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Nebraska

Nebraska Board of Chiropractic, with licensing administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.

What the board and the law publish

Each field carries its own source and the date it was checked. A field marked not published means the board's own pages were read and do not address it. Absence in what we checked is not absence at the board. A field marked unverified says what was attempted.

State
published Nebraska, a state.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
Licensing body
published The Chiropractic Practice Act names the Board of Chiropractic. Licensing is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Office of Rehabilitation & Community Services). If you practice chiropractic in Nebraska, you must be licensed as a chiropractor unless the exception in section 38-806 applies to you.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
Statutory authority
published Act: the Chiropractic Practice Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-801 to 38-811, within the Uniform Credentialing Act. The board page links the department's copy of the act, a PDF headed 2023, STATUTES RELATING TO CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE ACT, and its copy of the Uniform Credentialing Act, a PDF headed 2026. Rules: 172 NAC 29, Practice of Chiropractic. The department's Title 172 page lists Chapter 29 as amended 10/20/2020, as text with no link to a document. The board page links the rules to rules.nebraska.gov. Neither the board page nor the Title 172 page links to a document holding the text of 172 NAC 29, so the rules text is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04.Not established: rules text.Read on 2026-10-04: the board's chiropractic page; the department's statute PDF; the Uniform Credentialing Act PDF; the department's Regulations page; the department's Title 172 page. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text). No address was tried other than the ones these pages link.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/UniformCredentialingAct.pdf · https://rules.nebraska.gov/rules?agencyId=37&titleId=101 · https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Title-172.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/DHHS-Regulations.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
Degree requirement
published You need proof of graduation from an accredited college of chiropractic. The act defines an accredited college as one approved by the board and, among other conditions, one that requires a diploma from an accredited high school or its equivalent for admission; for students entering on or after January 1, 1974, at least two years of credit from an accredited college or university; and one requiring an actual attendance for four college years totaling not less than four thousand hours. The application instructions ask for an official transcript sent directly by the institution. The board page sends you to the regulations it lists, among them 172 NAC 29, for licensing requirements; their text is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04, and the address it links for 173 NAC 1: not checked (see Statutory authority).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
  • Every applicant for a license to practice chiropractic shall present proof of graduation from an accredited college of chiropractic and (1) pass an examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners which consists of Parts I, II, III, IV, and physiotherapy or (2) pass an examination approved by the Board of Chiropractic. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • a legally chartered college of chiropractic requiring for admission a diploma from an accredited high school or its equivalent and, beginning with students entering a college of chiropractic on or after January 1, 1974, at least two years credit from an accredited college or university of this or some other state dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • one requiring an actual attendance for four college years totaling not less than four thousand hours dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • Transcript: Submit an official college/university transcript sent directly from the education institution to the Department. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf
Student practice before licensure
published Section 38-806 of the Chiropractic Practice Act, headed Chiropractic practice; persons excepted, provides that the act shall not be construed to include the following classes of persons, and one class it lists is Students enrolled in an accredited college of chiropractic when the services performed are a part of the course of study and are under the direct supervision of a licensed chiropractor. Section 38-803's definition of an accredited college of chiropractic includes, among its conditions, one which conducts a clinic for patients in which its students are required to regularly participate in the care and adjustment of patients. Whether the rules, 172 NAC 29, say more about practice by students, or address practice by a graduate who is not yet licensed, is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04 (see Statutory authority).Not established: rules text; graduates not yet licensed.Read on 2026-10-04 for this field: the board's chiropractic page; the department's statute PDF; the Uniform Credentialing Act PDF; the application instructions. Each was searched for student, preceptor, intern, graduate, unlicensed, temporary and supervision, and every hit was read in its passage; none addresses practice by a chiropractic graduate who is not yet licensed, or a chiropractic preceptorship or internship. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/UniformCredentialingAct.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
NBCE parts required
published The act names NBCE Parts I, II, III, IV and physiotherapy as one of two routes. The other route is an examination approved by the Board of Chiropractic. The application instructions ask for official documentation of your NBCE scores, and the application states a scaled score of at least 375 in each part. If you passed the examination more than three years before you apply and are not practicing when you apply, the act requires proof of continuing competency requirements approved by the board, completed within the three years before you apply. For an applicant who applies more than three years after passing the examination and is not practicing in another jurisdiction, the application requires the NBCE Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC) with a scaled score of at least 375 within three years of applying. For applicants licensed in another jurisdiction, the application also states a route through Parts I, II and physiotherapy together with the SPEC (see Endorsement or reciprocity).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
