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MT Chiropractic Jurisprudence study materials
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MT Chiropractic Jurisprudence practice questions

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Question 1Licensure, application, and registration requirements

In Montana, which body has statutory authority to review chiropractic licensure applications, administer examinations, and issue licenses?

  1. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners Correct answer.
  2. The Montana Medical Board, which licenses all health professions
  3. The Montana Chiropractic Association, a private professional society
  4. The county district court in the county of practice

Explanation

Montana law assigns chiropractic licensure to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The board receives applications, determines eligibility, administers or accepts examinations, and issues licenses. A private professional association has no statutory licensing authority.

Question 2Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A graduate of a chiropractic college has not yet obtained a Montana license. Which activity is lawful for that graduate under Montana licensure law?

  1. Opening an office and limiting the practice to spinal screenings
  2. Nothing within the statutory practice of chiropractic until licensed Correct answer.
  3. Using the title "chiropractor" on business cards and advertising
  4. Performing spinal adjustments under a licensed chiropractor's direct supervision without board authorization

Explanation

Montana prohibits practicing chiropractic or holding oneself out as a chiropractor without a board-issued license. Supervisory arrangements do not substitute for licensure unless a specific board-authorized trainee exception applies. Advertising, screenings, and adjustments can all constitute practice or holding out.

Question 3Licensure, application, and registration requirements

When applying for an initial Montana chiropractic license, how must an applicant document chiropractic education?

  1. By submitting a notarized personal statement describing graduation
  2. By passing a board practical examination in place of education records
  3. By providing a photocopy of the diploma and a photo identification
  4. By an official transcript sent by the chiropractic college Correct answer.

Explanation

The board must verify graduation from a chiropractic college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. An official transcript sent directly by the institution is the standard verification and reduces alteration risk. A personal statement, diploma copy, or practical examination does not independently establish accredited coursework.

Question 4Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant graduated from a CCE-accredited chiropractic college but has not taken the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examinations. What is the best conclusion about Montana licensure eligibility?

  1. The applicant may be licensed provisionally for five years while avoiding examinations
  2. The application cannot be approved until the required national examination is passed Correct answer.
  3. The applicant may practice if a board member agrees to supervise the office
  4. The applicant may substitute ten years of chiropractic assistant experience for the examinations

Explanation

Montana requires applicants to pass the examinations recognized by the board, which include the NBCE sequence. Graduation alone satisfies only the education component. Until the examination requirement is met, the board cannot issue a regular license.

Question 5Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A chiropractor holding a current license in another state applies for Montana licensure by endorsement. The other state's requirements are substantially equivalent to Montana's. What may the Montana board do?

  1. Require attendance at a Montana chiropractic college before any license is issued
  2. Issue a license only after the applicant practices for two years as an unlicensed preceptor
  3. Reject the application solely because the license was issued outside Montana
  4. Recognize the out-of-state license and issue a Montana license if the statutory endorsement conditions are met Correct answer.

Explanation

Endorsement allows the board to recognize equivalent out-of-state credentials rather than forcing a fully qualified licensee through the entire initial process. The board still verifies current licensure, education, examination history, and good standing. A blanket refusal to consider out-of-state licenses would defeat the statutory endorsement mechanism.

Question 6Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor fails to complete the continuing education required for renewal but continues practicing. What is the most accurate statement of the likely consequence?

  1. The chiropractor may continue practicing because continuing education is optional for experienced licensees
  2. The failure automatically converts the license into a medical license
  3. The board may refuse renewal or discipline the chiropractor until the requirement is met Correct answer.
  4. There is no consequence if the chiropractor practices only part-time

Explanation

Continuing education is a condition of renewal, not a voluntary activity. If the requirement is unmet, the board can withhold renewal and treat continued practice as unlicensed or subject to discipline. Part-time status does not ordinarily excuse the condition.

Question 7Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A licensed chiropractor relocates her office and changes her mailing address. What must she do under Montana board requirements?

  1. Nothing, because a Montana license authorizes practice anywhere in the state
  2. Publish the new address in a newspaper before contacting the board
  3. Surrender the license and apply as a new graduate in the new county
  4. Notify the board of the address change within the period set by board rules Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensees must keep the board informed of a current mailing and practice address so renewal, correspondence, and service of process can occur. A move does not require a new license, but the required change-of-address notice is mandatory. Newspaper publication is not the regulatory mechanism.

