Date of Adoption: July 27, 2000.

Purpose: The purpose of these rule changes is to allow chiropractic applications to take one national examination instead of a state administered written and practical examination. This process will decrease license issuance time.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 246-808-120 Chiropractic examination scores; and amending WAC 246-808-105 Chiropractic licensure -- Initial eligibility and application requirements, 246-808-115 Examinations, and 246-808-135 Licensure by endorsement.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.25.0171.

Other Authority: RCW 18.25.030.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-13-094 on June 21, 2000.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

July 27, 2000

Robert S. Cummins, DC

Chairman, Chiropractic Commission

OTS-4108.3

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)

WAC 246-808-105
Chiropractic licensure -- Initial eligibility and application requirements.

To be eligible for Washington state chiropractic licensure, the applicant shall complete an application provided by the commission, and shall include written documentation to meet the eligibility criteria for ((such)) licensure.

     (1) Eligibility.      An applicant shall provide proof that ((they)) applicant:

     (a) Graduated from an accredited chiropractic college approved by the commission and show satisfactory evidence of completion of a resident course of study of at least four thousand classroom hours of instruction.

     (b) Successfully completed National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test parts I ((and)), II, III and IV.

     (c) Completed ((not less than)) at least one-half the requirements for a baccalaureate degree at an accredited and approved college or university if the applicant matriculated after January 1, 1975.      Applicants who matriculated prior to January 1, 1975, must show proof of high school graduation or its equivalent.

     (2) Application procedure.      Each applicant shall submit:

     (a) A completed official application including ((two)) one recent photo((s)).

     (b) The ((examination)) application fee.      (Refer to WAC 246-808-990 for fee schedule.)

     (c) Official transcripts from prechiropractic schools showing successful completion of at least two years of liberal arts and sciences study.

     (d) An official transcript and diploma certified by the registrar, from an approved chiropractic college.

     (e) An official certificate of proficiency sent directly to the commission from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, parts I ((and)), II, III and IV.

     (f) Verification of licensure status from all states where applicant has been issued a license to practice chiropractic.      Verification is required whether license is active or inactive.

     (g) ((Applicants must complete)) Evidence of completion of four clock hours of AIDS education as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 8.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280.      98-05-060, § 246-808-105, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98.      Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.25 RCW.      96-16-074, § 246-808-105, filed 8/6/96, effective 9/6/96.]

(1) In order to be eligible to take the commission administered examination, all applicants shall satisfactorily pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test parts I ((and)), II, III and IV which covers the subjects set forth in RCW 18.25.030.

     (2) ((The commission's written examination includes the law relating to chiropractic.

     (3) The commission's practical examination contains the following sections:

     (a) Practical x-ray;

     (b) Practical technique.)) All applicants shall pass the open book written jurisprudence examination.

     (3) The minimum passing score on the open book written jurisprudence examination is 95 percent.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.25 RCW.      96-16-074, § 246-808-115, filed 8/6/96, effective 9/6/96.]

An applicant may apply for licensure by endorsement by submitting to the commission:

     (1) A completed application on forms provided by the department;

     (2) A fee as specified in WAC 246-808-990; and

     (3) Evidence, satisfactory to the commission:

     (a) ((Of a)) That the license to practice chiropractic in another jurisdiction including, but not limited to, another state, a territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a province in Canada;

     (b) ((Of)) That the credentials and qualifications ((which)) are equivalent to the requirements of the state of Washington for licensure by examination at the time of application under this section;

     (c) That the jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed grants similar recognition to licensees in the state of Washington;

     (d) That the applicant has been engaged in the full-time practice of chiropractic, or has taught general clinical chiropractic subjects at an accredited school of chiropractic, as set forth in WAC 246-808-040, in a jurisdiction described in subsection (3)(a) of this section for at least three of the five years immediately preceding application under this section;

     (e) That the applicant has not been convicted of a crime, if such crime would be grounds for the refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license to practice chiropractic in this state if committed in the state of Washington;

     (f) That the applicant's license to practice chiropractic is not, at the time of application under this section, suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction, based on grounds which would be grounds for the refusal, suspension or revocation of a license to practice chiropractic in this state; and

     (g) Of passing ((a jurisprudence and adjustive technique examination administered by the Washington commission of chiropractic examiners)) an open book written jurisprudence examination and National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Special Purpose Examination for Chiropractors (SPEC).

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.25 RCW.      96-16-074, § 246-808-135, filed 8/6/96, effective 9/6/96.]

     The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

WAC 246-808-120

Chiropractic examination scores.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office