List of chiropractic credentials
Doctors holding the DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) degree, may place numerous letters after their names, many of which are recognized only within the Chiropractic profession. Some by the Chiropractic academic community at large, and some only by the specific organization that issued the "credential". In an effort to make some sense of the alphabet soup, this page attempts to provide some explanation.
NB: This list does not attempt to be exhaustive, nor does exclusion from this list automatically imply that a degree is, or is not accredited. Some of these "credentials" are from outside the Chirpractic profession, but commonly used by Doctors of Chiropractic.
Etiquette for Listing of Degrees
There are several schools of thought as to in what order to list ones degrees;
1.- List them in the order of importance to your field;[1] or,
2.- List them in the order obtained; or,
3.- List them in the order of their academic level, highest last. In other words even if a DC later receives an RN degree, s/he may list the DC last, as that represents the higher academic achievement; or,[2]
4.- List the "highest degree in your working profession should be listed first" [3], or,
5.- List only the highest degree in each field, in other words not to list a BA or BS degree, if you have a PhD in the same area. [4]
NB: For the edification of recipients, please note that "diplomat" is a person who is accredited, such as an ambassador, to officially represent a government in its relations with other governments or international organisms [5]; whereas, "diplomate" [6]is the recipient of a diploma.
Academic Pre/Post Doctoral Degrees
DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) Degree: The vast majority of DC's today are graduates of fully accredited "first professional degree" granting institutions. This means that the DC degree is accredited by one of the regional accrediting agencies, like, e.g. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, or National accrediting agencies, like e.g. the New York State Board of Regents. The DC degree is also listed as a "First Professional Degree" (same category as the MD (Medicine), DO (Osteopathy), DPM (Podiatry), OD (Optometry), DDS or DMD (Dentistry) degrees, and in some states ND or NMD (Naturopathic Medicine), and DHM (Homeopathic Medicine), and OMD (Oriental Medicine)
by the US Dept of Education. There are also the Professional degrees which are for "other" licensed health professionals, like RN (Nursing), LAc (Acupuncturist), ATC (Athletic Trainer), PT (Physical Therapist), etc., generally recognized as subordinate to the "first professional degrees". There are DC's who have also earned, and thus list after their names, any of these other degrees, in nearly any combination.
Academic Pre or Post-Doctoral Graduate Degrees
Some DC's have received Masters or Doctoral Degrees from another Accredited College or University before they commenced Chiropractic college, and some achieved those degrees after they received their DC degrees. Some Chiropractic Colleges are accredited to offer certain Masters and now even PhD degrees in professionally related fields, like nutrition, Oriental medicine, acupuncture, or other fields[7].
Certifications *Recognized by the Chiropractic Academic Community
- *"Recognized" means that the Chiropractic academic community generally recognizes these certifications as representing a program of advanced study at, or through an accredited institution, and that the holder has passed a certifying examination.
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| CCSP[8] | Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician | American program, (but exported)1 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 12 week-end seminars provided by an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Certifying Examination |
| ICSSD[9] | International Chiropractic Sport Science Diplomate | A program offered by the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS), of week-end seminars, run through an accredited Chiropractic college, and followed by a FICS certifying examination. |
Generally *Recognized Board Certifications
- *"Recognized" means by the Chiropractic Profession generally. Some of these are also accredited by other professional specialty credentialing agencies.
It must be understood that medical specialty boards are themselves likewise "credentialed" by agencies, also composed entirely of medical and osteopathic physicians, and they generally refuse to consider chiropractic specialties.
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| DABCA[10] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Acupuncture | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DABCN[11] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Clinical Nutrition | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DACBR[12] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Diagnostic Imaging | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DACAN or DACNB[13][14] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Neurology | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DABCI[15] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Diagnosis and Internal Disorders | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DACO [16] | Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedics | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DACRB[17] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Rehabilitation | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. This Board is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association. |
| DACBSP[18] | Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians | American program, 3 yr post-Doctoral; consisting of 36 week-end seminars provided through an accredited American Chiropractic college; a practical experience component and followed by a Nationally administered Board Certifying Examination. |
| FCCSS(C)[19] | Fellow, College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences(Canada) | Canadian Program, of three years of week-end seminars provided through a Canadian accredited Chiropractic College; a practical experience component; a research component / publication requirement, and followed by a Board certifying examination. |
