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HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY
The work of chiropractic regulatory agencies is both vital and challenging. This directory is designed to assist you with your
communications with the licensing boards. Please see the FCLB website at www.fclb.org for monthly updates to the Official
Directory and direct links to member chiropractic licensing boards.
PROSPECTIVE CHIROPRACTIC STUDENTS
There are many important questions you need to ask as you embark on your
chiropractic career. You should not wait until you are applying for licensure to contact
licensing boards - do it before you enroll in a chiropractic college. Some of these
question are listed below:
ì What type of chiropractic do you want to practice?
For example, some boards allow doctors to work with sports injuries on the extremities, while
others believe chiropractic adjustments should be confined to the spine. It is important that you
find both a school and jurisdiction which have a scope of practice similar to your own
philosophy.
Outlook on Chiropractic
"During the first 2 years, most chiropractic programs emphasize classroom and laboratory work in basic science
subjects such as anatomy, physiology, public health, microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry. The last 2 years
stress courses in manipulation and spinal adjustments, and provide clinical experience in physical and laboratory
diagnosis, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, physiotherapy, and nutrition. Chiropractic programs and institutions
grant the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.). Chiropractic requires keen observation to detect physical
abnormalities. It also takes considerable hand dexterity to perform adjustments, but not unusual strength or
endurance...Employment of chiropractors is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through
the year 2008 as consumer demand for alternative medicine grows."
(Source: Chiropractic / The Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
í Can you practice that philosophy in the state or province you select?
Look in the jurisdiction’s page under the Scope of Practice header to help you answer this
question. Contact the boards you are most interested in being licensed under to review the full
scope of practice. Review the Official Directory and the jurisdictional thumbnail sketch of its
scope of practice in the particular jurisdiction. It is important that you contact the jurisdiction
before making your final decision to enroll in a particular school.
Most defined scopes of practice include (1) primary patient contact or care; (2) right and duty
to perform a diagnosis; (3) right to use spinal manipulation and a range of other manual and
physical therapeutics; and (4) restrictions on prescription drugs or surgery. The jurisdiction's
scope may appear in statutes, regulations, and practice standards.
î Are graduates from your prospective college allowed to be licensed in the state(s) or
province(s) in which you wish to practice?
Licensing boards require that graduates receive their Doctor of Chiropractic degree from an
accredited chiropractic college. Utilize CCE (Council on Chiropractic Education) for
additional information on colleges and accreditation. The professional accrediting agency for
chiropractic colleges is the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic
Education (COA-CCE). The COA is recognized by the US Department of Education and the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Foreign students with either pre-
chiropractic education or chiropractic degrees earned outside the U.S. should contact the
jurisdiction in which they plan to practice to confirm eligibility for licensure.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards - 2007-2008 Official Directory . Reference Section
HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY (continued)
ï Do I require a Bachelor's Degree prior to entry into chiropractic college?
An increasing number of boards are requiring or considering the B.A. requirement
prior to licensure. Check for the Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the licensure
jurisdiction.
"In North America there is a minimum of six years full time university-level education, which includes two years of
university credits in qualifying subjects and then a four year undergraduate program at chiropractic college. This
is followed by national and state/provincial licensing board examinations. Postgraduate specialties include
chiropractic sciences, neurology, nutrition, orthopedics, radiology, rehabilitation and sports chiropractic…CCE
requirements include a minimum of two years of undergraduate college education with a grade of C (a 2.5 grade
point) or better in specified subjects--biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology,
English/communication and the humanities (CCE 1995).
Entrance standards are also influenced by licensing board requirements…
In fact, chiropractic colleges generally exceed CCE requirements. In the US, according to a study published in
1997: (1) the cumulative grade point average for all colleges was 2.90; (2) 42.2% of all applicants accepted had
a bachelor's degree on entrance…" (Chapter 4 Education and Licensure)
(Source: The Chiropractic Profession, 1999 - David Chapman-Smith / WFC)
See the Bachelor’s Degree chart following this page for more information.
ð Which school is the best?
There is not a list of rankings of chiropractic colleges.
