What
the statutes mean
New
Chiropractors (students)
- Your new license is good
until the next registration period.
- You are not required
to take any additional continuing education until the next registration period.
For example, a licensure period ends December 31, 2002. A chiropractor who receives
their license February 15, 2001 would not be required to take continuing education
from February 15, 2001 until December 31, 2002. They would be required to obtain
40 hours of continuing education in the next licensure period that begins January
1, 2003 and ends December 31, 2004.
Relocating
Chiropractors (transfers from other states)
If
you currently hold a valid license from another state, the department will grant
you a Wisconsin license as long as you do not have an arrest or conviction record,
your license has never been limited, suspended or revoked, you have graduated
from a chiropractic college and you have been in active practice for at least
24 hours per week for at least 3 out of the last 5 years. Depending on your age
and background there are additional requirements.
- You must have successfully completed a practical examination demonstrating
clinical competence which, in the board's judgement, is substantially equivalent
to the practical examination demonstrating clinical competence administered by
the board.
- You must successfully complete the special purpose examination
in chiropractic if you have not taken the initial licensure examinations of the
national board of chiropractic examiners.
- If you applied for your first
chiropractic license before July 1, 1960, you do not need any additional academic
credentials. If you applied for your first chiropractic license between July 1,
1960 and July 1, 1998 you must have completed the first 2 years of a baccalaureate
degree program at a college or university. If you applied for your first chiropractic
license after July 1, 1998 you must have graduated with a baccalaureate degree
from a college or university.
In order to obtain a license,
you must complete the department's application and submit certified transcripts
proving that your credentials meet the requirements listed above. The state will
also verify your license status in every state in which you have practiced.
All
Chiropractors
License
renewal -- New licenses are required by December 14th of even-numbered years.
The license is valid for 2 years. The state sends out a renewal notice; however,
if you do not receive a notice by December 1st, call the Department of Regulation
and Licensing at (608) 266-8609 because they do not accept lost mail as an excuse.
You must send the department:
- The department's
application for renewal
- The fee specified
on the application
- Evidence that you have, during the preceding
two years, completed 40 hours of continuing education for courses that were approved
by the state (see section on continuing education requirements).
If
you are late renewing your license, you must stop practicing until your license
is renewed.
Temporary
chiropractic permits
The department issues temporary practice
permits to chiropractors that travel with athletic teams, other performers, or
chiropractors who teach seminars that have been approved by the chiropractic examining
board. There are additional requirements for a temporary license:
- The individual may not have any disciplinary action pending in connection
with their current license.
- There is a fee for the temporary license.
- The
individual must inform the board, in writing, of the locations and dates on which
you will be practicing.
- The license is valid for 10 calendar days; however;
the individual may not practice for more than 3 calendar days under the temporary
permit.
The board does not issue temporary permits for
vacation coverage or relief services.
License
Display
Your license and current registration certificate
must be displayed in a prominent place. Typically, chiropractors display it on
a wall or shelf in their treatment or consultation room.
Change
of name and address
If you move, get married, or change your
name, you must notify the board within 30 days of the change of your name or address.
Professional
title
You must use the suffix "D.C." or "Chiropractor" immediately
following your surname for proper identification. It is improper, for example,
to identify yourself as "Dr. John Smith, DC".
Professional
liability insurance
You must have professional liability insurance
coverage in effect at all times in the amount of at least $100,000 for each occurrence
and $300,000 for all occurrences in one year. This requirement applies to all
chiropractors, even those that are 'semi-retired' or 'retired'. If you have a
license, you must have professional liability insurance. When the board conducts
its random audits, you must supply them with evidence of the insurance that has
been in force for the entire current license period.
Limited
liability entities
A chiropractor may organize his or her
business as a sole proprietorship, a service corporation, a limited liability
partnership, or a limited liability company (LLC).
No matter
how a chiropractor organizes their business for tax purposes, it does not affect
their scope of practice or their professional responsibilities. Regardless of
how you are organized, no one has the right to direct or control your professional
judgement. For example, if a chiropractor is employed by a medical practice, a
medical doctor may not tell the chiropractor how to make clinical decisions or
allow the chiropractor to do things that were outside their scope of practice.
Even if someone else pays a chiropractors salary, the chiropractor must make all
of the clinical decisions.
