Chiropractic Assistant Regulation in Arizona

1
Chiropractic Assistant Regulation in Arizona

• Craig S. Seitz, D.C.
• Board Chairman

2
Chiropractic Assistant Laws Rules

• Arizona Revised Statute defines the term
  Chiropractic Assistant.
• Arizona Administrative Code establishes the
  training requirements, registration and scope of
  practice for the Chiropractic Assistant.

3
Chiropractic Assistant Regulation

• Chiropractic Assistants must register with the
  Board.
• The C.A. is registered to a specific supervising
  chiropractor.
• The supervising chiropractor is responsible for
  all acts and omissions of a supervised C.A.

4
C.A. Training Courses

• A C.A. must take coursework from a Board-approved
  chiropractor or facility.
• A C.A. must begin coursework within three months
  of initial employment and complete coursework
  within one year.

5
C.A. Training Course Providers

• A Chiropractor or facility wishing to provide a
  training course must submit an application, a
  course syllabus, a sample course attendance sheet
  and a curriculum vitae.
• A Chiropractor sanctioned by the Board may not
  instruct C.A. training courses for three years
  after termination of their Order.

6
C.A. Education Requirements

• Chiropractic Assistants must complete 24 clock
  hours of coursework.
• The coursework must include four hours in each of
  the following
• Chiropractic Principles
• Management of Common Diseases
• History Taking
• Record Keeping
• Professional Standards of Conduct
• CPR

7
Additional Education Requirements

• Additional training is required if the
  supervising chiropractor is certified in
  acupuncture or physiotherapy.
• If the supervising doctor does not have any
  specialty certificates, the C.A. cannot assist in
  those areas.

8
Registration

• A C.A. must submit a registration form upon
  completion of the required coursework.
• The C.A. must enter the course identification
  number and the date the course was taken for each
  subject.
• The supervising chiropractor must sign the
  registration form.

9
Registration Form

• This is an example of the current C.A.
  Registration Form
• The Board receives between 300 and 600 C.A.
  registrations per year.

10
Weaknesses in Current Rule

• Board staff cannot ensure that Chiropractic
  Assistants begin coursework within the required
  three months.
• The scope of practice does not clearly define the
  practice limitations of a chiropractic assistant.
• The rule does not explicitly restrict a person
  who has a revoked, suspended or denied
  chiropractic license from being a chiropractic
  assistant.

11
Proposed Amendments

• A proposed amendment will require registration of
  chiropractic assistants with the Board within
  seven days of hire and require training to begin
  within one month of hire.
• Another amendment will define the scope of
  practice of a chiropractic assistant, specify
  those duties that a chiropractic assistant shall
  not perform.
• Another amendment will restrict a person who has
  a revoked, suspended or denied license from being
  a chiropractic assistant.