FAQ for the Board of Chiropractors

See Board Rule 100-2-.07 and the How To Guide for more information.

*NOTARIZED APPLICATION, FEE AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: The application may be found on the board’s website. Any question answered “yes” on the application will require the submission of additional documentation to include a detailed letter of explanation and certified copies of actions for any arrests, criminal convictions or charges, sanctions/actions taken by any state licensing board, any academic disciplinary action, denials of licensure or being a recipient of treatment for chemical dependence or substance or alcohol abuse. The Board will review the application and supplemental documentation to render a decision. Please note that licensure is at the discretion of the Board and the Board may use such discretion to impose additional requirements as it deems necessary. NOTE:  APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. 

*NATIONAL BOARD SCORES – I, II, III, and IV: All applicants are required to pass Parts I, II, III and IV of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination (passing score = 375). Please contact the National Board and have them certify your scores to Georgia. 

*DEGREE TRANSCRIPT: All applicants for licensure must have graduated from a CCE approved chiropractic school or college. An official Chiropractic College transcript certifying the grades, degree conferred, and the date awarded must be received in this office directly from the Registrar of the college/school. If your name has changed since you attended school, please make a note on the application advising of your former name(s) so we can match-up the documents with your application. 

*If you obtained the required 120 classroom hours of physiotherapy to become certified for Electrical Therapeutic Modalities, you must submit proof to the Board’s office you must submit proof to the Board’s office in the form of a statement of certification in the proper utilization of physiotherapy modalities from your chiropractic school or program and official transcripts.  

*UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS: The undergraduate transcripts should be certified and mailed directly from the Registrar of the school to the Board’s office. You must submit undergraduate transcripts to show that you obtained either 60 semester or 90 quarter hours. Individuals who have graduated from foreign undergraduate schools or colleges must provide the board with an official credential’s evaluation of their undergraduate education. 

*OTHER STATE LICENSURE CERTIFICATION: If you are currently, or have ever been, licensed in another state(s), you are required to have that/those state(s) submit an official certification/verification of the status of that license directly to the Board’s office. 

*JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION: The Board’s law/jurisprudence exam is an open-book exam that is part of the application process. Materials to assist you with answering the questions on the examination can be located within the laws, rules, policy statements and frequently asked questions (FAQs) located on the Board website.

A license cannot be issued until all required documentation has been received, reviewed with no deficiencies noted, and the application is deemed complete. Please allow an estimated fifteen business days for applications and all required supporting documents to be processed. You will be notified in writing, via the email address provided on the application, of any deficiencies noted with your application or other supporting documents. It is important that you monitor your email account, to include the inbox, spam or junk mail folders for any correspondence forwarded to you from the Board. 

NOTE: Applicants with "yes" responses to questions regarding arrests, criminal convictions or charges, sanctions/actions taken by any state licensing board, any academic disciplinary action, denials of licensure or having been a recipient of treatment for chemical dependence or substance or alcohol abuse will require Board review. As a result, processing time for those applications will be extended.  Applications which fall within this category will be prepared for presentation to the Board at the next scheduled bi-monthly (every 2 month) meeting after it is determined that the application is complete.

See Board Rule 100-2-.02 (http://rules.sos.ga.gov/GAC/100-3-.02) 

DEGREE TRANSCRIPT: All applicants for licensure must have graduated from a CCE approved chiropractic school or college. An official Chiropractic College transcript certifying the grades, degree conferred, and the date awarded must be received in this office directly from the Registrar of the college/school. 

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS: The undergraduate transcripts should be certified and mailed directly from the Registrar of the school to the Board’s office. You must submit undergraduate transcripts to show that you obtained either 60 semester or 90 quarter hours. Individuals who have graduated from foreign undergraduate schools or colleges must provide the board with an official credential’s evaluation of their undergraduate education. 

*If your name has changed since you attended school, please make a note on the application advising of your former names so we can match-up the documents with your application. 