Organizing as an LLC
will not relieve you from being personally liable for any act, error, or omission
that arises out of the performance of your professional services. In addition,
professional liability insurance is always required, regardless of how you are
organized.
Statute excerpts
- 3.01 Registration of license
- 3.02 Biennial registration
- 3.03
Licensure by endorsement
- 3.035 Temporary chiropractic permits
- 3.04
Display of license
- 3.05 Change of name and addres
- 3.06 Professional
title
- 3.07 Professional liability insurance
- 3.08 Limited liability
entities
Chir 3.01 Registration of
license.
Every person granted a license as a chiropractor
shall be deemed registered for the current registration period. Licensees shall
qualify biennially for certificates of renewal of license registration.
Chir
3.02 Biennial registration.
- Requirements
For Renewal. To renew and obtain a new certificate of registration a licensee
shall, by December 14th of the even-numbered year following initial licensure
and every 2 years thereafter, file with the department:
- An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.
- The
fee required under s. 440.08 (2) (a), Stats.
- Evidence that the licensee
has, during the biennial period immediately preceding application, completed the
continuing education requirement specified in s. 446.02 (1) (b), Stats., except
that the requirement may be waived if the licensee was not practicing in Wisconsin
during that period.
- Requirements
For Late Renewal. A licensee who fails to meet the requirements in sub. (1) by
the renewal date shall cease and desist from practice as a chiropractor. Within
5 years following the renewal date, a licensee may renew and obtain a new certificate
of registration by filing with the department the materials specified in sub.
(1) and a late renewal fee specified in s. 440.08 (3) (a) 1 or 2, Stats.
- Requirements
For Reinstatement.
- Reinstatement following
failure to renew. A licensee who fails to renew within 5 years of the renewal
date may be reinstated by meeting requirements in sub. (2), and may be required
to take an examination prescribed by the board.
- Reinstatement following
disciplinary action. An applicant for reinstatement of license following disciplinary
action shall meet requirements in sub. (1) and may be required to successfully
complete an examination as the board prescribes.
Chir
3.03 Licensure by endorsement.
- Qualifications.
The board shall grant a license to a chiropractor who holds a valid license by
the proper authorities of any other jurisdiction provided the applicant:
- Does not have an arrest or conviction record subject to ss. 111.321, and 111.335,
Stats.
- Has graduated from a college of chiropractic accredited by the
council on chiropractic education and approved by the board.
- 1. Has graduated
from a reputable college of chiropractic, if the applicant first applied for any
license to practice chiropractic in any jurisdiction before July 1, 1960.
2.
Has completed at least the first 2 years of a baccalaureate degree program at
a college or university accredited by an accrediting body nationally recognized
by the secretary of the United States department of education, if the applicant
first applied for any license to practice chiropractic in any jurisdiction on
or after July 1, 1960.
3. Has graduated with a baccalaureate degree from
a college or university accredited by an accrediting body nationally recognized
by the secretary of the United States department of education, if the applicant
first applied for any license to practice chiropractic in any jurisdiction on
or after July 1, 1998. Note: Accrediting bodies nationally recognized by the secretary
of the federal Department of Education include the New England Association of
Schools and Colleges, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Association of
Schools and Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges. - Has been engaged in clinical
chiropractic case management at least 24 hours per week in one or more jurisdictions
in which the applicant has a current license for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately
preceding application in Wisconsin.
- Has successfully completed a practical
examination demonstrating clinical competence which, in the board's judgement,
is substantially equivalent to the practical examination demonstrating clinical
competence administered by the board.
- Has successfully completed the special
purpose examination in chiropractic, if the applicant has not taken the initial
licensure examinations of the national board of chiropractic examiners.
- Has
successfully completed a state law examination on the provisions of the Wisconsin
statutes and administrative rules relating to chiropractic.
- Has not had
a license or other credential limited, suspended or revoked by a licensing or
regulatory authority in Wisconsin or other jurisdiction.
- Application
Procedure. Each applicant shall file a completed, notarized application on forms
provided by the board. The application shall include all of the following:
- The signature of the applicant.
- The fee required under
s. 440.05 (1), Stats.
- A certified transcript from a chiropractic college
accredited by the commission on accreditation of the council on chiropractic education,
or approved by the board, sent directly to the board by the college.
