Virginia Chiropractic Licensing: Why the Board of Medicine Rules Matter

In Virginia, chiropractors are licensed by the Board of Medicine, not a separate chiropractic board, and that shapes how an out-of-state DC applies. The board's regulations, 18VAC85-20, cover doctors of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry and chiropractic together. The chiropractic exam requirements sit in 18VAC85-20-140(D) and turn on your graduation date. Most chiropractors coming from another state qualify through that section: NBCE Parts I through IV if you graduated after January 31, 1996, with SPEC and recent licensure elsewhere as alternatives for older graduates.

Which NBCE parts does Virginia require?

18VAC85-20-140(D) sets four bands by graduation date:

• Graduated after January 31, 1996: Parts I through IV.
• Graduated January 31, 1991 to January 31, 1996: Parts I, II and III.
• Graduated July 1, 1965 to January 31, 1991: Parts I, II and III, or Parts I and II plus SPEC, and evidence of licensure in another state for at least the two years immediately before applying.
• Graduated before July 1, 1965: SPEC, and evidence of licensure in another state for at least the two years immediately before applying.

Note the dates do not change with years in practice. A 1997 graduate with 28 years of practice still needs Part IV on the record. If it is missing, see NBCE Part IV and the states that require it.

What about Virginia's licensure by endorsement rule?

18VAC85-20-141 is the board's general endorsement section. It asks for a current license in a U.S. jurisdiction or Canada, active practice in two of the last five years, good standing in the most recent license, a current NPDB report, no grounds for denial, and current certification from one of a listed set of bodies. That list names the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, two podiatric boards, and three Canadian physician colleges. It names no chiropractic body. As written, that certification condition is one a chiropractor would not ordinarily meet, which is why we plan Virginia files around the 140(D) exam requirements and ask the board in writing if a client's history makes endorsement worth testing.

What education does Virginia require?

18VAC85-20-121(C): for anyone who matriculated in chiropractic college on or after July 1, 1975, graduation from a college accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education or another organization the board approves. Earlier matriculants could graduate from a college accredited by the American Chiropractic Association, the International Chiropractic Association or another board-approved organization. Graduates of unaccredited institutions face additional documentation under 18VAC85-20-122.

How does renewal work in Virginia?

Licenses renew every two years. Under 18VAC85-20-235, you attest to at least 30 hours of continuing learning in the two years before renewal, in Type 1 activities or courses from an accredited sponsor or an organization sanctioned by the profession. For chiropractors, Type 1 hours are clinical hours approved by a CCE-accredited college or university or another board-approved organization. Your first biennial renewal after initial licensure is exempt, and you keep supporting documentation for six years after the renewal.

What should a chiropractor expect from a Board of Medicine file?

Expect forms and processes built for several professions at once. Read each instruction for the chiropractic line rather than assuming a section does not apply. The general requirements in Part III of the regulations, the examination requirements in Part IV and the renewal rules in Part VI all apply to DCs. The board also runs a practitioner profile system under Part VII of the regulations; check its instructions with your application.

What if my graduation date sits near a band boundary?

The bands use specific dates, January 31, 1991, January 31, 1996 and July 1, 1965, and the rule keys them to graduation, not to when you were first licensed or when you took the boards. Use the conferral date on your official transcript. If you graduated in early 1996, for example, the exact day decides whether the board expects Part IV. Order the transcript before you order the NBCE score report, so you know which parts the report has to show.

What documents should I gather for Virginia?

• An official transcript from your chiropractic college showing the degree and conferral date.
• An NBCE score report sent directly to the board, showing the parts your band requires, plus SPEC if that is your route.
• Verification of licensure from the other state, covering at least the two years before you apply if you are in one of the two older bands.
• Answers and supporting records for any history questions on the application.

How does White Glove help with a Virginia license?

We match your NBCE history to the right graduation band, document two years of recent licensure where your band requires it, plan SPEC if needed, and prepare the application. Because Virginia's route for DCs runs through the exam rule rather than a chiropractic endorsement section, it is usually our Full State License Application ($749); SPEC Exam Pathway Support ($299) is added when the band calls for it. Board and NBCE fees are separate, and the board decides. See our Virginia page.