Question 8Licensure, application, and registration requirements

Under Montana chiropractic licensure rules, where should the license certificate be maintained?

  1. In the licensee's personal residence safe
  2. In the vehicle the licensee uses for house calls and mobile practice
  3. Only in the board's central office
  4. At the principal practice location, available for inspection Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensure rules commonly require the certificate or a board-issued equivalent to be displayed at the principal practice location. That allows patients and inspectors to confirm the practitioner's authority. Keeping it only at home or in a vehicle does not satisfy the public-display requirement.

Question 9Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant for Montana chiropractic licensure discloses a past felony conviction. Which statement best reflects the board's legal authority when reviewing the application?

  1. The board may consider only convictions that occurred while the applicant was enrolled in chiropractic college or residency
  2. The board may not consider the conviction because it occurred before licensure
  3. The board may deny licensure if the conviction is substantially related to chiropractic practice or patient safety Correct answer.
  4. The board must deny the license automatically for any felony, regardless of circumstances

Explanation

Licensing boards may weigh criminal history when it bears on fitness, moral character, or patient safety. Automatic permanent exclusion for every felony is generally disfavored, and ignoring relevant convictions would undermine the board's protective role. The board must apply the statutory standard and consider the relationship of the offense to practice.

Question 10Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor's license expires for nonrenewal, but the chiropractor continues to treat patients and bill insurance. What is the legal status of that activity?

  1. It is lawful because the chiropractor was once licensed
  2. It is unlicensed practice subject to board discipline and statutory penalties Correct answer.
  3. It is lawful if the chiropractor pays the renewal fee within one year after expiration
  4. It is a billing matter only, not a licensure violation

Explanation

A license expires on the renewal date if not properly renewed; the prior license does not authorize continued practice. Treating patients and billing for chiropractic services after expiration constitutes unlicensed practice. The board may impose discipline and the state may pursue statutory penalties.

Question 11Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant submits a completed Montana chiropractic licensure application with the required fee and then withdraws the application before the Board takes action. How does the Montana Board of Chiropractic Examiners treat the application fee?

  1. It is applied as a credit toward a future application filed within one year.
  2. It is nonrefundable and is not returned to the applicant. Correct answer.
  3. It is refunded after deduction of the cost of processing the application.
  4. It is refunded in full if the applicant requests a withdrawal in writing.

Explanation

Montana chiropractic licensure fees are nonrefundable once submitted; withdrawing the application does not create a right to a refund or credit. The fee supports processing and review of the application.

Question 12Licensure, application, and registration requirements

As part of an initial Montana chiropractic licensure application, an applicant must complete a criminal history background check. Which submission does the Board require for that check?

  1. A notarized statement from the applicant's employer
  2. A letter of reference from a law enforcement officer
  3. A set of fingerprints submitted through the approved process Correct answer.
  4. A copy of the applicant's driver history

Explanation

Montana requires applicants for initial chiropractic licensure to submit fingerprints so a state and federal criminal history check can be completed. A statement, driving record, or reference letter does not satisfy that requirement.

Question 13Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor's license is due for renewal, but the licensee does not receive a renewal notice from the Board. What is the licensee's obligation?

  1. The license remains active until the Board sends a notice.
  2. The licensee may practice while the Board verifies the mailing address.
  3. The licensee must renew by the deadline even without a notice. Correct answer.
  4. The licensee must request a notice before the renewal can be processed.

Explanation

Licensees are responsible for knowing and meeting renewal deadlines; the Board's failure to send a notice does not extend the license or excuse late renewal. The licensee must renew on time.

Question 14Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant for Montana chiropractic licensure omits a prior disciplinary revocation from another state on the application. The Board later discovers the omission. What is the most likely consequence?

  1. The Board may only issue a written warning after licensure.
  2. The Board may treat the omission as grounds for denial or discipline. Correct answer.
  3. The Board must issue the license because the omission was not material.
  4. The Board must refer the matter to the other state and take no action.

Explanation

An application must be truthful; omitting a prior disciplinary revocation is a material misrepresentation. The Board may deny licensure or take disciplinary action rather than being required to issue the license.

