Resolution to Allow for a Competitive Marketplace in Chiropractic Education, Licensing and Practice
WHEREAS, In May 1974 the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) was recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit Doctor of Chiropractic programs in the United States and;
WHEREAS, In 1974 the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) was established and quickly thereafter supported the CCE and its claim on the government petition and;
WHEREAS, Following the CCE’s recognition by the Department of Education, the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) issued a Resolution that its state board members revise statutes and administrative codes to require that future applicants for licensure show evidence of having graduated only from a college recognized by the CCE and;
WHEREAS, The goal of the FCLB and CCE has been accomplished with the vast majority of the chiropractic regulatory boards having included “CCE Only” language in their statutes and administrative codes and;
WHEREAS, The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) was formed in 1963 and administered its first exams in 1965 and;
WHEREAS, The NBCE and the FCLB embarked on a similar strategy to establish the NBCE as the sole testing organization within chiropractic and today all 50 states and the District of Columbia require passing of NBCE exams for licensure and;
WHEREAS, These actions by the CCE, FCLB, NBCE and related organizations along with the response by the states to enact such statutes and administrative codes created a single, monopolistic locus of control over the educational, regulatory and licensing functions of the entire chiropractic profession and;
WHEREAS, Federally backed student loan money as well as state resources and funding funnel through these and related organizations in support of their efforts and;
WHEREAS, These combined entities and related organizations have been acknowledged by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) of the U.S. Department of Education as operating as a “virtual cartel” and enjoying a monopoly within chiropractic and;
WHEREAS, this virtual cartel has engaged in the active marginalization of certain factions within the chiropractic profession that seek to educate, license and practice within a conservative model of chiropractic and;
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court has addressed the role and consequences of Active Market Players serving on state regulatory boards where issues of restraint of trade might arise and;
WHEREAS, The undersigned seek a competitive educational, regulatory and clinical practice marketplace that does not use governmental resources, including student loan money, to stifle competition and diversity; now therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That all state, provincial and territorial chiropractic regulatory boards remove from its laws, statutes, rules, regulations and policies the use of “Council on Chiropractic Education Only” language;
RESOLVED, That all state, provincial and territorial chiropractic regulatory boards remove from its laws, statutes, rules, regulations and policies the use of “National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Only” language;
RESOLVED, That all state, provincial and territorial chiropractic regulatory boards cease their funding, support and involvement with the FCLB.
This united statement describes the history of Chiropractic educational accreditation, licensing, testing and regulation and calls for drastic change.
Please note the CST agrees with the following statement from Dr. Christopher Kent DC JD.
“These resolutions are clear that no one is calling for the dissolution or end of any organization. The only thing these Resolutions call for is the end of a monopoly run by a Cartel” -Dr Christopher Kent DC, JD. He continues, “The monopolistic language should be removed in order to allow for a free and competitive marketplace in chiropractic education, testing and practice. You would have to question themotices of anyone in chiropractic who would be against that.”
We are calling for other Chiropractic organizations, foundations, companies and individuals to add their names in support of this effort. Additionally, the CST will be presenting this to the TBCE at the upcoming quarterly meeting.
