1. (a) Eligibility. Only those applicants who meet the requirements of this Rule and G.S. 90-143 or, in the case of reciprocity applicants, G.S. 90-143.1, and who have submitted a written application and paid the non-refundable application fee pursuant to Rule 21 NCAC 10 .0202 shall be allowed to take the North Carolina examination set forth in G.S. 90-143(b).

2. (b) Reciprocity Applicants. Reciprocity applicants shall complete the following:

   1. (1) submit the application set forth in 21 NCAC 10 .0202(a);
   2. (2) pay the application fee set forth in 21 NCAC 10 .0202(c);
   3. (3) pass the jurisprudence exam set forth in Paragraph (h) of this Rule;
   4. (4) comply with the requirements of G.S. 90-143.1; and
   5. (5) provide an attestation that the applicant meets the requirements of G.S. 90-143.1.
3. (c) Dates of Examination. The North Carolina jurisprudence examination shall be given at least four times during the calendar year. The Board shall announce an examination date not less than 30 days in advance and shall publish the date of upcoming examinations on the Board's website, www.ncchiroboard.com. The Board shall also individually notify each eligible applicant of the date of the next examination after the applicant's non-refundable application fee has been paid and the written application pursuant to Rule .0202 of this Section has been submitted to the Board.
4. (d) National Boards. Except as provided in Paragraph (f) of this Rule, in order to take the North Carolina examination, an applicant who has never been licensed in this State or who is not a reciprocity applicant shall first achieve a score of 375 or higher on Parts I-IV and the Physiotherapy examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
5. (e) Report of Scores. The applicant shall arrange for his or her test results from any National Board examination to be reported to the Board. The Board shall not issue a license to an applicant for whom the Board has not received official score reports from the examination testing provider showing passage of the examination set forth in Paragraph (d) of this Rule.

6. (f) Waiver of National Boards. Notwithstanding the requirements of Paragraph (d) of this Rule, an applicant who submits National Board examinations in conformity with the following schedule shall not be disqualified from licensure in North Carolina:

   1. (1) An applicant who graduated from chiropractic college between July 1, 1966 and June 30, 1986 shall be required to submit scores of 375 or higher on National Board Part I, Part II, and the elective examination termed "Physiotherapy," but shall not be required to submit a score on Part III or Part IV.

   2. (2) An applicant who graduated from chiropractic college between July 1, 1986 and June 30, 1997 shall be required to submit scores of 375 or higher on National Board Part I, Part II, the elective examination termed "Physiotherapy," and Part III, but shall not be required to submit a score on Part IV.

      In order to receive a license, an applicant who qualifies for a waiver of any National Board score pursuant to this Paragraph shall take and pass the Special Purpose Examination for Chiropractic ("SPEC") and the North Carolina Examination. An applicant who qualifies for a waiver of any National Board score must submit an application to the Board pursuant to Rule .0202 of this Section.

7. (g) SPEC Examination. The SPEC is administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The passing score shall be 375 or higher. In order to take the North Carolina examination, the following individuals must first take and pass the SPEC:

   1. (1) a reciprocity applicant;
   2. (2) a waiver applicant pursuant to Paragraph (f) of this Rule; and

   3. (3) an applicant previously licensed in this State whose active license has been lapsed pursuant to G.S. 90-155 for more than 180 days, unless the applicant has been engaged in continuous licensed chiropractic practice in another state within the United States for the three years preceding the applicant's application to the Board and has not been subject to any disciplinary action impacting the applicant's ability to engage in chiropractic practice.

      Reciprocity applicants and waiver applicants pursuant to Paragraph (f) of this Rule who have achieved a score of 375 or higher on Part IV of the National Board examination shall not be required to take and pass the SPEC prior to licensure. The term 'lapsed" in this Rule shall mean "inactive" as used in G.S. 90-155.

8. (h) Nature of Examination. The North Carolina jurisprudence examination shall be a test of an applicant's knowledge of North Carolina chiropractic law and regulations. The passing grade shall be 75 percent.

History Note: Authority G.S. 90-142; 90-143; 90-143.1; 90-143.3; 90-144; 90-145; 90-146;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Readopted Eff. January 27, 1978;
Amended Eff. January 1, 1983; October 17, 1980;
Legislative Objection Lodged Eff. January 31, 1983;
Curative Amendment Eff. February 18, 1983;
Temporary Amendment Eff. May 1, 1998;
Amended Eff. October 1, 2018; April 1, 2018; February 1, 2009; July 1, 2004; August 1, 2000; August 1, 1995; December 1, 1988;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. April 27, 2019;
Amended Eff. October 1, 2022; July 1, 2021;
Readopted Eff. April 1, 2026.