GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2003

SESSION LAW 2003-155

HOUSE BILL 278

AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING EXAMINATIONS FOR LICENSURE TO PRACTICE CHIROPRACTIC.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 90-143 reads as rewritten:

"§ 90-143.  Definitions of chiropractic; examinations; educational requirements.

(a)       "Chiropractic" is herein defined to be the science of adjusting the cause of disease by realigning the spine, releasing pressure on nerves radiating from the spine to all parts of the body, and allowing the nerves to carry their full quota of health current (nerve energy) from the brain to all parts of the body.

(b)       It shall be the duty of the North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (hereinafter referred to as "Board") to examine for licensure to practice chiropractic in this State any applicant who is or will become, within 60 days of examination, a graduate of a four-year chiropractic college that is either accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or deemed by the Board to be the equivalent of such a college and who furnishes to the Board, in the manner prescribed by the Board, all of the following:

(1)       Satisfactory evidence of good moral character.

(2)       Proof that the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(3)       A transcript confirming that the applicant has received at least 4,200 hours of accredited chiropractic education. The Board shall not count any hours earned at an institution that was not accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or was not, as determined by the Board, the equivalent of such an institution at the time the hours were earned.

The examination shall include, but not be limited to, include the following studies: neurology, chemistry, pathology, anatomy, histology, physiology, embryology, dermatology, diagnosis, microscopy, gynecology, hygiene, eye, ear, nose and throat, orthopody, diagnostic radiology, North Carolina jurisprudence, palpation, nerve tracing, chiropractic philosophy, theory, teaching and practice of chiropractic.chiropractic, and any other related studies as the Board may consider necessary to determine an applicant's fitness to practice. The Board may include as part of the examination any examination developed and administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners or its successor organization that the Board considers appropriate, and the examination may be administered by a national testing service. The Board shall set the passing scores for all parts of the examination.

(c)       The Board shall not issue a license to any applicant until the applicant exhibits a diploma or other proof that the Doctor of Chiropractic degree has been conferred.

(d)       The Board may grant a license to an applicant if the applicant's scores on all parts of the examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners required by the Board equal or exceed passing scores on the Board's examination, set by the Board and the applicant satisfies all other requirements for licensure as provided in this Article."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28^th day of May, 2003.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ James B. Black

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/ Michael F. Easley

                                                                         Governor

Approved 11:50 p.m. this 4^th day of June, 2003