District of Columbia
Chiropractic Information
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia Board of Chiropractic (BOC), a division within the DC Department of Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration (HRLA), has the responsibility to regulate the practice of chiropractic medicine in the District of Columbia. Its mission is to serve and protect the public and ensure high standards of chiropractic care and professionalism through best-practices in regulation, education and outreach.
“Practice of chiropractic” means the detecting and correcting of subluxations that cause vertebral, neuromuscular, or skeletal disorder, by adjustment of the spine or manipulation of bodily articulations for the restoration and maintenance of health; the use of x-rays, physical examination, and examination by noninvasive instrumentation for the detection of subluxations; and the referral of a patient for diagnostic x-rays, tests, and clinical laboratory procedures in order to determine a regimen of chiropractic care or to form a basis of referral of patients to other licensed health care professionals.
Licensing Requirements
Post-Licensing Education
Continuing Education requirements
30 hours required every licensing period. All hours may be earned online.
requirements for educators
None
Are PACE courses accepted for continuing education requirements?
YES
District of Columbia requires examinations through the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture – Required
NBCE Spec – Accepted
State Chiropractic Online Resources
Regulatory Authority
District of Columbia Board of Chiropractic https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/145992
Chiropractic Statutes and Regulations
Board Policies https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/397772
Board Regulations https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/155032
Health Occupations Revision Act https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/129252
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
DC Compensation Commission https://does.dc.gov/page/workers-compensation-does
Workers’ Comp Health Care Provider Information https://orm.dc.gov/page/healthcare-provider-information
Medicaid
State Medicaid Program Information https://dhcf.dc.gov/service/medicaid
State Medicaid Provider Information https://dhcf.dc.gov/page/provider-information-and-forms
Practice Options
| Perform extremity adjustments? | N/A |
| Provide nutritional advice? | N/A |
| Provide manipulation under anesthesia? | N/A |
| Provide school enrollment exams? | N/A |
| Provide sports physical exams? | N/A |
| Provide return to play exams (including concussion protocol) for sports participation? | N/A |
| Perform US Department of Transportation exams? | Y1 |
| Treat animals? | N/A |
| Perform acupuncture? | Y2 |
| Perform dry needling? | Y |
| Perform intraoral TMJ treatments? | Y |
| Perform internal coccyx adjustments? | Y |
| Are there limits to body areas DCs are allowed to examine and/or treat? | N/A |
| Are there limits on diagnostic tools DCs are allowed to use? | N/A |
| Perform venipuncture? | N |
| Perform casting? | N/A |
Qualifications:
1. 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.
2. Must complete 200 hours of chiropractic acupuncture training.