All accredited colleges have merit and as a prospective student you should decide what school
is the very best for you.
• Students often want to measure a school by its performance on standardized testing.
However, it is important to note that schools are prohibited from releasing the results of
their students' scores on US National Board exams. If the results were released, it may
result in unfair marketing based on a particular year's success, and not be representative
of the overall performance of the school.
VISIT YOUR TOP THREE COLLEGE CHOICES - A WISE INVESTMENT!
The Federation recommends that students visit their top three schools of choice—in person.
The investment made will be very modest compared to your tuition for the full educational
period. Where you fit best, factoring in climate, educational and practice philosophies, size,
average age of the student body and other considerations, is the best predictor of your personal
success as a practicing doctor.
See the college contact pages in this reference section.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards - 2007-2008 Official Directory . Reference Section
HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY (continued)
CHIROPRACTIC STUDENTS / CANDIDATES FOR LICENSURE
# Take the proper courses and examinations
Early in your chiropractic college career, you need to be aware of the exams required by the
jurisdictions in which you wish to practice. These tests may be much easier to take and pass
while you are still in school, because you are accustomed to the testing environment and much
of the academic knowledge is fresh in your mind.
# Consider also some future practice scenarios
This can occur in many testing areas, but often happens with optional subjects. For example,
perhaps you are enrolled in a school where the practice of physiotherapy is optional, and you
are planning to go into a partnership in a jurisdiction where chiropractic physiotherapy is
required or is a "must" in your new clinic. If you have taken the proper optional course work and
examinations, you have more choices open to you in the future. It is often logistically difficult
or impractical to go back later for additional classes or testing.
# Philosophy of Chiropractic
Give careful consideration to your own philosophy of chiropractic, and that of the boards which
may regulate your future career opportunities. Take the courses and sit for the exams which
give you flexibility now, and even in retirement years. Use the FCLB Official Directory to assist
your decision-making process.
# Application for licensure
Use of our Directory is a must to be certain you apply well in advance of the deadlines. Call or
write to the boards you wish to sit for a year ahead of time to review their requirements. Plan
ahead financially for application and exam fees as well as your initial license. Note the
application deadlines (deadlines vary from almost three months to 15 days) and be early.
Finally, know who to contact - both staff members and directors. It reduces anxiety of the
process. The right impression is given by an organized, relaxed candidate—and you'll feel more
confident during your exams.
PRACTICING D.C.'s SEEKING LICENSURE IN A DIFFERENT STATE
OR PROVINCE
As a result of new professional opportunities or when approaching semi-retirement, you may face the
issue of relocating. Some boards have specific statutory requirements while others handle license
endorsement or reciprocity on an individual basis. Use the FCLB Official Directory to identify these
requirements (titled "Conditions for Reciprocity/Endorsement"), and to find out who to contact. At
conferences and meetings, get to know the members of the boards for your current jurisdiction(s) and
those in which you might eventually wish to practice.
Many US states accept or require National Board of Chiropractic Examiners credentials, including the
Part III examination (sometimes referred to as Written Clinical Competency Exam or WCCE), the
Special Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC), and/or the Part IV Practical Examination. Be aware of
these requirements, and plan to sit for the exams well in advance of when you may need them. Leave
time for retakes. In most cases, your scores should be valid indefinitely. Finally, be certain the legal
scope of practice is compatible with your own philosophy of chiropractic.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards - 2007-2008 Official Directory . Reference Section
HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY (continued)
PRACTICING D.C.'s SEEKING LICENSURE IN A DIFFERENT STATE OR PROVINCE (Cont.)
Reciprocity vs. Endorsement
To our knowledge, no boards actually offer reciprocity. That term is an old one that refers to "you give
people from our jurisdiction licenses and we will give people from your jurisdiction licenses.” The laws
sometimes still refer to reciprocity, but they usually mean endorsement. This term refers to
acknowledging that the license criteria in one jurisdiction are substantially similar to the criteria in another.
Therefore, a board where the applicant wants a second license may waive some of the requirements
which may have already been met by the original license process. The new board may also require
additional examinations such as the SPEC exam or a jurisprudence exam or other criteria to satisfy
additional requirements of their jurisdiction not addressed by the original board.