  • pass an examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners which consists of Parts I, II, III, IV, and physiotherapy dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • Examination: Official documentation of scores on the NBCE examination. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf
  • An applicant for licensure to practice chiropractic who has met the education and examination requirements in section 38-807, who passed the examination more than three years prior to the time of application for licensure, and who is not practicing at the time of application for licensure shall present proof satisfactory to the department that he or she has within the three years immediately preceding the application for licensure completed continuing competency requirements approved by the board pursuant to section 38-145. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • An applicant who applies for licensure no more than three years after passing the examination must have met the requirements for licensure by passing Parts I, II, III, IV, and physiotherapy of the examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) with a scaled score of at least 375 in each part. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf
  • An applicant who applies more than three years after passing the examination and is not practicing in another jurisdiction at the time of application must have met the requirements for licensure by passing Parts I, II, III, IV, and physiotherapy of the examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf
  • must successfully pass the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC) with a scaled score of at least 375 within three years of applying for licensure. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf
State-specific exam
unverified None published on the board page, in the Chiropractic Practice Act or in the application instructions. The act allows, instead of the NBCE route, an examination approved by the Board of Chiropractic, and does not name one. The board page sends you to the regulations it lists, among them 172 NAC 29, for licensing requirements; whether they name a state exam is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04, and the address it links for 173 NAC 1: not checked.Read on 2026-10-04: the board's chiropractic page; the department's statute PDF; the application instructions. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
Jurisprudence requirement
unverified No jurisprudence exam is named on the board page, in the Chiropractic Practice Act or in the application instructions. The board page sends you to the regulations it lists, among them 172 NAC 29, for licensing requirements. Whether you must pass a jurisprudence exam is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04.Read on 2026-10-04: the board's chiropractic page; the department's statute PDF; the Uniform Credentialing Act PDF; the application instructions. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
Scope: what is included
published The act defines the practice of chiropractic as one or a combination of diagnosis and analysis by diagnostic X-ray, physical and clinical examination and routine procedures including urine analysis, or treatment by chiropractic adjustment, chiropractic physiotherapy, exercise, nutrition, dietary guidance and colonic irrigation, without the use of drugs or surgery. The act sets the standard of care when a chiropractor performs acupuncture. The board page says chiropractors may sign death certificates, and its description lists acupuncture among the methods chiropractors use.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · checked 2026-10-04
  • The diagnosis and analysis of the living human body for the purpose of detecting ailments, disorders, and disease by the use of diagnostic X-ray, physical and clinical examination, and routine procedures including urine analysis dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • The science and art of treating human ailments, disorders, and disease by locating and removing any interference with the transmission and expression of nerve energy in the human body by chiropractic adjustment, chiropractic physiotherapy, and the use of exercise, nutrition, dietary guidance, and colonic irrigation. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • When performing acupuncture, a chiropractor licensed under the Uniform Credentialing Act shall provide the same standard of care to patients as that provided by a person licensed under the Uniform Credentialing Act to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathy, or osteopathic medicine and surgery when such person performs acupuncture. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • Chiropractors may sign death certificates. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx
Scope: what is excluded
published The Chiropractic Practice Act's definition of the practice of chiropractic, including its provision on X-rays beyond the axial skeleton. Any scope provisions in 172 NAC 29 are unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04 (see Statutory authority).Section 38-806, persons excepted, lists people the act does not cover, not things excluded from chiropractic practice. The department's statute PDF also prints a case annotation under section 38-805; it is a court's holding, not the statute's text.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
  • Practice of chiropractic means one or a combination of the following, without the use of drugs or surgery: dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
  • The use of X-rays beyond the axial skeleton as described in subdivision (1)(a) of this section shall be solely for diagnostic purposes and shall not expand the practice of chiropractic to include the treatment of human ailments, disorders, and disease not permitted when the use of X-rays was limited to the axial skeleton. dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf
Continuing education
