NH Chiropractic Jurisprudence cheat sheet

Chiropractic practice is regulated under RSA 316-A (Chiropractic) and the administrative rules of the New Hampshire Board of Chiropractic Examiners, primarily the Chiropractic Rules (Chi 300–500).

The Board of Chiropractic Examiners consists of five members appointed by the Governor: four licensed chiropractors and one public member; terms are three years, and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

Licensure requires graduation from a chiropractic college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the Board, plus a passing score on the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Parts I–IV or equivalent examination accepted by the Board.

Applicants must pass the New Hampshire chiropractic jurisprudence examination, which covers state statutes, Board rules, and scope of practice; the exam may be taken before or after the national boards.

The Board may issue licenses by reciprocity/endorsement to chiropractors licensed in another state if that state's requirements are substantially equivalent to New Hampshire's and the applicant holds a current, unrestricted license.

Grounds for discipline under RSA 316-A include, but are not limited to: unprofessional conduct, gross negligence, fraud or deceit in obtaining a license, practicing beyond the scope of chiropractic, and violation of any Board rule or order.

The Board may impose disciplinary sanctions including reprimand, suspension, revocation, probation, administrative fines, and required remedial education; disciplinary actions are subject to the contested case provisions of RSA 541-A.

Licensees must report to the Board any change of name or address within 30 days; failure to do so may result in a fine or suspension.

The Board may conduct investigations and hearings upon complaints; it may subpoena witnesses and records, and it may seek injunctive relief through the Attorney General against unlicensed practice.

Chiropractic scope in New Hampshire is defined as the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the human body, particularly the neuromusculoskeletal system, through manual or mechanical means, including spinal adjustment and manipulation.

Permitted modalities include: chiropractic adjustment/manipulation, mobilization, manual therapy, traction, therapeutic exercise, and the use of physical therapy modalities such as heat, cold, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound, provided they are within the chiropractor's training and competence.

Chiropractors may provide nutritional counseling and may recommend or dispense dietary supplements, but may not prescribe legend drugs or perform surgery.

Chiropractors may not perform acupuncture unless separately licensed under RSA 328-G; dry needling is not within the chiropractic scope unless authorized by the Board.

Chiropractors may order and interpret diagnostic imaging (including X-rays) and clinical laboratory tests for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of conditions within the chiropractic scope.

Chiropractors must refer patients to other licensed health care providers when the patient's condition is beyond the chiropractor's scope or when progress is not being made; failure to refer may constitute unprofessional conduct.

Chiropractors may not use the title "doctor" in a misleading manner; they must clearly identify themselves as chiropractors and may use "Dr." only in conjunction with "Chiropractor" or "D.C."

Chiropractic assistants may perform certain delegated tasks under direct supervision, but may not perform spinal adjustments or independent patient evaluations.

The Board may define additional modalities by rule, but any expansion of scope must be consistent with the statutory definition in RSA 316-A.

Initial chiropractic licenses are issued for a period of two years and expire on the licensee's birthdate in the second year, unless renewed.

Renewal requires submission of a completed application, payment of the renewal fee, and attestation of completion of continuing education (CE) requirements.

The CE requirement is 40 hours per two-year renewal cycle, including at least 2 hours in ethics, 2 hours in jurisprudence, and 2 hours in the management of patients with substance use disorders (or as otherwise specified by Board rule).

CE hours must be obtained from Board-approved providers; courses must be relevant to chiropractic practice and may include online or home-study formats if approved.

Licensees must maintain records of CE completion for at least four years and provide them to the Board upon request.

A license may be renewed late with a penalty fee; practicing on an expired license is grounds for discipline and may result in additional fines.

Inactive or retired status may be available upon application; while inactive, the licensee may not practice chiropractic in New Hampshire.

Reinstatement of a lapsed or revoked license requires application, payment of fees, and demonstration of current competence, which may include passing the jurisprudence exam or completing additional CE.

New licensees must complete a Board-approved orientation or jurisprudence course within the first renewal cycle if required by Board rule.

Chiropractors must maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and state law; unauthorized disclosure is unprofessional conduct.

Informed consent must be obtained before initiating treatment, including an explanation of the diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Sexual misconduct with a patient is prohibited and constitutes grounds for license revocation; consensual relationships with current patients are also prohibited.

Chiropractors must not engage in false, deceptive, or misleading advertising, including guarantees of cure or claims of superior results without substantiation.

The disciplinary process begins with a complaint filed with the Board; the Board may conduct an investigation, offer a settlement, or hold a contested case hearing under RSA 541-A.

The Board may impose interim suspensions or restrictions if there is an immediate threat to public health and safety.

Disciplinary actions are reported to national databases (e.g., NPDB) and may affect licensure in other states; licensees must report adverse actions to the Board within 30 days.

Licensees must cooperate with Board investigations; failure to respond to a subpoena or provide requested records is itself a violation.

The Board may require a licensee to undergo a mental or physical examination if there is reason to believe the licensee is impaired; refusal may result in suspension.

Appeals of final Board decisions are made to the New Hampshire Supreme Court under RSA 541; the standard of review is whether the decision is unlawful, unreasonable, or unsupported by the evidence.