North Dakota Board of Chiropractic Examiners: Authority, Composition, and Procedures
North Dakota Board of Chiropractic Examiners: Authority, Composition, and Procedures
This domain tests the Board's legal design and how a disciplinary or licensing matter moves through it.
Core rules
- NDCC ch. 43-06 creates the Board and gives it authority to license, examine, investigate complaints, adopt rules, and impose discipline.
- The Board is governor-appointed and includes chiropractor members plus public or medical representation; members serve staggered terms.
- Board proceedings are administrative, not criminal. Licensees are entitled to notice of charges, a meaningful opportunity to respond, and a hearing before sanctions for disputed facts.
- The Board may use investigators, subpoenas, settlement agreements, and consent orders. Final orders are subject to judicial review under the statute.
- Board members must avoid conflicts and decide on the record.
Worked example
A patient complains that a chiropractor billed for services not rendered. Staff opens a file, requests records, and gives the licensee notice. The licensee may respond, produce documents, and negotiate a consent order. If facts are disputed, the matter proceeds to hearing; the Board cannot simply revoke based on the complaint alone. The order should state findings, conclusions, and sanctions.
Traps
Do not describe the Board as a court or assume a criminal standard of proof. Do not ignore a Board subpoena because a parallel insurer or police matter exists. Do not contact Board members privately about a pending case; that creates ex parte and conflict problems. Do not assume a consent order is confidential if the Board publishes final orders.