Council on Chiropractic Education
The Council on Chiropractic Education - USA (CCE-USA) is an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for accreditating programs and institutions which lead to the degree of 'doctor of chiropractic'. Its purpose is to ensure the high quality of chiropractic education in the USA
- 1) by imposing standards
- 2) by encouraging educational improvement, and
- 3) by providing public information.
The current President of the Board of Directors of the CCE-USA is Joseph Brimhall DC, of the Western States Chiropractic College.
Chiropractic education
Professional education in chiropractic is expected to provide a core of knowledge in the relevant basic and clinical sciences, and sufficient knowledge of related health sciences, to enable the graduate to fulfil his or her professional obligations as a practising doctor of chiropractic. To achieve this, the curriculum must include instruction in anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pathology, public health, physical clinical and laboratory diagnosis, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, dermatology, otolaryngology, diagnostic imaging procedures, psychology, nutrition/dietetics, biomechanics, orthopedics, neurology, first aid and emeergency procedures, spinal analysis, principles and practice of chiropractic, clinical decision making, adjustive techniques, research methods and procedures, and professional ethics. The student must have completed at least 4,200 instructional hours before graduating.
The CCE-USA is responsible for approving programs. Approval is a voluntary process; a College that proposes a program will contact the CCE-USA to invite a review of the program. The program will then be reviewed by a panel of expert evaluators, who will discuss it and visit the College. All programs accredited by the CCE-USA are listed on its website.
History of the CCE-USA
In the 1920s, the profession of chiropractic was divided; members of two rival associations, the 'Universal Chiropractic Association' (UCA) and the 'American Chiropractic Association' (ACA) disagreed about what sort of training was needed by the chiropractic profession. In 1930, to resolve these disagreements, the two associations merged to form the 'National Chiropractic Association' (NCA). In 1935, the NCA established a 'Committee on Education Standards' with John J. Nugent DC as its first Director. Nugent had earlier played a significant role in developing the Basic Science Board for all healthcare providers.
Between 1935 and 1940, national chiropractic associations including the NCA; the 'Chiropractic Health Bureau'; and the 'Council on State Chiropractic Examining Boards' worked to raise the quality of chiropractic training. The NCA became the 'American Chiropractic Association' (ACA), and the Chiropractic Health Bureau became the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). In 1938 the 'Committee on Education Standards' and 'Council on State Chiropractic Examining Boards' merged. Under the direction of this new 'Committee on Education Standards', the first institution self-study questionnaire was sent to all 37 chiropractic institutions actively engaged in chiropractic education in the United States. In 1941, after independent inspection of the schools and evaluation of the educational criteria, the Committee issued its first list of 12 provisionally approved institutions.
The 'Council on Education' was formed by institutional representatives and members of the 'Committee on Education Standards'. In 1947, it gained the formal support and approval of the House of Delegates of the NCA. The Council continued to work to improve chiropractic education, merging weaker institutions with other institutions to create stronger academic programs. Many substandard institutions were closed, and by 1961, the original 37 chiropractic schools were reduced to ten.
In 1964, the NCA merged with other groups to form the present 'American Chirpractic Association' and continued to support the Council on Education, which in 1971 became the CCE-USA, an autonomous national organization, separate from the ACA. The CCE-USA was listed as a Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency by the US Commissioner of Education in 1974, and has kept its status since. In 1975, the CCE was accepted as a member of the 'Council of Specialized Accrediting Agencies'. It was recognized by the 'Council on Postsecondary Accreditation' from 1978 through 1992; in 1992, the CCE was granted continued recognition by the 'Council on Recognition of Postsecondary Education' (for a five-year period to 1997, and, in 1997, until 2002), and is now recognized by the successor, the 'Council for Higher Education Accreditation'.