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 North Dakota
- Part IV scores older than seven years may trigger SPEC even for a first-time applicant (N.D. Admin. Code 17-02-01-08).
- A license unrenewed for two continuous years requires a new application.
- The board reports final discipline to FCLB's CIN-BAD and the NPDB and publishes it online (17-03-02-03).
Can a chiropractor licensed in another state get a North Dakota license by endorsement?
Reciprocal licensure is considered for a DC in good standing who has been licensed elsewhere for at least the preceding two years and passed the national board earlier. Applicants also pass SPEC or NBCE Part IV, the jurisprudence exam with a signed affidavit, a criminal history check, and apply for a temporary license under NDCC chapter 43-51.
- Endorsement route available
- 2 years of practice required
Citation: N.D. Admin. Code 17-02-01-02.1
Which exams does North Dakota require?
Graduates after January 1997 need NBCE Parts I–IV, and graduates after January 1, 2001 also need Physiotherapy; earlier graduates need the parts in place when they graduated. Everyone passes the board's jurisprudence exam. Part IV scores count for seven years, after which SPEC may be required.
- NBCE Parts I–IV
- NBCE Physiotherapy exam
- State jurisprudence exam
- SPEC for some applicants
Does North Dakota offer a temporary or travel-to-treat permit?
Reciprocity applicants must apply for a temporary license under NDCC chapter 43-51 as part of the reciprocal application.
- Temporary permit available
Citation: N.D. Admin. Code 17-02-01-02.1(7)
Dry needling certification in North Dakota
Requires at least 50 hours of face-to-face study including dry needling safety, from a CCE-accredited institution or a board-approved course; online study does not count. A temporary limited-scope certification covers modular courses for 18 months. Certified DCs need 2 hours of dry needling CE a year.
Citation: N.D. Admin. Code 17-02-04-07
Needle acupuncture certification in North Dakota
Requires at least 100 hours of needle acupuncture training sponsored, certified and registered with the board by a CCE-accredited chiropractic college, after which the board issues an authorization letter. Certified DCs need 2 hours of acupuncture CE a year.
Citation: N.D. Admin. Code 17-02-04-06
Does North Dakota regulate chiropractic assistants?
Anyone working as a chiropractic assistant must be board certified after completing the FCLB certified chiropractic clinical assistant program and exam, a criminal history check and practical training. A temporary certification can issue while the background check is pending.
- Certified Chiropractic Clinical Assistant
How often does a North Dakota chiropractic license renew?
Licenses are valid one year and renew by September 1, with a short online questionnaire. Twenty hours of approved CE are required each year, from PACE or board-approved programs.
- Renews every year
- 20 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in North Dakota?
We file the application, send your NBCE scores and verifications, and carry the board correspondence. License by endorsement is $499. Not sure which route fits? The readiness review answers that for every state you want.