what I needed to do to have my studying be effective.
Here are my Top 6 tips for successful boards studying:
- Find a buddy you work well with (because 2 heads are better than one!)
- Break the subjects down by weeks (it’s easier to digest the material)
- Cross reference subject material (only studying from one resource isn’t always the best!)
- Practice, Practice, Practice (practice exams are the best way to learn how to break down questions)
- Eat a nutrient dense diet, get adequate sleep & stay hydrated (prep your brain for the marathon of testing; sweets and wine are not always the answer)
- Finally, BREATHE!! (being in sympathetic overdrive clouds your thought processes)
XX- Britt