# The best way to deal with this is to ask yourself:
• "What are the criteria of the jurisdiction where I currently hold my license(s)?”
• “How do these compare with the criteria of the jurisdictions where I want a new license?"
Look at requirements like National Board exams, pre-professional education, accreditation of
schools, continuing education requirements, and scope of practice areas like physiotherapy,
OB/GYN, etc.
OTHER HELPFUL TERMS
Specialty Council Certification A diplomate is a doctor who has taken all the
extensive extra education in a special area and
Some boards regulate the use of specialty
passed rigorous examinations. Board qualified
certification through their advertising regulations.
means the education is complete, but not the final
It is illegal in certain jurisdictions to hold oneself
examinations. Both of these terms show a doctor
out to be "superior" to another general doctor. who has invested significant extra time, after
Other boards recognize only certain Councils and graduation, to secure additional expertise in a
allow advertising to be used for those alone. specific area of interest or talent. A chiropractor
may use the term “diplomate” if he or she has
achieved this additional status in a specialty
There are many "Specialty Councils". Some
program which awards such recognition. Some
represent many people, in mainstream
boards prohibit public advertising of specialty
chiropractic. Others represent only a small group.
status as there is currently no outside accreditation
of specialty programs.
At this time, the generally recognized Councils fall
under the jurisdiction of the two national The term “Diplomate” should NOT be used to
professional ass o c i a t ions, American describe successful completion of National Board
Chiropractic Association and International exams Parts I and II, unless the date of completion
Chiropractors Association. Please contact the was prior to 1983, “holds a Certificate of Attainment
ACA and ICA directly. from the NBCE for Parts I and II of the National
Board of Chiropractic Examiners” is the proper
phrasing. No certificate is issued for successful
In the future, it is planned that separate completion of Parts III, IV, and/or SPEC. A score
accrediting-type processes may be imposed by report is available for these tests. For additional
an outside body to determine whether Councils specific information on descriptive phrasing for
adhere to proper standards required by federal NBCE exams, please contact the NBCE directly.
regulations, state laws, and the chiropractic
profession.
Diplomate vs. Board Qualified
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards - 2007-2008 Official Directory . Reference Section
HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY (continued)
INSURANCE PROVIDERS/HEALTH CARE & CREDENTIALING
For a brief summary of the legal scope of practice, refer to these sections in the directory. However,
please do not make a determination not to fund a particular insurance claim because that specific
procedure is not listed here. Do contact the licensing board office directly. They can answer your
questions and can also provide you with a comprehensive description of the legal scope of practice.
This directory should serve as a helpful tool in formulating a general concept of what can be done
legally by doctors, but do plan to address specific questions to the board offices.
Please contact our office regarding querying CIN-BAD (Chiropractic Information Network - Board
Action Databank) to help with credentialing chiropractors. CIN-BAD will help you accomplish your
NCQA Standards. See our website at www.fclb.org for more information on how we can help your
health care organization.
Finally, we ask that you purchase additional copies of this publication from our offices rather than
photocopying it. Directory sales are an important source of revenue for the Federation, which helps
us continue to upgrade and unify our examination standards for protection of the consumer public.
MEMBERS OF LICENSING BOARDS
Use this directory to see at a glance how your fees, scope of practice, and educational/testing
requirements compare with other chiropractic regulatory boards. See how other boards handle
reciprocity. Get the most up-to-date information available about other board members' names,
addresses and terms of service.
A NOTE ABOUT FAX NUMBERS
Please remember that fax numbers, where available, are provided to ease your communication with
licensing boards and other organizations. Do not expect to send official documents such as
applications, name changes or other vital, legal items via FAX. They need your original signatures,
photos and notary seals. Plan enough time to mail the original documents - in some cases, the
deadlines are to receive your items, not for postmark. Be early - don't ask electronic media to rescue
a late application.
Finally, from all of the members of the Federation, thank you for purchasing this book. Your
contribution helps us continue the important mission of excellence in chiropractic licensure standards.
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards - 2007-2008 Official Directory . Reference Section
