Probably one of the most frightening prospects for practicing chiropractors is the possibility that they may be required to take a regular test in order to keep their license. Each time this subject comes up, D.C.s cringe with the possibility that they may return to the days of being a student and sweating out the big test in order to keep their license.

While we have heard officials from the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) deny that this is even on their agenda, the actions of this group speak strongly to the contrary.

Presently, the FCLB is attempting to consolidate all postgraduate education programs, speakers and approvals through themselves. In this proposal, they plan to categorize and rate the various types of postgraduate seminar programs depending on the perceived program content and several other factors.

On the one hand, one of lowest rated categories of programs are those on chiropractic philosophy, while the highest rated programs are those clinical programs that have a testing process at the end.

Most chiropractors are familiar with this testing process when they enroll in a certification or diplomat program. These types of programs have been around in chiropractic and have been very beneficial and accepted. So, at first glance this proposal may not seem to be that bad. That's the real trap.

The insidious side of this issue comes from the involvement of the FCLB on both a regulatory basis of rating programs and their influence over individual state boards to accept their program rating system. Add to this the possible profession-wide acceptance of these ratings for all postgraduate programs. This sets up the scenario that allows the FCLB almost total control over postgraduate rating and content.

Ask yourself if it seems far-fetched that states may delegate their approval process over to the FCLB as they are requesting. This is a very real possibility since most states have already delegated their testing authority for new licensees over to the National Boards part VI tests.

Further, consider this.If many states start accepting the FCLB classifications of postgraduate education programs, how long do you think it will take before some state board or legislature decides to require that continuing education programs needed for relicensure in their state must be certified by the FCLB? This would be exactly like states requiring National Boards.

Now here is the kicker and the trap. Once states require CE programs to be FCLB credentialed, it is a very real likelihood that various state boards will require that a certain portion of the hours for license renewal be from a FCLB "Category 1" program. This means that doctors in that state would forever be required to take CE programs that have a test at the end. Suddenly, we would have testing requirements for getting your license renewed!

Also consider that the FCLB headquarters is located in the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners' building, and you begin to see that the National Board would benefit greatly from having testing required for license renewal.

This process is very insidious, very real, and very possible! It does not require a massive legislative change that immediately has all chiropractors sitting for a National Board, a part V. But the end effect is the same. If the profession turns the authority for regulation of all CE programs over to the FCLB, and if they continue on their current road with their present categorization of programs, doctors of chiropractic will be sitting for examinations in order to renew their licenses.

Count on it!