As used in these rules, the following terms and acronyms shall have the following meaning ascribed to them:

1. (1) Adjustment - An interchangeable term with manipulation. A manual or mechanical passive therapeutic intervention using a direct thrust that may be administered with a high or low velocity, short or long lever, or high or low amplitude, directed to specific structures of the frame to improve joint function, neurological integrity, joint mobility or alignment. These interventions may be applied to all joints of the body as deemed appropriate.
2. (2) Advertising - Includes, but is not limited to business solicitation, with or without limiting qualifications, in a card, sign, or device issued to a person; in a sign or marking in or on any building; or in any newspaper, magazine, directory, or other printed matter. Advertising also includes business solicitations communicated by individual, radio, video, or television broadcasting, internet, social media, or any other means designed to secure public attention.
3. (3) Animal Chiropractic - Defined by T.C.A. § 63-4-101(a)(1).
4. (4) Applicant - Any individual seeking licensure by the Board who has submitted an official application and paid the application fee.
5. (5) Board - The Tennessee Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
6. (6) Board Administrative Office - The office of the Unit Director assigned to the Board located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.
7. (7) Board Designee - Any person who has received a written delegation of authority from the Board to perform Board functions subject to review and ratification by the full Board where provided by these rules.
8. (8) Closed Files - An administrative action which renders an incomplete or denied file inactive.
9. (9) Department - Tennessee Department of Health.
10. (10) Differential Diagnosis - Defined by T.C.A. § 63-4-101(a)(1)(B).
11. (11) Division - The Division of Health Related Boards, Tennessee Department of Health, from which the Board receives administrative support.
12. (12) Documentation - Refers to and includes, but is not limited to, notations made by the provider or his designated assistant in the patient record, relevant reports from other providers, electronically obtained and/or stored information and all diagnostic imaging, etc.
13. (13) Excessive - That which fails to be substantiated beyond the quantity of procedures customarily performed or utilized by a prudent person similarly trained, skilled and experienced in a specific diagnostic or treatment procedure or technique in question.
14. (14) Fee - Money, gifts, services, or anything of value offered or received as compensation in return for rendering services; also, the required application fees.
15. (15) Good Moral Character - The quality of being highly regarded in personal behavior and professional ethics.
16. (16) He/She Him/Her - When “he” appears in the text of these rules, the word represents both the feminine and masculine.
17. (17) HRB - When the acronym HRB appears in the text of these rules, the HRB represents Health Related Boards.
18. (18) License - Document issued to an applicant who successfully completes the licensure process. The license takes the form of an “artistically designed” license as well as other versions bearing an expiration date.
19. (19) Manipulation - An interchangeable term with adjustment. A manual or mechanical passive therapeutic intervention using a direct thrust that may be administered with a high or low velocity, short or long lever, or high or low amplitude, directed to specific structures of the frame to improve joint function, neurological integrity, mobility or alignment. These interventions may be applied to all joints of the body as deemed appropriate.
20. (20) National Board (NBCE) - Means the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) or its successor.
21. (21) Person - Any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, organization, or body politic.
22. (22) Licensee - Any person who has been lawfully issued a license.
23. (23) Rehabilitation Care - Corrective care provided to enhance and restore normal physiologic and/or functional ability to those with ailments, impairments, physical disorders or disabilities for the restoration and maintenance of health.
24. (24) Subluxation - An abnormal condition where one or the other of two adjacent articular surfaces has lost its articular or neurological function, position, or alignment and is classified less than a dislocation.
25. (25) Substantiation - Any test, examination, recorded symptom or other observation of the patient (or, in the case of a minor or otherwise legally incompetent person, reported to the provider or his staff by the parent or legal guardian) by the provider and determined by said provider to be useful in arriving at a treating or management diagnosis and/ or the determination of what, how, when, where and why to examine, treat, consult or refer a patient.
26. (26) Supportive Care - Support services and treatment given to enhance, prevent, control, or relieve complications, discomfort, and side effects and to improve the patient’s comfort and quality of life.
27. (27) Telehealth/Telemedicine - Defined by T.C.A.§ 63-1-155(a)(3).
28. (28) Telehealth Provider - Means a healthcare service provider engaged in the delivery of healthcare services through telehealth.
29. (29) Therapeutic Care - An adjustive, manipulative, nutritional, therapeutic, or rehabilitative treatment administered or ordered by a chiropractic physician. These interventions may utilize physical, mechanical, chemical, electrical, or thermal methods. These interventions may be applied throughout the joints and soft tissue regions of the body as deemed appropriate.
30. (30) Use of Title or Description - To hold oneself out to the public as having a particular status by means of stating on signs, mailboxes, address plates, stationary, announcements, business cards, or other means of professional identification.
31. (31) Written Evidence - Includes, but is not limited to, written verification from supervisors or other professional colleagues familiar with the applicant’s work.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-4-106, 63-4-114, 63-4-119, 63-4-120, 63-4-121, 63-4-122, and 63-4-123. Administrative History: Original rule filed April 19, 1983; effective May 19, 1983. Amendment filed October 22, 1987; effective December 6, 1987. Amendment filed April 25, 1989; effective July 29, 1989. Repeal and new rule filed December 28, 1995; effective March 12, 1996. Amendment filed February 12, 1996; effective April 27, 1996. Amendment filed August 26, 2002; effective November 9, 2002. Amendment filed September 13, 2002; effective November 27, 2002. Amendment filed September 27, 2002; effective December 11, 2002. Amendments filed February 17, 2017; effective May 18, 2017. Amendments filed February 19, 2025; effective May 20, 2025. Emergency rules filed January 8, 2026; effective through July 7, 2026. Amendments filed March 18, 2026; effective June 16, 2026.