21 NCAC 10 .0204 LICENSURE; RENEWAL OF LICENSE

(a) Initial Licensure. The initial license awarded to an applicant who passed the examination shall be mailed to the address appearing on the application form.

(b) Change of Contact Information. The licentiate shall inform the Board of any change in his or her contact information. Updated contact information shall be forwarded to the Board office email at ncboce@ncchiroboard.com within 30 days after any such change.

(c) General. The renewal, inactivation, and restoration of a license are governed by G.S. 90-155 and this Rule. A current license that is not renewed shall be placed on inactive status on January 30th of the following year. A licentiate desiring license renewal shall submit to the Board, on or before the date of inactivation, a completed license renewal form accompanied by the renewal fee as provided in Paragraph (i) of this Rule. The renewal fee shall be paid through the Board's website, www.ncchiroboard.com.

(d) License Renewal Notification and Form. On or before December 1 of each year, the Board shall email to each licentiate, at the licentiate's current email address on file with the Board, license renewal instructions. The license renewal form with instructions shall also be available at the Board's website, www.ncchiroboard.com, or upon request at the Board's office. A licentiate desiring license renewal shall note on the form changes in name, address, specialty, employment circumstances, and criminal convictions since the last renewal form was submitted to the Board. The licentiate shall also note on the form any professional development continuing education for which the licentiate seeks credit pursuant to Rule .0210(d) of this Chapter. All renewal applications shall contain the following:

(1) the applicant's name, residential address, phone number, email address, and date of birth;

(2) the social security number of the applicant;

(3) whether the applicant now has or has ever had an addiction to, or dependency on, alcohol or other controlled substances and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(4) whether the applicant has ever been under clinical treatment for addiction to, or dependency on, alcohol or other controlled substances and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(5) whether the applicant has any physical, mental, or emotional infirmities that impair his or her ability to practice chiropractic safely and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(6) whether the applicant has ever been certified, licensed, or registered to practice chiropractic by the Board, by another occupational Board, or in another state or jurisdiction; and if so:

(A) whether the credential is in good standing;

(B) in what state or jurisdiction was the credential issued; and

(7) whether the applicant has ever had a chiropractic credential denied, limited, reprimanded, suspended, or revoked and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(8) whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor since the last renewal and, if so, the nature, date, and jurisdiction of the conviction;

(9) whether any criminal charges or criminal investigations, if known, are pending against the applicant and if so, the details of said charges or investigations;

(10) whether any court, board, agency, or professional organization regulating chiropractic has disciplined the applicant and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(11) whether any disciplinary charges are pending against the applicant before any court, board, agency, or professional organization regulating chiropractic and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(12) whether the applicant has ever voluntarily given up any licensure privileges in order to avoid disciplinary sanctions;

(13) whether the applicant has ever been sanctioned or suspended from participation in Medicare or Medicaid and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(14) whether the applicant has ever been denied membership in a professional association or, if admitted, ever been suspended or had membership not renewed due to a breach of ethics and, if so, an explanation of the same;

(15) whether the applicant has had a malpractice judgment entered against him or her since his or her last renewal and, if so, an explanation for the same;

(16) whether the applicant is certified by the Board or the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners to practice Acupuncture, as defined in Rule .0208 of this Section.

(17) the applicant's affirmation that:

(A) the applicant has read and will comply with Article 8 of Chapter 90 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the administrative rules promulgated by the Board;

(B) the information provided by the applicant in the application is true;

(D) the applicant has read and understands the public notice statement on employee misclassification that is set forth in the application and has disclosed any investigations for employee misclassification, and its results, over the preceding 12-month period, as prescribed by G.S. 143-789; and

(18) the renewal fee, as prescribed in Paragraph (i) of this Rule.

(e) Continuing Education. As used in G.S. 90-155, one "day" of continuing education shall mean nine hours. Except as provided in Paragraphs (f), (g) and (h) of this Rule, a licentiate seeking license renewal shall obtain 18 hours (2 days) of Board-approved continuing education each calendar year. At least 10 hours shall be obtained by attending in-person or live online educational sessions. Live online hours include the opportunity to interact with the instructor in real-time. As many as eight hours may be obtained in the manner set forth in Rule .0210 of this Section. The Board shall not award credit for any continuing education hours until the sponsor or licentiate submits to the Board the sponsor's certificate of attendance or course completion.

(f) First-Year Continuing Education Exemptions. A licentiate who was enrolled in chiropractic college at any time during the year of initial licensure or a licentiate initially licensed after September 1st of the current year shall be permitted to renew his or her license for the ensuing year without obtaining continuing education but shall be required to submit a license renewal form and pay the renewal fee. In subsequent years, a licentiate shall not be permitted to renew his or her license until the continuing education requirements set forth in Paragraph (e) of this Rule are satisfied.

(g) Hardship Waivers. A licentiate seeking a hardship waiver of the continuing education requirement shall make written application to the Board no later than December 15th of the current year explaining the nature and circumstances of the hardship. Upon the applicant's showing that compliance with the continuing education requirement poses an undue hardship, the Board shall waive the requirement in whole or part or grant an extension of time within which to comply. "Undue hardship" shall include protracted medical illness, natural disaster, or extended absence from the United States.

(h) Military Hardship. A licentiate who is serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and to whom G.S. 93B-15(a) grants an extension of time to pay a renewal fee shall also be granted an identical extension of time to complete the continuing education required for license renewal.

(i) Renewal Fee. A renewal fee in the maximum amount allowed by G.S. 90-155 shall be paid by each licentiate applying for renewal.

(j) Restoration of Inactive License and Evidence of Proficiency. In order to provide evidence of proficiency, a former licentiate whose license has lapsed shall comply with Rule .0203(g) of this Section when seeking restoration of active licensure and shall pay the non-refundable application fee prescribed in Rule .0202(c) of this Section and shall demonstrate compliance with continuing education requirements. Payment of the application fee shall not constitute payment of the reinstatement fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) mandated by G.S. 90-155.

History Note: Authority G.S. 90-142; 90-145; 90-148; 90-155; 93B-15;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. January 27, 1978;

Amended Eff. January 1, 1983;

Legislative Objection Lodged Eff. January 31, 1983;

Curative Amended Eff. February 28, 1983;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2014; December 1, 1988;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. April 27, 2019;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2025; January 1, 2024; January 1, 2022; January 1, 2020;

Readopted Eff. April 1, 2026.