MarylandHB 05142025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Health Occupations - State Board of Chiropractic Examiners - Revisions

Sponsored By: Terri L. Hill (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Health OccupationsChiropractorsCommittees and CommissionsDisciplineHealth Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations)Inspections -see also- Motor Vehicle InspectionLicenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; PermitsRules and Regulations

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10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.

Chiropractors face discipline and $5,000 fines

Beginning July 1, 2025, discipline grounds include violating accepted professional standards, refusing criminal history checks, or disobeying Board orders. They also include failing to cooperate with lawful investigations or follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standard infection precautions. The infection-control ground excludes life-threatening emergencies when compliance is not possible or practical. Subject to hearing requirements, the Board can deny licenses, reprimand chiropractors, impose probation, or suspend or revoke licenses. After a hearing and finding grounds for discipline, it can impose up to $5,000 per violation, instead of or alongside other discipline.

Physical therapy rights for qualified chiropractors

Beginning July 1, 2025, qualified Maryland chiropractic applicants are entitled to a license that includes physical therapy practice rights. They must meet chiropractic licensing requirements and any added requirements the Board sets by regulation.

Supervised practice for chiropractic students

Beginning July 1, 2025, eligible chiropractic students can practice without a license during a supervised clinical placement called a preceptorship. Students must be enrolled in a program accredited by a qualifying U.S. or foreign chiropractic accreditor. A Board-approved licensed chiropractor must directly supervise their work. The Board must adopt rules governing these placements.

Required chiropractor fitness exams, Board paid

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Board must order a fitness exam during application reviews or investigations when evidence meets the threshold. It must have reason and objective evidence that the applicant or chiropractor may harm people affected by their practice. The Board must request the exam in writing, choose the health care provider, and pay the cost. Applicants and licensees are deemed to consent and waive privilege for exam reports. Refusal counts as initial evidence of inability to practice competently unless the Board finds it was beyond the person's control.

Temporary chiropractic licenses with supervision requirements

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Board can grant temporary licenses to accredited-program graduates who have begun applying for full licenses. Applicants must have either two years of out-of-state licensure or an accredited-program graduation within the past six months. They must apply, show good moral character, document submission of a criminal history check, and pay a Board-set fee. They must agree to practice only under direct supervision by a Board-approved licensed chiropractor. Licenses last six months, can be suspended or revoked, and allow 90-day extensions up to 12 months from original issuance.

Updated education paths for Maryland chiropractors

Beginning July 1, 2025, Maryland applicants can qualify through a chiropractic program accredited when they graduated. Another route requires at least two years licensed in another state and program accreditation within four years after graduation. The Board must also find that the program met comparable standards when the applicant graduated. Board-approved schools must offer a four-year program with at least 4,000 hours of resident study, measured in 60-minute hours.

Unannounced infection-control checks at chiropractic offices

Beginning July 1, 2025, the Board can inspect chiropractic offices without notice after a complaint alleges infection-control violations. Checks cover Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standard precautions and related Board rules. This authority excludes offices in hospitals, related institutions, freestanding medical facilities, and freestanding birthing centers.

Training and fees to reactivate chiropractic licenses

Beginning July 1, 2025, chiropractors reactivating inactive Maryland licenses must meet the current renewal period's continuing-education requirements. They must also meet that period's cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requirements and pay the Board's reactivation fee. The law does not state the fee amount.

Chiropractic exam standards and retake fees

Beginning July 1, 2025, applicants must apply at least 45 days before the Maryland chiropractic exam. The exam covers Maryland practice laws and infection control; passing requires 75% overall, plus 60% per subsection where required. Applicants must also pass all applicable sections of the National Board exam or a Board-approved national or foreign equivalent. One Board-set fee covers two attempts at Maryland's exam; after two failures, another attempt requires the appropriate fee. The law does not set fee amounts.

New nomination rules for chiropractic board

Beginning July 1, 2025, Maryland's chiropractic board remains seven members: five chiropractors and two consumers. Chiropractor members must live in Maryland, hold active licenses in good standing, and have practiced there for five consecutive years. The law removes the resident-course graduation requirement. Nominees can come from the Maryland Chiropractic Association's list or a statement signed by 20 Maryland-licensed chiropractors, up from 15. The association list must contain three names per vacancy, replacing five names, and include incumbents unless they decline renomination. The Governor appoints chiropractor members with Senate consent; consumer appointments retain Secretary advice and Senate consent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Terri L. Hill
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Heather Bagnall
Democratic • House
Harry Bhandari
Democratic • House
Brian Chisholm
Republican • House
Bonnie Cullison
Democratic • House
Pam Lanman Guzzone
Democratic • House
Thomas S. Hutchinson
Republican • House
Anne R. Kaiser
Democratic • House
Kenneth Kerr
Democratic • House
Nicholaus R. Kipke
Republican • House
Lesley J. Lopez
Democratic • House
Ashanti Martinez
Democratic • House
Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk
Democratic • House
Teresa E. Reilly
Republican • House
Samuel I. Rosenberg
Democratic • House
Steve Johnson
Democratic • House
Kathy Szeliga
Republican • House
Deni Taveras
Democratic • House
Jennifer White Holland
Democratic • House
Jamila J. Woods
Democratic • House
Teresa Woorman
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 3/6/2025