Chiropractic, International Chiropractors Association, Council on Chiropractic Education, CCE, reform, standards, ICA

March 15, 2012 — The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) continues to seek profound reforms in the policies, procedures, and standards of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) in an effort to restore broad acceptance of the agency within the chiropractic profession.

To that end, a working group of ICA leaders has prepared an extensive document titled “An Initial Report of the International Chiropractors Association’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Standards, Policies, By-Laws and Practices of the Council on Chiropractic Education,” in which ICA’s concerns with the CCE, and those of a wide and growing segment of the chiropractic profession, are articulated and possible means for resolution are presented.

The full text of this document is available by clicking here.

The CCE document prepared by ICA has been widely circulated for review and comment to a wide array of chiropractic groups including state membership associations, specialty councils, state boards of chiropractic examiners, college alumni associations, publications, vendors, and technique organizations.

The current version of the ICA paper, representing a second iteration of the document, reflects comments and feedback from many of the organizations involved. Input is still being aggressively sought by ICA in an effort to capture and represent the widest possible range of opinions and concerns, as well as outline needed action steps on CCE’s part.

“ICA is deeply concerned that those in decision-making positions at the CCE grasp the historic and massive nature of the concern and controversy their recent actions have generated within the chiropractic profession and the profound reforms that must be enacted by CCE to restore its credibility and trust with the profession at large,” said ICA President Dr. Gary Walsemann. “Cosmetic or token actions will certainly not suffice to address the serious loss of confidence CCE has sustained, nor will such steps serve the best interests of the educational system or the profession in the field. Fundamental changes are absolutely essential to accomplish those urgent goals.”

Although the ICA recognizes and supports the importance of the work of the CCE, the ICA also recognizes that it is extremely important that the accreditation activities reflect a fair and balanced viewpoint that encompasses the broad and diversified views of all stakeholders in the profession and that chiropractic educational standards must retain those characteristics that have been central to the profession’s identity for 116 years.

Through this unique, highly detailed document, ICA is seeking a wide-ranging and reform-oriented dialogue with CCE’s governing board to frankly discuss the large body of serious concerns that now permeate the chiropractic profession and to work to address not only the violations of USDE criteria for recognition cited by the NACIQI Committee but also to help establish CCE’s broad acceptance by the profession at large.

ICA invites all concerned parties to submit comments by e-mail to chiro@chiropractic.org or in writing by mail to: