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 Texas
- DCs first licensed on or after September 1, 2012 must complete 8 hours of Medicare coding and documentation CE by their second renewal.
- Fingerprints are required at application, and at renewal for anyone who has not submitted them before (Tex. Occ. Code §§ 201.313, 201.3545).
Can a chiropractor licensed in another state get a Texas license by endorsement?
A DC in good standing in a jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements qualifies after three years of practice, or teaching at a CCE-accredited program, immediately before applying. Applicants need NBCE Parts I–IV and Physiotherapy or SPEC at 375, no discipline or pending investigation anywhere, and the Texas jurisprudence exam at 75 percent.
- Endorsement route available
- 3 years of practice required
Citation: Tex. Occ. Code § 201.309; 22 TAC § 72.20
Which exams does Texas require?
Exam-route applicants need NBCE Parts I, II, III, IV and Physiotherapy at 375 each, then the board's jurisprudence exam at 75 percent, which can be retaken as often as needed. SPEC at 375 is accepted in place of the NBCE parts for DCs licensed in another jurisdiction.
- NBCE Parts I–IV
- NBCE Physiotherapy exam
- State jurisprudence exam
- SPEC for some applicants
What else does the Texas board check?
- Fingerprint background check
Does Texas offer a temporary or travel-to-treat permit?
A DC with an active unrestricted license elsewhere can hold a temporary license for up to 30 days a calendar year, applying at least 14 days ahead with details of the event or employer. Temporary licensees may not treat the general public; a separate one-year temporary faculty license exists for chiropractic school faculty.
- Temporary permit available
Citation: 22 TAC § 72.15; Tex. Occ. Code § 201.308
Acupuncture permit in Texas
A licensee may practice acupuncture only with a board permit, earned by completing at least 100 hours of acupuncture training and passing the NBCE acupuncture exam, or under the rule's pre-2010 grandfather routes. Acupuncture may not be delegated.
Citation: 22 TAC § 78.14
Does Texas regulate chiropractic assistants?
No assistant credential. A DC may delegate history taking, vitals, modalities, exercise instruction and radiologic procedures to documented qualified individuals while physically present or on call within 15 minutes; diagnosis and adjustments cannot be delegated.
- Not regulated
How often does a Texas chiropractic license renew?
Licenses renew every two years by the first day of the birth month. CE is 16 hours every year, including 4 hours of live board-required courses and 1 hour of risk management, with no more than 10 hours of non-live online courses.
- Renews every 2 years
- 16 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in Texas?
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.