Question 15Licensure, application, and registration requirements

The Montana Board places a chiropractor's license on inactive status at the licensee's request. While the license remains inactive, which activity is prohibited?

  1. Paying the required renewal fee
  2. Completing continuing education courses
  3. Treating patients or otherwise practicing chiropractic Correct answer.
  4. Requesting a return to active status

Explanation

Inactive status keeps the license on the Board's records but does not authorize practice. An inactive licensee may pay fees or complete continuing education but must not treat patients.

Question 16Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractic license expires because the licensee failed to renew for two years. The licensee now wants to practice again. What must the licensee generally do?

  1. Ask another chiropractor to supervise until the license is restored
  2. Submit only the unpaid renewal fee for the two missed years
  3. Begin practicing while the Board processes a renewal form
  4. Apply for reinstatement and meet current requirements and fees Correct answer.

Explanation

Once a license has expired for nonrenewal, the former licensee cannot simply pay the missed fee and resume practice. Reinstatement requires an application, current fees, and proof of meeting current requirements such as continuing education.

Question 17Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor legally changes her surname after marriage. What must she do regarding her chiropractic license?

  1. Obtain a new license by examination under the new name
  2. Wait until the next renewal to report the change
  3. Report the change only to the county clerk
  4. Notify the Board and request an updated license Correct answer.

Explanation

A legal name change does not automatically amend the Board's records. The licensee must notify the Board and obtain an updated license so the license matches the licensee's legal identity.

Question 18Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor loses the wallet-sized license card but still holds an active license. How should the chiropractor obtain a replacement card?

  1. Request a duplicate license from the Board and pay the required fee Correct answer.
  2. Submit a new initial licensure application
  3. Ask the Board to convert the license to inactive status
  4. Practice without a card because the Board's records show the license

Explanation

The Board issues duplicate or replacement licenses upon request and payment of the required fee. An active licensee does not need to reapply or stop practicing while obtaining a replacement card.

Question 19Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant has completed all Montana chiropractic licensure requirements, but the Board has not yet issued the license. What may the applicant do?

  1. Begin billing insurance for services performed before licensure
  2. Treat patients if a licensed chiropractor reviews the records
  3. Practice under the title chiropractor while awaiting issuance
  4. Nothing that constitutes practicing chiropractic until the license is issued Correct answer.

Explanation

Licensure is not effective until the Board issues the license. Completing requirements does not create temporary practice authority, and practicing or billing before issuance can constitute unlicensed practice.

Question 20Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A chiropractor applies for Montana licensure by endorsement, but the chiropractor's license in the other state is currently suspended for unprofessional conduct. How should the Board treat the application?

  1. The Board must allow practice under a temporary permit while the suspension is appealed.
  2. The Board must issue a Montana license because the other state's license is still on file.
  3. The Board has no authority to consider another state's disciplinary action.
  4. The Board may deny or defer because the other license is not in good standing. Correct answer.

Explanation

Endorsement review includes the status of the license in the other jurisdiction. A suspended license is not in good standing, so the Board may deny or defer the application rather than issue a Montana license.

Question 21Licensure, application, and registration requirements

In Montana, an applicant for an initial chiropractic license must pass which state-specific examination before licensure?

  1. The Montana jurisprudence examination Correct answer.
  2. A Montana business practices examination
  3. A Montana radiology oral examination
  4. A Montana clinical anatomy practical

Explanation

Montana requires initial chiropractic licensure applicants to pass a jurisprudence examination covering Montana chiropractic statutes and administrative rules. The national board examinations are separate from this state-specific requirement, and the Board uses the jurisprudence examination to confirm the applicant knows Montana law.

Question 22Licensure, application, and registration requirements

What minimum age must an applicant reach to qualify for an initial Montana chiropractic license?

  1. Twenty-five years of age
  2. Twenty-one years of age
  3. There is no minimum age
  4. Eighteen years of age Correct answer.

Explanation

Montana chiropractic licensure qualifications include a minimum age of eighteen years, along with the required education, examinations, and application materials. Being eighteen alone does not qualify an applicant, but an applicant below that age cannot be licensed.

Question 23Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant submits a Montana chiropractic licensure application with the required fee but has not arranged for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners to send official score reports. What is the application's status?

