Verified October 8, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What chiropractors miss in District of Columbia
- Applicants submit three reference letters from DCs licensed in good standing in any US jurisdiction, plus employment verification since graduation.
- Sources for DC are older than for most states: the board instructions are undated and the rules compilation is from December 2011.
Can a chiropractor licensed in another state get a District of Columbia license by endorsement?
The rules allow reciprocity only under the general DC reciprocity provision, and the board's instructions say DC has no standing agreement with any jurisdiction. A DC licensed elsewhere applies by examination: existing NBCE scores plus the District exam, without exception.
- No endorsement route: full application
Citation: 17 DCMR §§ 4800.3, 4805.1
Which exams does District of Columbia require?
Graduates after January 1, 1988 need NBCE Parts I–IV, all passed before the District exam on scope, ethics and DC law (75 percent to pass). The NBCE Physiotherapy exam is needed only for ancillary procedures certification.
- NBCE Parts I–IV
- State jurisprudence exam
What else does the District of Columbia board check?
- Fingerprint background check
Physiotherapy ancillary procedures certification in District of Columbia
Using modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction or hydrotherapy alongside adjustments requires board certification: a passing NBCE Physiotherapy score and 75 percent on the board's practical physiotherapy exam.
Citation: 17 DCMR § 4803
Does District of Columbia regulate chiropractic assistants?
No assistant license. Assistants work under supervision and need training from a board-recognized program for diagnostic testing, ancillary procedures or x-rays; they may never adjust or interpret findings.
- Not regulated
How often does a District of Columbia chiropractic license renew?
Licenses expire December 31 of even-numbered years. Twenty-four approved CE hours in the two years before expiration; the first renewal after licensure by exam is exempt.
- Renews every 2 years
- 24 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in District of Columbia?
We file the application, send your NBCE scores and verifications, and carry the board correspondence. A full application is $749. Not sure which route fits? The readiness review answers that for every state you want.