The bill permitted acupuncturists to treat workplace injuries without first obtaining a referral, but did not permit acupuncturists to evaluate disability. In 1988, legislation was signed into law (Chapter 1496, Statutes of 1988), which included acupuncturists as "physicians" only in the Workers Compensation system for purposes of treating injured workers.
The legislation further provided that, until January 1, 1995, the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) would be developed and administrated by an independent consultant, which was later extended to June 2000.
Effective January 1, 1990, through AB 2367 (Chapter, 1249, Statutes of 1989) the name was changed to Acupuncture Committee to better identify it as a state licensing entity for acupuncturists. In 1982, the Legislature designated the Acupuncture Examining Committee as an autonomous body. Most of these statutory changes became effective on January 1, 1982. In 1980, the law was amended to abolish the Acupuncture Advisory Committee and replace it with the Acupuncture Examining Committee within the Division of Allied Health Professions with limited autonomous authority to expand the acupuncturists' scope of practice to include electroacupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion to clarify that Asian massage, exercise and herbs for nutrition were within the acupuncturist's scope of practice and to provide that fees be deposited in the Acupuncture Examining Committee Fund instead of the Medical Board's fund. Subsequent legislation in 1978 established acupuncture as a "primary health care profession" by eliminating the requirement for prior diagnosis or referral by a licensed physician, chiropractor or dentist. In 1976, California became the eighth state to license acupuncturists. In 1975, Senate Bill 86 (Chapter 267, Statutes of 1975) created the Acupuncture Advisory Committee under the Board of Medical Examiners and allowed the practice of acupuncture but only upon a prior diagnosis or referral by a licensed physician, chiropractor or dentist. The Board of Medical Examiners (now called the Medical Board of California) began regulating acupuncture in 1972 under provisions that authorized the practice of acupuncture under the supervision of a licensed physician as part of acupuncture research in medical schools. Certifications are also available in veterinary chiropractic, spinal trauma, sport science and other niche disciplines.Change Text Size - Small Medium Large Acupuncture Board History In addition, chiropractors may earn post-doctoral diplomate certifications in various subspecialties, such as acupuncture, radiology and neurology, through the American Chiropractic Association.
To maintain licensure, doctors of chiropractic are required (in all states but one) to earn continuing education units each year. These steps typically include undergoing a criminal background check, passing a state-level exam on the state’s scope of practice limitations, and submitting a list of personal references. Most states require passing scores on all or part of the four-part test administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.Īfter passing the board exams, candidates then complete the final steps to licensure as required by the state in which they would like to practice. Chiropractic physicians are only allowed to practice in states in which they are licensed. After they earn their degrees from chiropractic college, graduates must then take and pass their board exams before they can apply for a license to practice.Īll fifty states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico regulate the practice of chiropractic and grant licenses to qualified candidates. Just as medical doctors and attorneys, chiropractors must prove their knowledge and readiness to practice. 36, Issue 02.Īre You Misusing Your Credentials? (PDF) Certification and Licensure See the article by John Riggs III, DC, MBA, published in Dynamic Chiropractic – February 1, 2018, Vol. The NBCE cannot verify board scores by e-mail, phone or letter. Please contact the state licensing board where a doctor practices to verify licensure/certification.Ĭhiropractors who require transcripts of their NBCE exam scores should visit and place the request through their online accounts. It is the state board, in the state where he/she will practice that reviews each candidate’s transcripts, scores and other pertinent documents from a variety of sources to determine licensure eligibility and then issues a license to practice. As a testing organization, the NBCE prepares and administers examinations that state licensing boards use in their evaluation of a doctor for licensure. The NBCE does not certify/license chiropractors.