  1. Incomplete until official score reports are received Correct answer.
  2. Complete, because the applicant signed the form
  3. Complete, because the Board obtains scores automatically
  4. Complete, because the fee has been paid

Explanation

A Montana chiropractic licensure application is not complete until the Board receives all required supporting documentation, including official national board score reports. Payment of the fee and signature on the form do not substitute for the required examination documentation.

Question 24Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor completes continuing education courses. What should the licensee do with the certificates of completion?

  1. Keep them for thirty days and then discard them
  2. Send copies to the national chiropractic association
  3. Retain them and produce them if the Board requests verification Correct answer.
  4. Mail the originals to the Board with each renewal

Explanation

Montana chiropractors should keep documentation of completed continuing education and provide it to the Board if the Board audits or requests verification. Routine renewal generally does not require mailing original certificates, but the licensee bears the burden of documenting compliance.

Question 25Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant for Montana chiropractic licensure by endorsement holds a current license in another state, but that state's board has a pending disciplinary complaint against the applicant. How should the Montana Board treat the application?

  1. It may deny or defer action pending resolution of the other state's complaint Correct answer.
  2. It must issue the license because the other license is current
  3. It must ignore the complaint because no discipline has been imposed
  4. It must refer the matter only to the other state's board

Explanation

A pending disciplinary complaint in another jurisdiction is relevant to an applicant's qualifications and fitness for Montana licensure. The Montana Board may investigate the matter, defer action until the other state resolves it, or deny licensure if the underlying conduct warrants denial.

Question 26Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A Montana chiropractor whose license is on inactive status wants to return to active practice. What is the most accurate statement of the required step?

  1. The chiropractor must graduate from a chiropractic college again
  2. The chiropractor must apply for reactivation and satisfy the Board's current requirements Correct answer.
  3. The chiropractor becomes active automatically upon paying the current renewal fee
  4. The chiropractor must pass the national board examinations again

Explanation

Returning from inactive status to active practice in Montana requires the licensee to apply for reactivation and meet the Board's current requirements, which may include fees and continuing education. Inactive status is not the same as active licensure, so the licensee may not simply resume practice by paying a renewal fee.

Question 27Licensure, application, and registration requirements

A licensed Montana chiropractor is convicted of a misdemeanor involving insurance fraud. What is the licensee's obligation to the Montana Board?

  1. The licensee may wait until the next renewal to disclose it
  2. No report is required because the conviction was a misdemeanor
  3. No report is required unless a patient files a civil suit
  4. The licensee must report the conviction to the Board Correct answer.

Explanation

A Montana chiropractor must notify the Board of a criminal conviction as required by licensure law; the duty is not limited to felony convictions. Insurance fraud relates to professional honesty and may also be grounds for disciplinary review, so the licensee should not wait for a civil lawsuit or renewal.

Question 28Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An out-of-state chiropractor wants to provide telehealth consultations to a patient who is physically located in Montana. What does Montana licensure law generally require?

  1. The chiropractor may practice under the other state's license for one year
  2. No Montana license is required if the consultation is brief
  3. No Montana license is required if the chiropractor is licensed elsewhere
  4. The chiropractor must obtain a Montana license before treating the patient Correct answer.

Explanation

Montana licensure generally follows the location of the patient, so an out-of-state chiropractor treating a patient located in Montana must hold a Montana chiropractic license. The length of the consultation and the chiropractor's license in another state do not create an exception to Montana licensure.

Question 29Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant for Montana chiropractic licensure has no criminal conviction, but the Board finds that the applicant committed fraud in obtaining a license in another state. What may the Board do?

  1. Issue the license because there is no criminal conviction
  2. Refer the matter to the other state and take no action
  3. Act only after a criminal court enters a conviction
  4. Deny licensure based on conduct that would be grounds for discipline Correct answer.

Explanation

Montana licensure decisions are not limited to criminal convictions; the Board may deny an application when the applicant's conduct would be grounds for discipline if committed by a licensee. Fraud in obtaining another license bears directly on honesty and fitness to practice, so the Board may act even without a conviction.

Question 30Licensure, application, and registration requirements

An applicant applies for Montana licensure by endorsement. The other state's licensing requirements are less stringent than Montana's. What standard should the Board apply?

