Chiropractic Assistant (CA)

Become a certified CA

CA Application

Instructions

Answer all question truthfully, and read the History Disclosure Guide. Provide all relative police reports, and court documents when answering "Yes" to criminal history questions.

With your completed application packet, you must send:

An original, untouched passport-type color photo,
The total fees, currently, $176.25 (Card, check or money order; NO cash), and
Your proof/certificates showing completion of the 12 hours initial training.

You do not need to return the instructional sheets.

When you are ready to submit your application to the Board, you must send it by US mail to:

OBCE

530 Center St NE, Suite 620

Salem, OR 97301

Incomplete applications will not be processed until all requirements are met and submitted.

Publication

Chiropractic Assistant Administrative Rule (OAR)

Form Type

Assistant Application Packet (Adobe Reader or similar app is needed)

More Info

Credit/Debit Card Authorization form

CA training

Instructions: You must complete 12 hours of initial training, including eight (8) hours of lecture and four (4) hours of hands-on training.

The lecture training must follow the Board's curriculum.

The hands-on training must cover some information in each of hydrotherapy, electrotherapy and physiotherapy.

There are approved trainers, offering live courses and online courses; however, if employed by a chiropractic clinic, that doctor may provide the necessary training. See DC Guidelines below.

Once you finish a course/program, you should receive a certificate of completion which you will submit with your application packet.
Publication: Pre-scheduled Intial Training classes (12 hours)
Form Type: DC Guidelines for training own CA applicant
More Info: Board-approved Initial Trainers

CA background check

Instructions

All applicants for chiropractic assistant certification must be fingerprinted, even if recently printed for another Oregon license or certificate. If you are a chiropractic student and you have already made application with this Board for your DC license, you do not need to be fingerprinted a second time for the CA application, or pay the $41.25 with your initial assistant application. Notify board staff.

Board staff will email the fingerprint instructions to you when the Board receives your complete application packet and fees.
Do NOT make your appointment until you receive Board instructions, and then make your appointment immediately.
Fieldprint will require you to make a nominal payment at the time you create your appointment to cover the cost of the printing*.
Once you are printed and your prints are transferred to the Oregon State Police, it takes seven to ten business days for the Board to receive the background report.

* $41.25 of your initial fees covers the cost of the background report, not the actual fingerprinting.

Publication

Fitness Determination Administrative Rule 811-010-0084

Form Type

More Info

Fieldprint FAQs

CA examination

Instructions: Once the Board receives your complete application packet, board staff will send the chiropractic assistant examination to the email address you provided. The email is open book. You may use any notes provided by your trainer to help answer the questions.
Publication
Form Type
More Info

CA initial certificate

Instructions

Your chiropractic assistant certificate will be issued when

You have successfully passed the examination,
The Board receives the background report and all items have been disclosed, or explained, and
The Board has approved your application*.

Oregon uses a birth month renewal system, so your initial certificate may only be valid for six months, or up to 18 months. Make a note of it when you receive your certificate.

Board staff will send an email to let you know that the certificate is ready. If the newly certified assistant is working in a clinic, the certificate will be mailed to that address; otherwise, it will be mailed to the home address.

Assistants may not provide therapies until the certificate is in their hand.

* Applicants with a criminal history may be referred to the full Board for review and subsequent approval or denial. The referral is not made until all police reports, and court documents are received. You will receive a notice giving the date of review. The Board meets every other month, so expect a delay in the processing of the application.

Publication

Form Type

More Info

Email questions to board staff

Annual CA certificate renewal

CA first renewal

Instructions: Renewal is annual. Board staff will email the "renewal notice" approximately 45 days prior to your renewal date (last day of birth month). The notice will remind you of your education requirements, and provide a link to the online renewal site (also provided below).

Assistant renewal fee: $75

Continuing Education hours: Six (6) due and two of those hours must be training on taking vitals. Refer to the appropriate section on the Continuing Education page (link below) for more information.
Publication: Administrative Rule 811-010-0110 on Renewal
Form Type: Online Renewal
More Info: Continuing education page

CA regular active renewal

Instructions: After your first renewal, your certificate will be valid from birth month to birth month.

Upon receipt of your notice check your records to confirm whether you have completed the required education hours. If not, complete those hours. Note: Hours must be complete before "renewing."

Log into the OBCE renewal site (link is below and in the header of the webpage), and complete that process: update home and/or clinic addresses, complete the Healthcare Workforce Survey, answer renewal questions, and make payment.
Publication: Administrative Rule 811-010-0110 on Renewal
Form Type: Online Renewal
More Info: Continuing education page

Fingerprint background check at renewal

Instructions: The Board has determined that all licensees (CAs and DCs) will be background checked (fingerprinted) every six years at renewal. Licensees who are due to be printed will receive a notice with their renewal notice (either in the same message or a second email).

CAs or DCs who were printed recently during the application process will not be printed again, until six years from that date.

Licensees are reminded that they are bound by Oregon Revised Statute 676.150 Duty to Report. See the statute/law below.
Publication: Oregon Revised Statute 676-150 Duty to Report
Form Type
More Info: Fitness Determination OAR 811-010-0084

Grace period and late renewal for Assistants

Instructions: The 30 days immediately after a certificate expires is called the "grace period." The Board allows an assistant to provide therapies during those 30 days, but a penalty is added to the renewal payment. $25 is added during the 30 days, and $50 is added for 31 days and forward.

If an assistant has not renewed by the end of the grace period, they are instructed to cease and desist working. If 12 months pass and the assistant still has not renewed, they will no longer have a certificate to practice. They would need to reapply for certification.

Failure to cease and desist practice will likely cause the Board to take disciplinary action.
Publication
Form Type
More Info: Unprofessional Conduct OAR 811-035-0015(14)