The American Board of Chiropractic Acupunture
The American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture (ABCA) is dedicated to promoting excellence in the chiropractic profession by providing national testing for Diplomate status in the field of chiropractic acupuncture. The ABCA is a non-profit organization established in 2005. Its mission is to credential knowledgeable and effective chiropractic practitioners in the art, science, and philosophy of chiropractic acupuncture within nationally recognized standards. In providing standardized written and oral/practical assessment for the chiropractic profession, the ABCA develops, administers, scores and reports test results for DABCA (Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture) licensure. The ABCA is dedicated to promoting high standards of competence and preserving the integrity of using acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to chiropractic treatment.
The ABCA functions in the official capacity as the sole credentialing agency in Chiropractic Acupuncture for the ACA Council of Chiropractic Acupuncture. Based on American Chiropractic Association (ACA) policies relating to the use of chiropractic acupuncture, all applicants are obligated to review and accept the policies set forth by the ACA.
State Licensure:
Decisions regarding licensure of successful completion of DACBA (Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture) rest with individual state licensing boards. Any questions should be directed to the board of each individual state.
ABCA Certification represents professional recognition. It does not authorize or license an individual to practice chiropractic acupuncture. Chiropractic acupuncture licensure and registration are state regulatory functions.
More about the ABCA
The American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture (ABCA) was formally established in 2005 as a non-profit organization. The ABCA has been created as an independent entity within the corporate structure of the Council of Chiropractic Acupuncture of the American Chiropractic Association. The ABCA has a separate, independent Board of Trustees with full responsibility for the direction and operation of the ABCA.
The ABCA functions in the official capacity as the sole credentialing agency in Chiropractic Acupuncture for the ACA Council of Chiropractic Acupuncture. Based on American Chiropractic Association (ACA) policies relating to the use of chiropractic acupuncture, all applicants are obligated to review and accept the policies set forth by the ACA.
Mission of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture
The mission of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture is to promote safe, ethical, efficacious chiropractic acupuncture to the public by maintaining high standards for the examination and certification of chiropractic physicians as specialists in chiropractic acupuncture.
Purposes of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture
The essential purposes of the ABCA are:
- To establish requirements for the qualifications of applicants who request a certificate of their training and experience in the field of chiropractic acupuncture in its broadest sense.
- To conduct examinations of approved candidates who seek certification by the Board.
- To issue certificates to those physicians who meet the Board’s requirements and pass the Board’s examination.
- To promote the advancement and betterment of the specialty of chiropractic acupuncture.
- To assist in improving the quality of post-graduate and continuing education in the specialized chiropractic practice embraced by the field of chiropractic acupuncture.
- To do and engage in any and all lawful activities that may be incidental or reasonably related to any of the forgoing purposes.
Purpose of Certification
The intent of the certification process is to provide assurance to the public that a chiropractic physician who is board certified in chiropractic acupuncture has successfully completed an approved educational program and an evaluation, including an examination process, designed to assess the knowledge, experience and skills requisite to the provision of high quality patient care in that specialty. Diplomates of the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture possess particular qualifications in this specialty.
Standards of certification are distinct from those of State licensure. Possession of a Board certificate does not indicate total qualification for practice privileges, nor does it imply exclusion of other physicians not so certified. The Board does not purport in any way to interfere with or limit the professional activities of any licensed physician or any of his/ her regular or legitimate activities.
The Board considers Certification to be based upon a process, which includes the education phase, experience phase and examination phase. It holds that the education and training phase are of the utmost importance in preparing the chiropractic physician in the theory and techniques of chiropractic acupuncture. The most appropriate training is an organized course of study, based on a systematic curriculum that emphasizes an integrated chiropractic acupuncture curriculum from multiple paradigms and acupuncture traditions.