04/14/2023

New Michigan Board of Chiropractic Administrative Rules Now In Effect!

Be Aware of the New Rules Governing Continuing Education, Licensure Renewal and Re-Licensure, and Continuing Education Waivers

What You Need to Know

• Physical measures and performance and ordering of tests continuing education hours no longer must be obtained at a live, in-person program. They can now be taken online. The MAC has several webinars that satisfy this requirement (see below). Check out our library here.
• The rule governing continuing education clarifies the period in which a licensee must request a waiver of continuing education (not less than 30 days before the last regularly scheduled board meeting before the expiration date of the license).
• The rules pertaining to application by endorsement and re-licensure were updated to incorporates recent legislative changes that allow reciprocity with Canadian provinces and examinations.

Introduction

On March 29, 2023, an update to the Michigan Board of Chiropractic’s Administrative Rules was filed with the Office of the Great Seal, the final step of the State’s rulemaking process. Many of the new changes are technical in nature, such as cleaning up outdated language, correcting grammatical errors, making typographical revisions, etc. However, some changes – particularly those regarding continuing education and the relicensure process – will directly affect Michigan chiropractors.

What is an Administrative Rule?

An administrative rule is an agency's written regulation, statement, standard, policy, ruling, or instruction that has the effect of law. The general purpose of the Chiropractic Administrative Rules is to provide educational, licensure, and continuing education requirements for Michigan chiropractors.

It is the responsibility of each chiropractor to be aware of the Administrative Rules governing the practice of chiropractic. If you have questions or concerns, email the MAC’s Lisa Love-Smith (lisa@chiromi.com) or Tim Gaughan (tim@chiromi.com), or call the MAC at (517) 367-2225.

R 338.12037. License Renewal; Continuing Education (CE Waivers)

The new rule clarifies the time in which a request for a waiver of continuing education must be received by the Michigan Board of Chiropractic (not less than 30 days before the last regularly scheduled board meeting before the expiration date of the license).

The Board of Chiropractic typically meets four times per year – February, May, August, and November. With the new change to “issue date” renewal dates, if there is a possibility you may need a continuing education waiver for your current licensure period, it is imperative that you are familiar with the dates of these meetings and plan ahead! Meetings dates can be found here.

Keep in mind: Waivers can be granted by the Michigan Board of Chiropractic for the following reasons: Disability, military service, absence from the continental U.S., or other circumstance beyond the control of the licensee, which the BOC deems good and sufficient.

R 338.12041. Acceptable Continuing Education (Physical Measures and Tests Credits)

Under the former rule, the State of Michigan required continuing education hours for physical measures and the performance and ordering of tests to be obtained at a live, in-person program. This was part of the scope of practice change that came into effect in 2010.

The new rule eliminates the requirement that these hours be obtained at a live, in-person program. Rather, they can now be obtained online and through other distance learning methods approved under the rules.

MAC Webinars Available!

The MAC has several webinars that satisfy the physical measures and performance and ordering of tests requirement, including:

R 338.12035. Licensure by endorsement; requirements.

The revised rule pertains to applicants for licensure by endorsement and sets forth requirements associated with the process. Specifically, the rule now incorporates recent legislative changes that allow licensure by endorsement for individuals licensed in another state or a province of Canada. It further allows the examinations conducted by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB) to function as a substitute for passing Parts I, II, III, and IV of the NBCE examination. Finally, the new rule revises the requirements for verification of licenses held in other jurisdictions.

R 338.12036. Relicensure requirements.

The revised rule allows proof of licensure in a province of Canada as a pathway to relicensure and revises the requirement of verification of licenses held in other states.