- A
certified transcript verifying that the applicant has a bachelor's degree from
a college or university accredited by an accrediting body nationally recognized
by the secretary of the federal department of education if the applicant first
applies for any license to practice chiropractic in any jurisdiction on or after
July 1, 1998. The transcript shall be sent directly to the board by the college
or university.
- Verification of successful
completion of a practical examination demonstrating clinical competence. The verification
shall be forwarded directly to the board from the state that administered the
examination.
- Proof of successful
completion of the special purpose examination in chiropractic or the examination
of the national board of chiropractic examiners. The proof of completion shall
be forwarded directly to the board from the institution that administered the
examination.
- Proof of successful completion of the state law examination.
- Verification
of licensure status in all states in which the applicant is or has been licensed
to practice chiropractic.
- Information requested by the board relating
to any convictions or pending charges for criminal offenses.
- An otherwise
qualified applicant with a disability shall be provided with reasonable accommodations.
Note:
Applications are available upon request to the board office located at 1400 East
Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708.
Chir
3.035 Temporary chiropractic permits.
- The
board may grant a temporary permit to practice chiropractic to any chiropractor
who files an application prescribed by the board, pays the fee required under
s. 440.05 (6), Stats., and meets all of the following conditions:
- The applicant has a chiropractic license in good standing in another jurisdiction
and has no disciplinary action pending in connection with any chiropractic license
the applicant holds.
- The applicant will be practicing chiropractic only
as a chiropractor for participants in an athletic or performing arts event, or
as an instructor in a specific chiropractic education seminar approved for continuing
education by the board.
Note: Applications are
available upon request to the Chiropractic Examining Board, 1400 East Washington
Ave, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708.
- A temporary permit to practice
chiropractic issued by the board is valid for 10 calendar days during the 12 month
period immediately following its effective date, but no single period of practice
under the temporary permit may exceed 3 calendar days. The applicant, or holder
of a temporary permit, shall inform the board, in writing, of the locations at
which and the dates on which the applicant or holder of the temporary permit will
be practicing under the temporary permit, prior to engaging in practice under
the temporary permit.
- A chiropractor holding a temporary
permit to practice chiropractic may not use the temporary permit to provide relief
services or practice coverage for the practice of any chiropractor licensed in
this state. All temporary permits issued by the board shall bear the legend "limited
to sporting or performing arts events and approved educational purposes."
- A
temporary permit may be denied or revoked for any of the following reasons:
- Violation of any provision of ch. 446, Stats., or ch. Chir 6.
- Failure
to pay the fees required under s. 440.05 (6), Stats.
- Provision of fraudulent
or misrepresented information on the application for a temporary permit.
Chir
3.04 Display of license.
The license and certificate
of biennial registration shall be displayed in a prominent place by every person
licensed and currently registered by the board.
Chir
3.05 Change of name and address.
Every licensee shall
report his or her address to the department and shall notify the board of a change
of name or address within 30 days of the change.
Chir
3.06 Professional title.
A licensee shall use the suffix
"D.C." or "Chiropractor" immediately following his or her surname for proper identification.
Chir
3.07 Professional liability insurance.
Every chiropractor
practicing in the state of Wisconsin shall have professional liability insurance
coverage in effect at all times in the amount of at least $100,000 for each occurrence
and $300,000 for all occurrences in one year. The board shall conduct random audits
of chiropractors licensed and practicing in this state, and institute disciplinary
proceedings against any chiropractor who fails to submit proof that he or she
has insurance coverage meeting the minimum limits required by this section.
Chir
3.08 Limited liability entities.
- A chiropractor
may practice with or in a business that is organized as a limited liability organization
under the laws of this state, including a limited liability partnership, a service
corporation, and limited liability company.
- A chiropractor may not practice
with or in a business organized so that a person other than a chiropractor has
the right to direct or control the professional judgement of the chiropractor.
This restriction does not prohibit a chiropractor from working with or in a business
organized so that someone other than the patient pays the chiropractor's fee or
salary, provided the fee or salary arrangements do not modify the chiropractor's
obligation to his or her patient.
- Nothing in this section shall relieve
a chiropractor from personal liability for any acts, errors, or omissions of the
chiropractor arising out of the performance of professional services.
- Nothing
in this section shall relieve a chiropractor from the requirement that every practicing
chiropractor shall have in effect professional liability insurance in the amounts
required by the board in Chir. 3.07.