published If you hold an active Nebraska license, you need at least 36 hours of approved continuing education in the 24 months before August 1 of each even-numbered year, the date licenses expire. The department waives the requirement if you were first credentialed within the 24 months before the renewal date. The board page's sentence reads approve continuing education, where the word approved appears to be intended. Attachment A3 to the application, headed for particular applicants, states that licensees may complete at most 6 hours by self-study each 24-month renewal period, and that the board does not pre-approve continuing education programs. The same attachment states eight mandatory hours within the 36 for an applicant licensed in another jurisdiction and not practicing (see Endorsement or reciprocity). The board page refers you to the regulations for more detail; whether renewal carries mandated subject categories is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04.Not established: renewal subject categories.Read on 2026-10-04: the board's chiropractic page; the application instructions, including Attachment A3. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
Endorsement or reciprocity
published The Chiropractic Practice Act refers to standards the board sets, under section 38-126, for a license based on licensure in another jurisdiction. Section 38-126 of the Uniform Credentialing Act provides that the board may adopt rules and regulations specifying minimum standards for a credential; the text of any such rules is unverified: the one rules address requested for them, which the board page links for 172 NAC 29, returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04. The department's application states requirements for an applicant licensed in another jurisdiction. If you are practicing when you apply: NBCE Parts I, II, III, IV and physiotherapy with a scaled score of at least 375 in each part; or Parts I, II and physiotherapy with a scaled score of at least 375 in each part and the NBCE Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC) with a scaled score of at least 375 within the three years before you apply. If you are not practicing when you apply: NBCE Parts I, II, III, IV and physiotherapy with a scaled score of at least 375 in each part and 36 hours of documented continuing education within the 24 months before you apply; or Parts I, II and physiotherapy with a scaled score of at least 375 in each part, the SPEC with a scaled score of at least 375 within the two years before you apply, and 36 hours of continuing education within the 24 months before you apply. The application's Attachment A3 states that the 36 hours must include eight mandatory hours, four related to technical skills and four related to practice issues, each in one or a combination of the categories it lists; that the remainder must be in other acceptable continuing education; and that the mandatory hours may not be obtained by formal self-study. The act also provides that if you have met the standards set by the board under section 38-126 for a license based on licensure in another jurisdiction but are not practicing when you apply, you shall present proof satisfactory to the department that, within the two years immediately preceding the application, you completed continuing competency requirements approved by the board. If you are a military spouse, you may apply for a temporary license as provided in section 38-129.01 of the Uniform Credentialing Act. The application instructions ask you to have each licensing agency where you hold or have held a license complete a certification of license.Not established: text of the rules.Read on 2026-10-04: the department's statute PDF; the Uniform Credentialing Act PDF; the application instructions, including Attachment A3. Reached without rule text on 2026-10-04: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 (status 200, an 803-byte JavaScript application shell with no rule text).Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/UniformCredentialingAct.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · checked 2026-10-04
Summary
published Nebraska licenses chiropractors through the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit, and the Chiropractic Practice Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-801 to 38-811) names the Board of Chiropractic. You need to graduate from an accredited college of chiropractic, as the act defines one (see Degree requirement); you then pass either NBCE Parts I, II, III, IV and physiotherapy or an examination approved by the board; the application states a scaled score of at least 375 in each NBCE part. The practice covers diagnosis by X-ray, examination and routine procedures, and treatment by adjustment, chiropractic physiotherapy, exercise, nutrition, dietary guidance and colonic irrigation, without the use of drugs or surgery. If you hold an active license, you need at least 36 hours of continuing education in each 24-month period ending August 1 of an even-numbered year. If you are licensed elsewhere, the act refers to standards the board sets, and the application states NBCE, SPEC and continuing-education requirements. Whether a state exam or a jurisprudence exam is required, and whether renewal carries mandated continuing-education subject categories, is unverified: the rules.nebraska.gov address the board page links for 172 NAC 29 returned a JavaScript application shell with no rule text on 2026-10-04; the board page sends you to the regulations it lists, among them 172 NAC 29, whose text is unverified.Source: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Chiropractic.aspx · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/Chiropractic.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/chiroapp.pdf · https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/UniformCredentialingAct.pdf · checked 2026-10-04

Recorded limit. The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards publishes a record for each board at https://www.fclb.org/. That site returned HTTP 403 to us when checked on 2026-10-04, so its record could not be read.

The board is the authority on everything here. Requirements change. Confirm anything you intend to act on with the board directly.

Cite this entry. Nebraska licensure. In The Kaleidoscope. ChiroTrack. Last verified 4 October 2026. https://kaleidoscope.thechirotrack.com/licensure-nebraska.html. Accessed ________.

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