| DICCP, and FICCP[20] | Diplomate and Fellow, International College of Chiropractic Pediatrics | American program, run through the International Chiropractor's Association, Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics. It consists of three years of week-end seminars provided through an accredited Chiropractic College (currently New York Chiropractic College, Palmer College of Chiropractic and the New Zealand College of Chiropractic all sponsor this program); and followed by a Board certifying examination. Fellowship is awarded by the Council's Board of Directors, to those Diplomates having made significant contributions to the field, and is an honorary title. |
Honorary Titles Conferred by Recognized Chiropractic Bodies
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| FICC [21] | Fellow, International College of Chiropractors | This honorary degree is bestowed upon Doctors of Chiropractic by a body generally allied with the American Chiropractic Association. (This body does not appear to be currently in operation, as there are no newer citations available, and the website is a broken link). |
| FACC [22][23] | Fellow, American College of Chiropractors | This honorary degree is bestowed upon Doctors of Chiropractic by a body generally allied with the far smaller, US based, and thus confusingly named International Chiropractor's Association (The World Federation of Chiropractic is actually the international agency representing Chiropractors around the world). (This body does not appear to be currently in operation, as there are no newer citations available). |
| PhC | Doctor of Chiropractic Philosophy | This honorary degree has at various times been awarded by Chiropractic Colleges, especially by Palmer College of Chiropractic to individual who have written extensively about the Philosophical basis of Chiropractic. It appears that this degree is no longer awarded, as there are no citations available to indicate on what basis one may obtain it. It may be obsolete. |
Honorary Titles Conferred upon DC's (and others) by outside Agencies
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| CSCS[24] | Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist | This degree is conferred by the National Strength and Conditioning Association upon those who complete their proprietary certification. One must have a BA/BS degree, and complete a certifying examination, including a skills evaluation component, and have practical experience. |
| FACSM[25] | Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine | This honorary degree is bestowed upon those with either Professional or Academic Doctoral degrees by the American College of Sports Medicine. Recipients must have been members in good standing for a certain number of years; they must attend a specific number of ACSM National Conventions; have the recommendations of two Fellows, ; have published in peer reviewed journal(s); and have either made a "significant contribution to the field of sports medicine", or have a distinguished history of teaching in the field. |
Certifications from proprietary (non-profit) Organizations
- These credentials are generally recognized only by the bodies which grant them, and may be meaningful only to another DC. They may indicate that the Doctor has taken some proprietary course in someone's technique, but the program may, or may not yet be taught at accredited academic institutions. Or it is taught only by the company or organization offering the "certification".
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| DIBAK[26] | Diplomate of the International Board of Applied Kinesiology | This "degree" is bestowed upon Doctors of Chiropractic by the company which runs seminars to teach their technique. This is a body which is proprietary, and whose programs are generally not run by accredited Chiropractic Colleges. They do have an examination in this specialty, practice and publication requirements. |
| FASBE[27] | Fellow Academy of Spinal Bio-Engineering | This "degree" is bestowed upon Doctors of Chiropractic by the corporation [28] which runs seminars to teach their technique. This is a body which is proprietary, and whose programs are generally not run by accredited Chiropractic Colleges, but solely by the "Society" operated by Dr. Ron Aragona . |
| DAAPM[29] | Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management | This "degree" is bestowed upon Doctors of all kinds, by the organization which runs seminars to provide their "credentialing". This is a body which appears to be proprietary, and whose programs are generally not run by accredited Colleges, but solely by the "Academy" itself. |
Legitimate titles which are not generally considered a "*professional qualification"
- *Meaning that it is not accepted practice to list these after one's name, or use them in advertising. This is not to say that the information is not genuine, or that the facts are incorrectly reported.
| Degree | Full Name | Description |
| CCSS(C) | College of Chiropractic Sports Science (Canada) | The rationale for this is that anyone can join the college and thus this is not a credential, only "Fellowship" is a credential. |
| Diplomate-NBCE or DNBCE | Diplomate of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners | The rationale for this is: that all DC's must take and pass these exams in order to qualify for a license to practice, and thus the fact that one has done so, is not a qualification which should be used to differentiate one DC from another by education. |
| MACSM | Member, American College of Sports Medicine | The rationale for this is: that anyone who applies and pays dues will be accepted as a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and thus being a member is not a differentiating professional qualification for professionals. |
References
- ^ Business Etiquette [1]
- ^ WikiAnswers [2]
- ^ Business Etiquette [3]
- ^ Yahoo Answers [4]
- ^ http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/diplomat
- ^ http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/diplomate
- ^ National Univ. of Health Sciences [5]
- ^ ABCSP [6]
- ^ FICS Education Commission [7]
- ^ ACA Council information site [8]
- ^ Nutrition Board Site [9]
- ^ Diagnostic Imaging Board Site [10]
- ^ Neurology Board Site [11]
- ^ Int'l Neuro. Bd. Site [12]
- ^ Internist's Board Site [13]
- ^ Orthpedics Board Site [14]
- ^ Rehab Board Site [15]
- ^ Sports Physician's Board Site [16]
- ^ Canadian Sports Board Site [17]
- ^ Board Site [18]
- ^ ICC website [19]
- ^ Editorial Staff: "ACC Confers Fellowships at NYCC Graduation", Dynamic Chiropractic, Vol. 10, Issue 04, February 14, 1992 [20]
- ^ Editorial Staff: "NYCC Hosts 68th Annual ACC Convocation", Dynamic Chiropractic, Vol. 10, Issue 21, October 9, 1992 [21]
- ^ NSCA Site [22]
- ^ ACSM document [23]
- ^ ICAK website [24]
- ^ WCA Website, article [25]
- ^ Aragona Spinal Biomechanical Engineering Research Laboratories, Inc. [26]
- ^ Academy Site "Credentialing" [27]