  1. The Board may require the applicant to meet Montana requirements or their substantial equivalent Correct answer.
  2. The Board must deny the application without considering the applicant's credentials
  3. The Board must issue a license whenever the applicant holds any other state license
  4. The Board must accept the other state's license if it has been held for one year

Explanation

For licensure by endorsement, Montana compares the other jurisdiction's requirements with Montana's and may require the applicant to satisfy Montana requirements or show a substantial equivalent. Holding a license elsewhere is not automatically sufficient when the other state's standards are lower.

Question 31Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

Under Montana chiropractic jurisprudence, the central object of the practice of chiropractic is best described as:

  1. prescribing medications for systemic infections
  2. managing pregnancy and childbirth
  3. performing surgical procedures on the spine
  4. locating and correcting subluxations Correct answer.

Explanation

Montana law defines chiropractic around locating and correcting subluxations of articulations, including the spine, and adjusting those articulations. The practice does not include surgery, obstetrics, or prescribing or administering internal drugs. The other choices describe activities expressly outside that statutory scope.

Question 32Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor is treating a patient with an active bacterial sinus infection. Which action falls outside the chiropractor's lawful scope?

  1. Prescribing an oral antibiotic for the infection Correct answer.
  2. Taking a focused history and performing an examination
  3. Applying a physical therapy modality for associated muscle tension
  4. Adjusting the cervical spine for a related somatic complaint

Explanation

Chiropractic scope covers mechanical, physiological, and hygienic measures plus diagnostic and therapeutic measures for subluxations and related conditions. It excludes prescribing or administering drugs or medicines for internal use, so an oral antibiotic must come from an authorized prescriber. Examination and physical modalities remain within scope when properly related to chiropractic care.

Question 33Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

Montana chiropractors may order and use x-rays in practice because:

  1. x-rays are included among diagnostic measures within scope Correct answer.
  2. x-rays require a separate radiologic technologist license
  3. x-rays are permitted only for research approved by the board
  4. x-rays are allowed only when surgery is planned

Explanation

The statutory scope includes x-rays and other diagnostic and therapeutic measures used to locate and correct subluxations and treat related conditions. A chiropractor may use x-rays diagnostically within chiropractic care without holding a radiologist's license. The other choices impose restrictions that Montana law does not require.

Question 34Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor incorporates mechanical traction into a treatment plan for a patient with a spinal complaint. How is this best characterized under Montana scope rules?

  1. It is permitted only if a physician is on site
  2. It is a physical measure within scope for related conditions Correct answer.
  3. It is outside scope because devices are not mentioned
  4. It is prohibited because traction is classified as a surgical procedure

Explanation

Chiropractic practice includes mechanical, physiological, and hygienic measures, not only manual adjustment. A traction device used for a related neuromusculoskeletal condition is a physical measure within scope when the chiropractor stays within lawful practice. It is not surgery, and physician onsite supervision is not required by the scope statute.

Question 35Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A patient presents to a Montana chiropractor after a fall with focal spinal pain and a suspected compression fracture. What is the most appropriate action within the chiropractor's scope?

  1. Order imaging, avoid manipulation, and refer for orthopedic care Correct answer.
  2. Tell the patient that fracture care is part of chiropractic
  3. Perform high-velocity manipulation directly at the suspected fracture level
  4. Prescribe an opioid analgesic and continue care

Explanation

Chiropractors may use diagnostic imaging but must recognize conditions outside their treatment scope and refer appropriately. Manipulating a suspected fracture is unsafe and outside lawful chiropractic management, and prescribing an opioid is prohibited internal drug prescribing. Fracture management belongs to orthopedic or medical care.

Question 36Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

During an office visit, a patient asks a Montana chiropractor to remove a small benign skin lesion. What should the chiropractor do?

  1. Bill the procedure as a chiropractic adjustment
  2. Decline because surgery is outside chiropractic scope Correct answer.
  3. Perform the removal if the patient signs a consent form
  4. Perform the removal only if a physician supervises

Explanation

Montana chiropractic scope excludes surgery. Removing a skin lesion is a surgical procedure, and patient consent, physician supervision, or creative billing does not bring it within chiropractic practice. The chiropractor should decline and refer the patient to an appropriate provider.