*If you obtained the required 120 classroom hours of physiotherapy to become certified for Electrical Therapeutic Modalities, you must submit proof to the Board’s office you must submit proof to the Board’s office in the form of a statement of certification in the proper utilization of physiotherapy modalities from your chiropractic school or program and official transcripts.

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners – www.nbce.org or (970) 356-9100 

All applicants for licensure who graduated after January 1, 1998 are required to pass Parts I, II, III and IV of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination (passing score = 375). Applicants who graduated prior to January 1, 1988, are required to have passed Parts I and II of the national board examination. Applicants who graduated between January 1, 1988 and January 1, 1998, are required to have passed Parts I, II, and III.

See Board Rule 100-3.02 for more information.

Yes. The Board’s law/jurisprudence exam is an open-book exam that is part of the application process. Materials to assist you with answering the questions on the examination can be located within the laws, rules, policy statements and frequently asked questions (FAQs) located on the Board website. The Georgia Jurisprudence Examination can be found on the Board's landing page.  

Renewal is required by December 31st of even number years. If you do not renew by December 31st, you cannot practice until your license is renewed or reinstated. Monitor the home page of the Board's website for information regarding the start of the renewal application process. 

Late renewal, including a penalty fee, is allowed from January 1st of the odd year following the renewal year through January 31st of the odd year following renewal. It is unlawful to continue to practice after the December 31st expiration date if the license has not been renewed or reinstated.

Each licensed chiropractor is required to obtain a minimum of 20 hours per year of the two-year renewal period. This means that a licensee must have a total of 40 hours of continuing education during the two years preceding the license expiration date.

*15 hours each year must be in clinical sciences;
*4 hours each year must be in ethics or risk management; and, 

*1 hour each year must be in Georgia laws & rules. 

Licensees are automatically exempt from meeting the continuing education requirement in the calendar year said candidate is initially licensed.  

The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners only allows a total of 20 hours of CE per biennial renewal period to be obtained via the audio/visual/electronic media category. Please note that "Live" Webinars will be credited towards the audio/visual/electronic media category as courses taken via that method do not satisfy the Board's continuing education attendance requirements.

As of January 1 of the odd year following the expiration date, the license will enter a "Lapsed-Late Renewal Period" status. This status will allow the licensee to apply for the renewal of the license; however, the fee associated with the renewal increases.  In addition, the licensee CANNOT continue to practice as the license is expired. The "Lapsed-Late Renewal Period" begins January 1st and ends January 31st of the odd numbered year following the expiration date of the license.

If a licensee in this status fail to complete the renewal application process before 5 PM on January 31st of the odd numbered year following the expiration date, the license will enter a "Lapsed" status as of February 1st.   Should the license enter a "Lapsed" status, the individual will be required to apply for licensure by reinstatement if he or she desires to have the ability to practice in the state of Georgia.

***NOTE - Renewal fees are non-refundable and will not be applied toward any reinstatement fees.

See Board Rule 100-2-.09 and the How To Guide for more information.

*NOTARIZED APPLICATION, FEE AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: The application may be found on the board’s web-site under the Application/Form Downloads section. Any question answered “yes” on the application will require the submission of additional documentation to include a detailed letter of explanation and certified copies of actions for any arrests, criminal convictions or charges, sanctions/actions taken by any state licensing board, any academic disciplinary action, denials of licensure or being a recipient of treatment for chemical dependence or substance or alcohol abuse. The Board will review the application and supplemental documentation to render a decision. Please note that licensure is at the discretion of the Board and the Board may use such discretion to impose additional requirements as it deems necessary. NOTE:  APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

*OTHER STATE LICENSURE CERTIFICATION:  If you are currently, or have ever been, licensed in another state(s), you are required to have that/those states submit an official certification/verification of the status of that license directly to the Board’s office.

RESUME OR CV - List chronologically all employment, specialty training and all other experiences in the practice of chiropractic. Include names, beginning and ending dates, and locations, where applicable. Explain any intervals where you were not in training or practicing chiropractic.

*JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION:  The Board’s law/jurisprudence exam is an open-book exam that is part of the application process. Materials to assist you with answering the questions on the examination can be located within the laws, rules, policy statements and frequently asked questions (FAQs), above

*CONTINUING EDUCATION: You must have 40 hours of Continuing Education acquired in the last two years preceding the date of your application and the hours used for reinstatement cannot be used to meet any continuing education requirements for the renewal of the license.

*NOTARIZED REACTIVATION APPLICATION, FEE AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: The application may be found on the board’s website. Any question answered “yes” on the application will require the submission of additional documentation to include a detailed letter of explanation and certified copies of actions for any arrests, criminal convictions or charges, sanctions/actions taken by any state licensing board, any academic disciplinary action, denials of licensure or being a recipient of treatment for chemical dependence or substance or alcohol abuse. The Board will review the application and supplemental documentation to render a decision. Please note that licensure is at the discretion of the Board and the Board may use such discretion to impose additional requirements as it deems necessary. NOTE:  APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. 

*OTHER STATE LICENSURE CERTIFICATION: If you are currently, or have ever been, licensed in another state(s), you are required to have that/those states submit an official certification/verification of the status of that license directly to the Board’s office. 

*RESUME OR CV - List chronologically all employment, specialty training and all other experiences in the practice of chiropractic. Include names, beginning and ending dates, and locations, where applicable. Explain any intervals where you were not in training or practicing chiropractor.

See Georgia law, O.C.G.A. § 43-9-16. In addition, you are encouraged to review the Consumer Information and Awareness Act to obtain additional direction on how a doctor of chiropractic are to identify themselves in certain settings, signage in the workplace and in advertisements. Chiropractors licensed under this chapter may only use the terms chiropractors, Doctor of Chiropractic, and/or D.C. The use of the term Chiropractic Physicians is not authorized.

NBCE – National Board of Chiropractic Examiners 

FCLB – Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards 

GCA – Georgia Chiropractic Association 

GCC – Georgia Council on Chiropractic 

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

All C.E. providers seeking approval of a C.E. Program by the Georgia State Board of Chiropractic Examiners must comply with Board Rules 100-5-.02 and 100-5-.04 and submit a Continuing Education Program Application & Approval Form for each program presented.  

The application and all supporting documents must be submitted a minimum of 60 days in advance of the first date of the course. A failure to do so will delay the review and approval process. The status of the application will be communicated via email to the contact person(s) indicated on the application. It is important that the contact person on the application monitor the provided email account, to include the inbox, spam or junk mail folders for any correspondence forwarded to them from the Board. 

If a course gains board approval, it will be added to the list of approved continuing education programs. You may also locate that list as well as a list of approved courses for the two previous calendar years on the Approved Continuing Education Programs page.

The Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners does not issue letters of good standing. If another licensing authority or employer requires an official statement about the status of a license in this state, the licensee may submit an Online License Verification request. Access the option by selecting the License Renewal link and enter your unique User ID and Password.  Once logged in, select the Verification of Licensure option which is located on the left of the page, then follow the instructions.  

Please note that a $35 fee is required before the verification will be issued. The license verification request will be processed and forwarded to the entity you indicated on the online form.  If you have multiple licenses and/or you need the license verification sent to multiple locations, you will be required to submit a new order and fee each time. 

If you do not have access to a credit or debit card for payment of the fee, you may submit your request by mail using a check or money order. Download the order form>>

You can find all the information you need on the Rule Waiver Registry page.

Georgia’s Health Records Law can be found in O.C.G.A § 31-33.

In addition, you can download a PDF of the Health Records Law.

Download a PDF of the Georgia Board of Chiropractors Policy Statements>>

Those interested in the requirements, for which a registrant is responsible, for use of x-ray equipment by or under the supervision of an individual authorized in accordance with State statutes to engage in the healing arts should consult Georgia Rules and Regulations 111-8-90-.04.

Download a PDF of the current list of Board Approved Peer Reviewers>>