CHAPTER 151
CHIROPRACTIC

Referred to in §135.24, 135.61, 135P.1, 147.76, 147.136A, 148A.7, 261.73, 272C.3, 272C.4, 321.34, 321.445, 321L.2, 509.3, 514.7, 514B.1, 514C.13, 514C.29, 514F.1, 514F.2, 514I.6, 702.17, 714H.4

Enforcement, §147.87, 147.92
Penalty, §147.86
Utilization and cost control review committee; §514F.1

  
     
151.1  “Chiropractic” defined.
  For the purpose of this subtitle the following classes of persons shall be deemed to be engaged in the practice of chiropractic:
  1.  Persons publicly professing to be chiropractors or publicly professing to assume the duties incident to the practice of chiropractic.
  2.  Persons who treat human ailments by the adjustment of the neuromusculoskeletal structures, primarily, by hand or instrument, through spinal care.
  3.  Persons utilizing differential diagnosis and procedures related thereto, withdrawing or ordering withdrawal of the patient’s blood for diagnostic purposes, performing or utilizing routine laboratory tests, performing physical examinations, rendering nutritional advice, utilizing chiropractic physiotherapy procedures, all of which are subject to and authorized by section 151.8.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2555; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.1]
83 Acts, ch 83, §1, 2; 99 Acts, ch 141, §27
Referred to in §151.2, 151.10, 151.11

     
151.1A  Board defined.
  As used in this chapter, “board” means the board of chiropractic created under chapter 147.
2007 Acts, ch 10, §119

     
151.2  Persons not engaged in.
  Section 151.1 shall not be construed to include the following classes of persons:
  1.  Licensed physicians and surgeons, licensed osteopathic physicians and surgeons, and physical therapists who are exclusively engaged in the practice of their respective professions.
  2.  Physicians and surgeons of the United States army, navy, or public health service when acting in the line of duty in this state, or to chiropractors licensed in another state, when incidentally called into this state in consultation with a chiropractor licensed in this state.
  3.  Students of chiropractic who have entered upon a regular course of study in a chiropractic college approved by the board, who practice chiropractic under the direction of a licensed chiropractor and in accordance with the rules of the board.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2556; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.2]
2007 Acts, ch 10, §120; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §58

     
151.3  License.
  Every applicant for a license to practice chiropractic shall do all of the following:
  1.  Present satisfactory evidence that the applicant possesses a preliminary education equal to the requirements for graduation from an accredited high school or other secondary school.
  2.  Present a diploma issued by a college of chiropractic approved by the board.
  3.  Pass an examination prescribed by the board.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2557; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.3]
83 Acts, ch 83, §3; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §121; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §59

     
151.4  Approved college.
  1.  A college of chiropractic shall not be approved by the board as a college of recognized standing unless the college requires for graduation or for the receipt of any chiropractic degree the completion of a course of study covering a period of four academic years.
  2.  An approved college of chiropractic may include but is not limited to offerings of courses of study in procedures for withdrawing a patient’s blood, performing or utilizing laboratory tests, and performing physical examinations for diagnostic purposes. A chiropractor, employed by an approved college of chiropractic and who has been trained to withdraw blood may withdraw blood and instruct, and supervise a student in the withdrawing of blood.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2558; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.4]
83 Acts, ch 83, §4; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §122; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §60
Referred to in §261.71, 261.73

     
151.5  Operative surgery — drugs.
  A license to practice chiropractic shall not authorize the licensee to practice operative surgery or administer or prescribe prescription drugs or controlled substances which can only be prescribed by persons authorized by law.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2559; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.5]
2008 Acts, ch 1088, §61
Drug dispensing, supplying, and prescribing, see §147.107 

     
151.6  Display of word “chiropractor”.
  Every licensee shall place upon all signs used by the licensee, and display prominently in the licensee’s office the word “chiropractor”.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §2560; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §151.6]
Titles and degrees, §147.72 – 147.74 

  
     
151.7  Probation — advertising restrictions.  Repealed by 99 Acts, ch 141, §42. 

     
151.8  Training in procedures used in practice.
  1.  A chiropractor shall not use in the chiropractor’s practice the procedures otherwise authorized by law unless the chiropractor has received training in their use by a college of chiropractic offering courses of instructions approved by the board or by curriculum taught on a postgraduate level approved by the board.
  2.  Any chiropractor licensed as of July 1, 1974, may use the procedures authorized by law if the chiropractor files with the board an affidavit that the chiropractor has completed the necessary training and is fully qualified in these procedures and possesses that degree of proficiency and will exercise that care which is common to physicians in this state.
  3.  A chiropractor using the additional procedures and practices authorized by this chapter shall be held to the standard of care applicable to any other health care practitioner in this state.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §151.8]
83 Acts, ch 83, §5; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §123; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §62
Referred to in §151.1

  
     
151.9  Revocation or suspension of license.
  A license or certificate to practice as a chiropractor may be revoked or suspended when the licensee or certificate holder is guilty of the following acts or offenses:
  1.  Fraud in procuring a license.
  2.  Professional incompetency.
  3.  Knowingly making misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations in the practice of the licensee’s profession or engaging in unethical conduct or practice harmful or detrimental to the public. Proof of actual injury need not be established.
  4.  Habitual intoxication or addiction to the use of drugs.
  5.  Fraud in representations as to skill or ability.
  6.  Use of untruthful or improbable statements in advertisements.
  7.  Willful or repeated violations of the provisions of this chapter or chapter 272C.
[C79, 81, §151.9]
2008 Acts, ch 1088, §63; 2018 Acts, ch 1026, §52; 2020 Acts, ch 1103, §16, 31

     
151.10  Education requirements.
  A person who is an applicant for a license to practice chiropractic shall only be required to be tested for the adjunctive procedures specified in section 151.1, subsection 3 which the person chooses to utilize. A person licensed to practice chiropractic shall only be required to complete continuing education requirements for the adjunctive procedures specified in section 151.1, subsection 3 which the person chooses to utilize. A person who is an applicant for a license to practice chiropractic or a person licensed to practice chiropractic shall not be required to utilize any of the adjunctive procedures specified in section 151.1, subsection 3 to obtain a license or continue to practice chiropractic, respectively.
83 Acts, ch 83, §6

     
151.11  Rules.
  The board shall adopt rules necessary to administer section 151.1, to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, including rules governing the practice of chiropractic and defining any terms, whether or not specified in section 151.1, subsection 3. Such rules shall not be inconsistent with the practice of chiropractic and shall not expand the scope of practice of chiropractic or authorize the use of procedures not authorized by this chapter. These rules shall conform with chapter 17A.
83 Acts, ch 83, §7; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §124

     
151.12  Temporary certificate.
  1.  The board may, in its discretion, issue a temporary certificate for one year authorizing the certificate holder to practice chiropractic if, in the opinion of the board, a need exists and the person possesses the qualifications prescribed by the board for the certificate, which shall be substantially equivalent to those required for licensure under this chapter. No requirements of the law pertaining to regular permanent licensure are mandatory for the temporary certificate except as specifically designated by the board. The granting of a temporary certificate does not in any way indicate that the person is eligible for regular licensure or that the board is obligated to issue the person a regular license.
  2.  The fee for the temporary certificate shall be based on the administrative costs of issuing the certificates.
86 Acts, ch 1127, §1; 2006 Acts, ch 1184, §94; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §125; 2007 Acts, ch 126, §37; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §250; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §64