Are you feeling little aches and pains throughout your body? Are your muscles cramping, making it difficult for you to easily move about without discomfort? Are you having headaches and feeling generally out of sorts? If any of these conditions apply to you, you might require a visit to your local chiropractor.
You may be asking what is a chiropractor? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a chiropractor is “a licensed health-care professional who treats disorders (such as back and neck pain) chiefly of the musculoskeletal system especially through the manual adjustment or manipulation of the spinal vertebrae to correct nervous system dysfunction.”
If you live in Birmingham, Alabama, you might be interested in finding a chiropractor to help you with some minor body alignment issues that are causing you physical problems. The fact you are reading this information indicates you are curious about whether or not a chiropractor in your state is required by law to carry a license to practice chiropractics in your state.
The short answer to the titled question is “yes”. Chiropractors in the state of Alabama must be licensed and in good standing with the Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Why is this necessary? The practice of chiropractics involves the manipulation of bones and joints in the human body. To do so safely, a practitioner needs the proper education and training to perform such services. Even the slightest mistake could leave a patient or client paralyzed temporarily or for life. Given the critical nature of providing chiropractic services, the state of Alabama seeks to protect the state’s citizens from the grips of untrained and uneducated practitioners. They accomplish this by requiring all chiropractic practitioners to secure the proper licensing.
In the section below, we want to move forward and discuss the licensing requirements as set forth by the aforementioned Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
What is the State of Alabama’s Requirements for Chiropractor Licensing?
The licensing requirements for a chiropractor are very similar throughout every state in the U.S. The only difference is some states provide access to secondary levels of certifications for practitioners who want to provide a limited range of services. Such is not the case in Alabama.
As far as education is concerned, each applicant is required to finish a minimum of eight years of study from an accredited college or university to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree (DC). Broken down, the education requirement includes a four-year undergraduate degree and an additional four-year degree from an accredited Chiropractic College or University located anywhere in the U.S.
After getting past the education requirement, each applicant will be required to sit for four demanding national board exams and then complete any other exams as required by the state in which they plan to practice.
Once an applicant has satisfactorily completed the above requirements in the state of Alabama, they then receive their coveted licensing. However, there are continuing education requirements.
Each focal year, licensed chiropractors must complete a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education as set forth by the aforementioned Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. As part of the 18-hour requirement, two (2) hours of the continuing education requirement must focus on Alabama Law and Board Rules and Regulations. Note: For the first year renewal process only, this requirement has been increased to four (4) hours. A fiscal year is defined by the Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners as running from October 1 through September 30.
With a Alabama state chiropractor license, chiropractors are permitted to provide the following services:
- Diagnostic testing, including spinal mobility testing
- Take vital signs
- Take xrays and refer out for cat-scans and MRI imaging
- Perform low-force manual manipulation of the skeletal system
- Perform massage and soft-tissue therapies
Individuals should avoid chiropractic treatments if they suffer from any of the these conditions: bone fractures, bone or joint tumors, acute arthritis, bone or joint infections, or advanced osteoporosis. In such cases, an orthopedic surgeon would be the way to go.
If you are suffering from minor pain issues that might involve issues with your skeletal or neurological systems, you might need to spend time with a licensed chiropractor. We would be happy to bring you in for a consultation and provide any chiropractic services you might require. For more information about our services, you can contact our administrative staff by calling 205-637-1363. Relief from minor pain issues may be just one phone call away.