Question 37Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor's unlicensed front-desk assistant begins performing spinal adjustments when the office is busy. Which statement is correct?

  1. The assistant may adjust only after completing an online course
  2. The assistant may adjust if the chiropractor reviews the chart later
  3. The arrangement is allowed if the patient consents in writing
  4. It is prohibited because adjustment requires a chiropractic license Correct answer.

Explanation

Spinal adjustment is part of the practice of chiropractic and must be performed by a licensed chiropractor. A chiropractor may not aid or delegate unlicensed practice, and later chart review or patient consent does not cure the violation. An online course also does not substitute for licensure.

Question 38Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor advertises that spinal adjustments alone will cure cancer. How should this advertising be characterized?

  1. It is permissible because advertising is not regulated
  2. It is permissible if the clinic includes a disclaimer
  3. It is prohibited as false or misleading advertising Correct answer.
  4. It is permissible if the patient testimonials are real

Explanation

Chiropractors are subject to professional conduct rules prohibiting false, deceptive, or misleading advertising. Claiming that adjustments alone cure cancer exceeds the lawful scope and misrepresents the benefit of care. Disclaimers or genuine testimonials do not make an unlawful cure claim acceptable.

Question 39Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A patient with type 1 diabetes asks a Montana chiropractor to adjust the insulin regimen because the patient prefers to avoid the physician. What is the chiropractor's best response?

  1. Prescribe an oral diabetes medication instead
  2. Decline to manage insulin and refer the patient to a physician Correct answer.
  3. Change the insulin dose temporarily and monitor blood sugar
  4. Continue chiropractic care and tell the patient to stop insulin

Explanation

Insulin regulation and diabetes medication management require prescribing authority outside chiropractic scope. The chiropractor may provide supportive neuromusculoskeletal care but must refer the patient to an appropriate prescriber. Altering, substituting, or discontinuing diabetes medication would be unlawful and unsafe.

Question 40Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor evaluates a patient with low back pain and finds progressive bilateral leg weakness, saddle anesthesia, and bowel dysfunction. The chiropractor has no emergency equipment on site. What is the most legally defensible action?

  1. Perform a vigorous lumbar adjustment to relieve the suspected pressure
  2. Prescribe a muscle relaxant and schedule a follow-up
  3. Tell the patient to return if symptoms worsen next month
  4. Stop chiropractic care and arrange emergency evaluation Correct answer.

Explanation

These findings suggest cauda equina syndrome, a medical emergency outside chiropractic treatment scope. The chiropractor must recognize the red flags, avoid manipulation, and arrange immediate emergency medical evaluation. Prescribing an internal drug would also violate chiropractic scope.

Question 41Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor wants to add a therapeutic modality to a treatment plan for a patient with mechanical neck pain. Which modality is within the chiropractic scope of practice?

  1. Injecting a corticosteroid into the cervical facet joint
  2. Prescribing oral muscle relaxants for home use
  3. Using ultrasound and electrical stimulation as adjuncts Correct answer.
  4. Performing an open surgical release of the scalene muscles

Explanation

Montana chiropractic scope includes adjustment of spinal and other articulations plus adjunctive physical measures such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Prescribing drugs, injecting medications, and performing surgery fall outside that scope and require referral to an appropriate licensed provider.

Question 42Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A patient asks a Montana chiropractor for a prescription for a narcotic analgesic after an adjustment. What is the chiropractor's legal position?

  1. The chiropractor may prescribe any medication related to a musculoskeletal complaint.
  2. The chiropractor may prescribe only noncontrolled medications.
  3. The chiropractor may prescribe if the patient signs a waiver.
  4. The chiropractor may not prescribe medications. Correct answer.

Explanation

Montana chiropractic practice does not include prescribing or administering drugs. If a patient needs medication, the chiropractor should refer the patient to a licensed medical provider rather than issue a prescription.

Question 43Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor employs an unlicensed chiropractic assistant. Which task may the assistant lawfully perform under the chiropractor's supervision?

  1. Taking vital signs and preparing the treatment room Correct answer.
  2. Making a diagnosis of a new patient's radicular pain
  3. Ordering an MRI without the chiropractor's review
  4. Performing a spinal adjustment on an established patient

Explanation

Unlicensed chiropractic assistants may perform supportive and clerical tasks under appropriate supervision. Diagnosis, spinal adjustment, and independent ordering of imaging are chiropractic functions that require licensure.

