New Exam FAQ:
Why is the exam changing?
- The evolving nature of professional practice in the health professions necessitates that examining boards like the CCEB review both their exam content and assessment methods on an ongoing basis. The upcoming changes to the CCEB examination reflect that practice and ensure the continued alignment of the examination process to best practice.
- As the CCEB was beginning our routinized review, the Federation of Canadian Chiropractic (FCC), a national group made up of regulators, educational institutions, and chiropractic specialty colleges, had finished the development of the ‘Entry-to-Practice Competency Profile for Chiropractor in Canada’. This provided an excellent starting point for the CCEB to develop a new examination blueprint reflecting the expectations of Canadian chiropractic regulatory bodies. You can learn more about how we moved through this process in the Candidate Handbook here.
What if I have already failed a component? What happens next?
- Please review the Exam Changes Overview document found here. This document shows the flow of the final administration of the existing CCEB examination and how candidates move to the new format.
What if I failed one of the components four times? Can I try again now?
- Candidates who have used the maximum number of examination attempts at ANY component will not be permitted to take the new examination.
Will this delay me from getting into practice?
- While there have been some changes to the Examination Eligibility Policy (found here) there is no delay for candidates in their journey to achieving a CCEB certificate. Candidates can attempt the new Written Examination within 6 months of graduation and the new Clinical Examination within 3 months of graduation. This mirrors the timelines for the last two components of the previous examination format.
There are only two exams now, so why did fees go up?
- This fee increase reflects a less than 5% increase and is responsive to the inflation we are experiencing in the delivery of our exam overall. The ongoing generation of exam items is a critical component of exam validity and, with the increased complexity of the items to align with the competencies (for example case based items), there is an increased cost to develop these items.
- The clinical exam is expanding in size by 20%; as such, there are increased facilities and staffing costs plus increased item writing costs. You might not realize that to deliver the OSCE there is approximately a 3-to-1 ratio of staff to candidates…for each candidate that comes to the exam, there are approximately three people required (examiners, standardized patients, track staff, timers, registration staff, security staff, sequestering staff…).
Why can’t I write the written and clinical exams together?
- As the Examination Eligibility Policy permits each examination attempt well in advance of graduation and the CCEB offers three administrations annually, there is ample opportunity for candidates to achieve a CCEB certificate without delaying their pathway to practice in Canada.
- Additionally, separating the administrations allows the CCEB to optimize our logistical and human resources and create significant efficiencies in the release of results for each examination.
What are case-based items and does the new exam have case-based items?
- The new Written Examination includes case-based items. Case-based items provide patient information and clinical scenarios and then ask several questions related to that case. Each item has 3 options to choose from, with one of the options being the best answer. You can learn more and see a sample item in the Candidate Handbook here.
How many hours will the Written Examination be?
- The exam has two sessions: a 3-hour session in the morning followed by a lunch break and a 3-hour session in the afternoon. Both sessions must be completed during the same administration.
- The CCEB Written Examination is cumulative in nature, meaning the candidates’ performance on all scoring items across the morning and afternoon sessions are added together to determine the candidates’ final score.
How did you develop the new blueprint?
- To learn more about how the CCEB blueprint is developed, please review the Candidate Handbook found here.
Why did you develop the new blueprint?
- To learn more about why the CCEB developed a new blueprint, please review the Candidate Handbook found here
How do you develop items?
- To learn more about how the CCEB items are developed, please review the Candidate Handbook found here. For further information, review the general FAQ on our website.
Are there sample items I can see to get a sense of what to expect?
- The Candidate Handbook found here contains an example of a multiple-choice question (MCQ) item, a case-based item, and a clinical station.
Does the CCEB provide a practice exam or endorse any exam preparation programs? What resources/test studying material can students obtain?
- The CCEB does not provide a practice exam and is not affiliated with any examination preparation programs. Please exercise caution when working with any vendor who claims to have CCEB items. CCEB items are copyrighted and are never provided to third parties for the purpose of preparing or providing practice exams.
How do we prepare for these new exams? I’m worried about the new format that we won’t know how/what to prepare.
- Please review the Candidate Handbook found here.
Is it still the bottom 20% that fail the CCEB exams? How are cut scores determined?
- Curved grading is not used and fail rates can vary from exam to exam. It is possible for all candidates who challenge the exam to be successful. For a scoring overview, please refer to the Candidate Handbook found here.
Do any of these changes stop international students from taking the exam?
- No. All international students who are eligible under the Examination Eligibility Policy remain eligible to take the Written Examination and Clinical Examination.
Is there an online option to complete the written exam or will the test only be offered in person?
- The Written Examination will be offered three times per year remotely and in person.
Will there still be an in-person Written Examination in Calgary? As well, where will the Clinical Examination be offered?
- Yes, the Written Examination will still be offered in person in Calgary. The Clinical Examination is currently being offered in Hamilton, Ontario, three times per year. The CCEB reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to add, delete or alter the examination dates and/or locations. This may include moving to an alternate site, or even an alternate city or province, other than those listed, to conduct the examinations. Candidates should wait to receive confirmation from the CCEB of their examination location prior to making any arrangements.
If you are re-taking part B, what changes will be in effect?
- Please read the Exam Changes summary thoroughly as the transition is illustrated in a flowchart. Component B will be offered for all first-time and repeat candidates in October 2023. In February 2024, Component B will be offered for the last time and exclusively to candidates who were unsuccessful on their first attempt and are now re-writing Component B for the first time. In February 2024, all other candidates who would normally have taken Component B (first-time Component B candidates and candidates making their third or final—fourth— attempt at Component B) will take the new Written Examination.
For people re-taking the Component C clinical exam, will it still be the old format with the old price of $2575 or will it be the new format with the new price increase to $3350?
- Please consult the flowchart. The last opportunity to take the old format of Component C at $2575 will be in February 2024. The transition to the new Clinical Examination, which has two additional stations, will take place in May 2024 at which time the new fee of $3350 takes effect.
If I have a graduation date of November 2024, when am I eligible to take the Written Examination and Clinical Examination? Can the written part only be taken 6 months before graduation?
- Please consult the new Examination Eligibility Policy available at https://cceb.ca/policies/ to determine your eligibility to take the Written Examination and Clinical Examination.
Can I take the Written Examination and Clinical Examination during the same session?
- No, you must take them separately. Please refer to the Examination Eligibility Policy.
How many applicants are there for an OSCE in Hamilton? Will you limit applicants due to site unavailability?
- The number of applicants determines the number of spots offered and the number of tracks available. The CCEB expands the examination to respond to candidate demand and has never denied the opportunity to test a candidate who was qualified and applied during the application period.