Chiropractic board moves to require recent clinical competency for new licenses, advances continuing-education and citation rule changes

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners voted unanimously to begin the rulemaking process to require recent clinical competency for new chiropractic licenses and approved multiple related regulatory changes on the board’s April meeting.

The board approved staff’s proposed regulatory text clarifying licensure application and examination processes. Under the change the board asked staff to pursue, an applicant for a doctor of chiropractic license would need to demonstrate one of two pre-licensure competency items: a passing score on the NBCE Part 4 practical exam taken within the four years preceding the license application; or documentary proof that the applicant has been actively licensed and practicing chiropractic in another U.S. state, district or territory during the same four‑year period. If neither condition is met, the applicant would be required to take the Part 4 practical before the California license may be issued. The board directed staff to submit the proposed text to the Department of Consumer Affairs and to initiate the 45‑day public comment period and other rulemaking steps.

Board members and staff framed the change as an effort to ensure clinical competency at the time of licensure rather than allowing decades‑old exam scores alone to qualify candidates. Licensing committee chair Pamela…