PURPOSE: This rule explains examinations given by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, documentation required, deadlines, examination results, challenges and transcript language.

1. (1) All applicants for a certificate of registration shall pass all parts of the written examination administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (N.B.C.E.), including Parts I, II, III (the Written Clinical Competency Examination) and the elective section on Physiotherapy. Additionally, all applicants shall pass the regional/national practical examination (Part IV) administered by the N.B.C.E., and an examination over the Missouri statutes, rules and regulations. If the board determines that Part IV of the N.B.C.E. examination no longer meets the practical examination requirements under section 331.030.6, RSMo, or if the board determines for any reason that it should administer a practical examination, applicants shall pass the practical examination administered by the board. The time and location of each examination may be obtained by writing the board’s executive director.
2. (2) No person shall be entitled to take the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or the board’s practical examination, except graduates of or senior students in board-approved chiropractic colleges. Senior students will not be permitted to sit for the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or the board’s practical examination, unless that student expects to graduate within six (6) months of the examination date.

3. (3) For a senior student to be eligible to take the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or the board’s practical examination, the following documentation is required:

   1. (A) Completed application which has been completed in accordance with the requirements of 4 CSR 70-2.040 and examination or application processing fee;
   2. (B) One (1) original, unretouched, black and white or color photograph of the applicant taken within the last six (6) months, showing the head and shoulders, front view, not to exceed two inches by two inches (2" × 2"), not a polaroid-type photograph;
   3. (C) Official National Board of Chiropractic Examiners transcripts (Parts I and II); and
   4. (D) A letter from the chiropractic college certifying the student’s expected graduation date.

4. (4) The following documentation should be in the board office prior to licensure:

   1. (A) The official chiropractic college transcript(s); and
   2. (B) Official National Board of Chiropractic Examiners transcripts (Parts I, II, III, IV and the elective on Physiotherapy). A Part IV transcript is not required if the applicant is applying to take a practical examination administered by the board.
5. (5) Transcripts from foreign countries which are not in English shall have a certified English translation attached.

6. (6) If the candidate is applying for a practical examination to be administered by the board, the following procedures will apply:

   1. (A) Before the examination, each applicant shall be given an identification number which shall be used during the examination. The candidate shall not be admitted to examination unless s/he is wearing the identification badge assigned to him/her;
   2. (B) All candidates for the board’s practical examination, regardless of assigned identification number, shall report to the examination site at the time designated on the schedule letter;
   3. (C) While examinations are in progress, any applicant detected cheating, attempting to give aid or accepting aid from another shall be excluded from further examination and the applicant’s examination papers, if any, rejected;
   4. (D) Any applicant who fails any portion of the board’s practical examination three (3) times shall be required to return to an accredited chiropractic college and successfully complete a semester of additional study in the failed subjects; and
   5. (E) If a candidate fails the examination or any portion thereof and subsequently passes an examination in another state, then wishes to obtain a Missouri license by reciprocity, that candidate shall successfully pass the previously failed section(s) of the Missouri board’s practical examination or the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC) which is administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners before a license will be granted.

7. (7) Requirements for a passing score are—

   1. (A) The applicant must achieve a composite score of seventy-five percent (75%) on the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or score seventy-five percent (75%) in each section of the board’s practical examination.
   2. (B) The applicant will be required to retake only the failed section(s), if any, of the board’s practical examination or the examination over the Missouri statutes, rules and regulations, upon payment of the reexamination fee; and
   3. (C) The applicant must receive a composite score of seventy-five percent (75%) on the jurisprudence examination regarding Missouri statutes and regulations.

8. (8) Notification of Examination Results if Taking a Practical Examination Administered by the Board.

   1. (A) An applicant who receives a passing score will be notified that s/he has passed but will not be advised of the score received.
   2. (B) An applicant who fails to achieve a passing score will be advised of his/her failure and the numerical score.
9. (9) Examination Review or Challenges to Examination Questions. Any dispute, disagreement, difference of opinion or challenge to any examination question, the method of examination or any other matter concerning any examination administered by the board must be raised, in writing, at the time of the taking of the examination. Once the board’s examination has been concluded, any dispute, disagreement, difference of opinion or challenge to the examination in any respect which was not raised as provided in this rule will be deemed waived and will not be considered by the board.
10. (10) Retention of Answer Sheets. The board shall retain answer sheets of its practical and jurisprudence examinations on all applicants for a period of one (1) year from the date of an examination.

11. (11) Those candidates for licensure who have successfully completed the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or a practical examination administered by the board, and have not obtained their licenses to practice may do so within three (3) years from the date of the examination.

    1. (A) If the license is not obtained within the three (3)-year period and the applicant has not been practicing chiropractic, the applicant shall be required to return to an accredited chiropractic college for a semester of additional study in the clinical subjects, file the proper application, pass the N.B.C.E. Part IV examination, or the board’s practical examination, and pay the required fee(s).
    2. (B) If the license is not obtained within the three (3)-year period and the applicant has been practicing chiropractic in another state, territory or District of Columbia, or in any foreign country, the applicant may file application for license by reciprocity under the provisions of 4 CSR 70-2.070.
12. (12) If the applicant fails to provide all materials required in 4 CSR 70-2.050 within one
13. (1) year of filing the application for licensure, the board may return the application and materials to the applicant. The application may request an extension of the one (1) year time period upon submitting a written request to the board outlining the reasons the applicant is not able to provide the documentation required for licensure.

AUTHORITY: sections 331.030 and 331.100.2, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 70-2.050. Original rule filed Dec. 17, 1975, effective Dec. 27, 1975. Rescinded and readopted: Filed July 9, 1982, effective Nov. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed April 8, 1983, effective July 11, 1983. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 1983, effective Jan. 13, 1984. Amended: Filed April 10, 1986, effective July 11, 1986. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 1986, effective Nov. 13, 1986. Rescinded and readopted: Filed May 15, 1987, effective Aug. 27, 1987. Amended: Filed Aug. 18, 1987, effective Nov. 12, 1987. Amended: Filed March 8, 1988, effective July 28, 1988. Amended: Filed Dec. 1, 1988, effective April 13, 1989. Rescinded and readopted: Filed April 18, 1989, effective July 13, 1989. Amended: Filed April 18, 1990, effective June 30, 1990. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 1990, effective Dec. 31, 1990. Amended: Filed June 15, 1992, effective Jan. 15, 1993. Amended: Filed Aug. 26, 1993, effective April 9, 1994. Amended: Filed Jan. 24, 1996, effective July 30, 1996. Amended: Filed March 30, 1998, effective 20 CSR 2070-2 Sept. 30, 1998. Amended: Filed Aug. 12, 1999, effective Feb. 29, 2000. Amended: Filed March 15, 2000, effective Oct. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed July 31, 2003, effective Jan. 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2070- 2.050, effective Aug. 28, 2006. *Original authority: 331.030, RSMo 1939, amended 1945, 1947, 1949, 1969, 1981, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1997; and 331.100.2, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1969, 1980, 1981.