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ROAD TO PRACTICE:

California

1. Join State Association

California Chiropractic Association “CalChiro”

Website

https://calchiro.org/

Districts Breakdown

https://calchiro.org/district-directory/

 

Member benefits

  • Members maps
  • Classifieds
  • CEUs
  • District meetings
  • Advocacy

2. License Requirements

Applying For NBCE Exams

  • NBCE Link – https://www.mynbce.org/
  • Parts I*, II*, III* and IV*: Required
  • Physiotherapy*: Required
    *PASSING SCORE IS 375
State Specific Exams
Reciprocity
  • May be used to endorse license application
  • Travel to Treat not authorized
  • Telemedicine not authorized
Applying for a License

The application is now online:
Applicants – Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Applicants must apply, wait for approval and verification of academic requirements such as graduation and completion of board exams and identity verification (fingerprints), then take the Jurisprudence exam, and submit final application.

There are application fees ($371 as of 8/2022) and Exam fees

The application process is fairly streamlined and may be started before graduation.

Check Sheet for the “Application for a License to Practice Chiropractic”

  1. Application
  2. Fees ($371 as of 8/2022)
  3. Transcripts from NBCE
  4. Transcripts from Chiropractic College
  5. Official documentation (diploma photocopy, certification of licensure from other states, etc.)
  6. Fingerprints (Live Scan for CA residents)

Article 1 & 2 of the Rules and regulations
Rules and Regulations

Licenses or Satellite Licenses must be clearly displayed

Section §312.1
“No unlicensed individual may own a chiropractic practice regardless of the form in which the practice is established”

Scope of Practice

“The Act”

Initiative Act – Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Article 1 Section §302: Practice of Chiropractic:
“(3) Other than as explicitly set forth in section 10(b) of the Act, a duly licensed chiropractor may treat any condition, disease, or injury in any patient, including a pregnant woman, and may diagnose, so long as such treatment or diagnosis is done in a manner consistent with chiropractic methods and techniques and so long as such methods and treatment do not constitute the practice of medicine by exceeding the legal scope of chiropractic practice as set forth in this section.”

Rules and Regulations

Continuing Education

Section §361. “Continuing Education Requirements” of the rules and regulations

Rules and Regulations

  • 24 Hours per year.
  • up to 12 hours may be distance learning
  • 2 Hours of Ethics and Law
  • 4 Hours in any combination of: History Taking and Physical Examination; Chiropractic Adjustive Techniques; Proper and Ethical Billing and Coding.
  • 18 Hours in any subject listed in section §361.g

You can Find a list of approved CEUs here:
Continuing Education – Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Other Relevant Information

Licensees must maintain proof of completion for 4 years.
“The Board shall conduct random audits to verify compliance with Continuing Education requirements of active licensees. Licensees shall secure and retain certificates of completion issued to them at the time of attendance of approved Continuing Education courses for a period of four (4) years from their last renewal and shall forward these documents to the Board upon request.”

CoVid-19 relevant waivers:
Waiver Information for Continuing Education Requirements: All Licensees – Board of Chiropractic Examiners

List of Forms and Applications

3. Getting Your NPI Number

(New Practioner Identification) Number

4. Obtaining an EIN

(Employer Identification Number)

Step by step instructions

https://sa.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp

Note: This is your tax ID number as a practitioner

State specific rules

  • Link to state-specific “starting a business” https://www.virginia.gov/state-government/business/
  • You need to have a physical address, PO boxes do not apply for address qualifications.
  • File your business here: https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/
    • You will need to reserve your name, and can do so before you are ready to actually file your business
    • You will file your articles of organization and registered agent
    • You will also need to register for your business itself for future tax purposes here. In Virginia, chiropractors may file under either PLLC or LLCs, as well as other organizations. However, depending on who reviews your materials, they may want your LLC to be a PLLC or vice versa. Legally you can file for either.

Note: This is your tax ID number as a practitioner

Type Of Business Breakdown

Business Structure

Ownership

Liability

Taxes

Sole Proprietorship

One person

Unlimited personal liability

Personal tax only

Partnership

Two or more persons

Unlimited personal liability unless structured as a limited partnership

Self-employment tax (except for limited partnership), Personal tax

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Two or more persons

Owners are not personally liable

Self-employment tax, Personal tax or Corporate tax

Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)

Two or more persons

Owners are not personally liable

Self-employment tax, Personal tax or Corporate tax

Corporation – C Corp

One or more persons

Owners are not personally liable

Corporate tax

Corporation – S Corp

One or more persons, but no more than 100 and all must be US citizens

Owners are not personally liable

Personal tax

Corporation – B Corp

One or more persons

Owners are not personally liable

Corporate tax

Corporation – Nonprofit 

One or more persons

Owners are not personally liable

Tax-exempt, but corporate can’t be distributed

Note: The difference between an LLC and a PLLC is that all members of a PLLC are required to be designated professionals.

What is an Associate?

An associate receives pay from the office by which they are employed. If you are an associate who will be dealing with vendors for selling goods, you should consider getting an EIN.

What is an independent Contractor?

An independent contractor receives pay from their patients and insurance companies directly. If you are an independent contractor, you need an EIN.

5. Obtaining Malpractice Insurance

Malpractice Insurance Providers

What To Consider When Selecting A Plan

Claims Made

A policy providing coverage that is triggered when a claim is made against the insured during the policy period, regardless of when the wrongful act that gave rise to the claim took place. (The one exception is when a retroactive date is applicable to a claims-made policy.)

Occurrence

An occurrence policy covers claims resulting from an injury or another event that occurs during the policy term. Coverage depends on the timing of the event. A claims-made policy covers claims that are made during the policy period.

Tail Coverage

An addition to a claims-made policy. It extends coverage for incidents that happened during the time you had your policy, but a claim was not filed until after your policy expired or was canceled. Tail coverage is another name for an extended reporting period.

Note: $1 Million/$3 Million is the minimum plan required in order to participate with some Insurance Companies.

6. Participating with Insurance Providers