Alaska
Chiropractic Information
Alaska Chiropractic Summary
In the interest of the public safety the Board of Chiropractic Examiners adopts regulations governing the practice of chiropractic in Alaska, makes final licensing decisions and takes disciplinary actions against people who violate licensing laws, is staffed by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, consists of four licensed chiropractic physicians and one public member, are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature, and meets a minimum of two times a year and offers a public comment period at each meeting.
A chiropractor is authorized to analyze, diagnose, or treat the chiropractic condition of a patient by chiropractic core methodology or by ancillary methodology. Chiropractic core methodology to mean the treatment and prevention of subluxation by chiropractic adjustment as indicated by a chiropractic diagnosis and includes the determination of contraindications to chiropractic adjustment, the normal regimen and rehabilitation of the patient and patient education procedures.
Licensing Requirements
Post-Licensing Education
Continuing Education requirements
32 hours required every 2 years 16 hours may be earned online. 2 hours are required in Coding/Documentation, 2 hours are required in Ethics/Boundaries, and 8 hours are required in X-Ray.
requirements for educators
If your courses/programs are approved by PACE there is no need for you to apply for approval from the Alaska Board of Chiropractic Examiners. However, if you have chosen not to receive certification through PACE you will need to submit a Continuing Education Course Approval Application for Providers for each course/program that you offer not less than 90 days before the date of the proposed program presentation date.
Continuing Education Course Approval Application for Providers, #08-4003, Revised 10/01/2016
Are PACE courses accepted for continuing education requirements?
Yes
Alaska requires examinations through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, NBCE Spec
State Chiropractic Online Resources
Regulatory Authority
Alaska Board of Chiropractic Examiners
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/professionallicensing/boardofchiropracticexaminers.aspx
Chiropractic Statutes and Regulations
Alaska Chiropractic Statutes and Regulations
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/ChiropracticStatutes.pdf
Alaska Centralized Licensing Statutes
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/Centralized_Licensing_Stats.pdf
Centralized Licensing Regulations
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/Centralized_Licensing_Regs.pdf
Alaska Scope of Practice – Statute Sec. 08.20.100
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/ChiropracticStatutes.pdf
State Government Resources
State Legislature Homepage
State Legislature Bill Search Tool
Legislative member roster
State Governor's Office
Secretary of State
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
State Associations
State Chiropractic Coverage
Worker’s Compensation
Alaska Workers Compensation Board https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/
WC Fee Schedule Chiropractic Page 32 https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/ak-medical-fee.htm
Alaska Workers Compensation Fee Schedule Guidelines – no Provider Network https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/ak-medical-fee.htm
Workers Compensation and YOU https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/publications/wc-brochure.pdf
Medicaid
Alaska Medicaid Recipient Handbook – updated 2020
https://health.alaska.gov/dhcs/Documents/PDF/Recipient-Handbook.pdf
Alaska Medicaid Fee Schedule Current
https://extranet-sp.dhss.alaska.gov/hcs/medicaidalaska/Provider/Sites/FeeSchedule.html
Alaska Chiropractic Medicaid Fee Schedule – Historical
https://extranet-sp.dhss.alaska.gov/hcs/medicaidalaska/Provider/Sites/ArchivedFeeSchedule.html
Alaska Medicaid Provider Billing Manuals
https://extranet-sp.dhss.alaska.gov/hcs/medicaidalaska/Provider/Sites/BillingManuals.html
Practice Options
| Perform extremity adjustments? | Y |
| Provide nutritional advice? | Y |
| Provide manipulation under anesthesia? | Y |
| Provide school enrollment exams? | Y1 |
| Provide sports physical exams? | Y |
| Provide return to play exams (including concussion protocol) for sports participation? | Y |
| Perform US Department of Transportation exams? | Y2 |
| Treat animals? | N |
| Perform acupuncture? | N |
| Perform dry needling? | Y3 |
| Perform intraoral TMJ treatments? | Y |
| Perform internal coccyx adjustments? | Y |
| Are there limits to body areas DCs are allowed to examine and/or treat? | Y4 |
| Are there limits on diagnostic tools DCs are allowed to use? | Y5 |
| Perform venipuncture? | Y |
| Perform casting? | N |
Qualifications:
1. While within scope, many major school districts will not accept exams to enter school (kindergarten) due to their “insurance carriers.” However, Alaska School Activities Associations did update their form and start accepting sports physicals completed by a chiropractor after chiropractic amended their statute in 2016.
08.20.100. Practice of chiropractic. (b) A person licensed under this chapter may (5) perform, within the scope of chiropractic practice, physical examinations of children for school physical examinations and preparticipation physical examinations for sports and school activities.
2. A chiropractor can perform a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam if they are a certified medical examiner (CME) listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) National Registry.
3. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners has put out a position in Feb, 2018 stating that it is within scope, however, there has been much discussion from the Department of Law to the contrary. This is an issue that is still a hot topic with the BOCE. https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/CHIdryneedling2020.pdf
1. Dry needling training, as currently practiced by allied healthcare groups, is insufficient in scope and duration. Clinical training should consist of a minimum of 24 hours, with significantly more practical training time recommended. Study and practice of clean technique should be included. The Board strongly recommends emergency procedures training should be sought, with specific training in utilizing low-pressure delivery oxygen systems and airways (OPA/NPA.); 2. Continuing education consisting of 8 hours biannually, with 2 hours of supervised technique and 2 hours of practical emergency procedures;3. A very careful review of the Chiropractic Physician’s malpractice insurance policy and a letter of coverage for dry needling; 4. The Chiropractic Physician must be able to obtain the instruments of the procedure (filiform needles) in a legal manner consistent with the restrictions of his/her license.
4. Licensees are prohibited from treating infectious, contagious, or venereal disease; preforming surgery; prescribing drugs or administering any drug. https://www.ndsbce.org/chiro/index.asp
5. Chiropractors in Alaska are not permitted to prescribe prescription drugs, perform surgery, needle acupuncture, obstetrics, or X-rays used for therapeutic purposes.
