Doctor of Chiropractic

North Carolina Application Process, DC
Application materials and the non-refundable application fee must be received by the NCBOCE office no later than 15 days prior to the exam date. Jurisprudence exams are given online and are scheduled “as needed” once all other application materials are complete.

Whether you are a chiropractic student or a licensed chiropractor from another state wishing to be licensed to practice in North Carolina, you must complete the application process as defined below. If you did not renew your NC license and allowed it to lapse, please view Lapsed Licenses. To apply for licensure to practice chiropractic in the state of North Carolina, the following is required:

1. Complete the online application here: Application for Licensure to Practice Chiropractic.
2. Submit the following application forms. The completed forms can be emailed to john@ncchiroboard.com, mailed to the Board Office address at the bottom of this page, or uploaded along with the online application above.
   • Certificates of Good Moral Character
   • Certification of Reading the General Statutes of NC
   • Application Authorization and Release
   • Employee Misclassification Form
   • Reciprocity Analysis Form – This form is only required if applying for a license via reciprocity. Please note that reciprocity applicants are required to take and pass the SPEC Exam. For more information on SPEC, please visit the NBCE’s website.
3. A non-refundable application and background check fee of $338.
4. Official license verifications from each state or jurisdiction in which you currently hold, or previously held, a license. Please contact the Board(s) in question and request that official license verifications are sent directly to our Board Office by mail or email (john@ncchiroboard.com).
5. Applicants are required to undergo a fingerprint-based State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history check. The NC SBI accepts live-scan fingerprint submissions from within North Carolina only — out-of-state fingerprint submissions will need to be mailed to the Board Office on a fingerprint card. Once you have paid the application fee, please email john@ncchiroboard.com for the necessary forms and additional information on fingerprinting.

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   If you would like to determine if your criminal history will likely disqualify you from obtaining a license without completing the entire application process, you can submit a petition for predetermination.
6. National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query. Applicants can order a certified Self-Query response here on the NPDB website. We will accept digital response files.
7. Official Baccalaureate Degree and Doctor of Chiropractic Degree transcripts. Transcripts must be sent directly from the college to the Board Office by mail or a digital credentialing service. Digital transcripts should be directed to john@ncchiroboard.com.

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   Students enrolled in Chiropractic College may sit for the Jurisprudence Exam if the exam date falls within 60 days of their anticipated graduation date. A letter from your registrar confirming your anticipated graduation date must be sent to the Board Office. Your license will not be issued until your final transcripts have been received after graduation.
8. NBCE Exam Scores. Contact the NBCE to have your official score transcripts sent to the Board Office via the NBCE’s online delivery service. To be licensed in North Carolina, applicants must have passing scores on each of the following examinations given by the NBCE: Part I, Part II, Part III (WCCE), Physiotherapy and Part IV.

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   Waivers for all, or part, of the National Boards are allowed as specified in the graduation date criteria below:
   • • An applicant who graduated from chiropractic college before July 1, 1966 shall not be required to submit a score from any National Board examination;
     • 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 Physiotherapy; but, shall not be required to submit a score for Part III or Part IV;
     • 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, Part III, and Physiotherapy; but, shall not be required to submit a score for Part IV.

   To obtain a license, an applicant who qualifies for a waiver of any National Board score shall take and pass the SPEC exam and satisfy all other requirements for licensure. For more information on SPEC, please visit the NBCE’s website.

9. Once we have received, and processed, all the above application documents (including the results of the NC SBI’s background check), applicants will be granted access to an online Jurisprudence Presentation and Exam.. Please visit the following links to study:  NC State Laws and Statutes, NC Board Rules and Regulations, Board Position Statements.