Question 44Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor examines a patient with unexplained weight loss, night sweats, and generalized lymphadenopathy. The patient has no musculoskeletal complaint. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Refer the patient to a medical provider and document it Correct answer.
  2. Begin a prolonged course of spinal adjustments to see whether the symptoms resolve
  3. Prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic and reassess in two weeks
  4. Tell the patient the symptoms are outside insurance coverage and end the visit

Explanation

Chiropractors must recognize findings that suggest conditions outside the chiropractic scope and refer promptly to an appropriate medical provider. Documenting the referral protects the patient and demonstrates appropriate professional judgment.

Question 45Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor's website states that the chiropractor is 'board-certified in internal medicine' even though the chiropractor holds no such medical board certification. How should this be characterized?

  1. Prohibited only if a patient complains
  2. Prohibited as false or misleading advertising Correct answer.
  3. Permissible because chiropractors may use any truthful-sounding title
  4. Permissible if the website also lists the chiropractor's license number

Explanation

Montana chiropractors must advertise truthfully and may not misrepresent their credentials or specialty status. Claiming a board certification that the chiropractor does not hold is misleading to the public and constitutes prohibited advertising.

Question 46Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

During a treatment session, a Montana chiropractor makes repeated sexual comments to a patient and touches the patient's breast without clinical justification. What is the correct characterization under Montana chiropractic jurisprudence?

  1. This is permitted because chiropractors perform manual therapy
  2. This is a billing issue rather than a professional conduct issue
  3. This is acceptable if the patient does not object at the time
  4. Prohibited conduct subject to discipline, including suspension Correct answer.

Explanation

Sexual misconduct and inappropriate contact with a patient are prohibited conduct and can lead to disciplinary action, including suspension or revocation. The absence of an immediate objection does not make the conduct acceptable.

Question 47Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

After a patient files a complaint, a Montana chiropractor backdates a progress note to make it appear that a re-examination was performed before an adjustment. What is the legal significance?

  1. Backdating is acceptable if the chiropractor actually performed the re-examination later
  2. Backdating is a minor clerical matter outside board jurisdiction
  3. Backdating is permitted if the note is written in a different color ink
  4. Falsifying a record is prohibited and may support discipline Correct answer.

Explanation

Patient records must accurately reflect the care provided and the timing of that care. Altering or backdating a record to mislead a reviewer is falsification and constitutes prohibited conduct subject to board discipline.

Question 48Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor submits insurance claims for spinal adjustments that were never performed and uses the payments for personal expenses. Which statement best describes this conduct?

  1. It is prohibited fraud and unprofessional conduct Correct answer.
  2. It is a contract dispute between the chiropractor and the insurer, not a licensing matter
  3. It is permissible if the insurer does not audit the claims
  4. It is permissible if the patient's deductible has been met

Explanation

Billing for services that were not rendered is fraud and unprofessional conduct. The conduct can result in licensure discipline regardless of whether the insurer detects the claims or audits the practice.

Question 49Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A person who has not been licensed by the Montana Board of Chiropractic Examiners offers to perform spinal adjustments for a fee. What is the legal status of this activity?

  1. It is unlicensed practice, which is prohibited Correct answer.
  2. It is permitted if the person uses the title 'bodywork therapist'
  3. It is permitted if the person charges less than a licensed chiropractor
  4. It is permitted if the person has completed a chiropractic degree but not the license

Explanation

Practicing chiropractic without a Montana license is prohibited, and the Board may pursue enforcement against unlicensed practice. Holding a chiropractic degree or using an alternative title does not authorize performing spinal adjustments for a fee.

Question 50Scope of practice and prohibited conduct

A Montana chiropractor releases a patient's chiropractic records to the patient's employer without a signed authorization or legal requirement. What is the correct characterization?

  1. Prohibited only if the patient is a minor
  2. Prohibited without consent or legal exception Correct answer.
  3. Permitted because the employer pays for treatment
  4. Permitted if the records contain no X-rays

Explanation

Patient records are confidential, and disclosure generally requires patient authorization or a recognized legal exception. Releasing records to an employer without authorization is a prohibited breach of confidentiality.