2026 Minnesota Statutes

148.032 REGISTRATION IN ANIMAL CHIROPRACTIC DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

Subdivision 1.Animal chiropractic practice.

A licensed chiropractor may engage in the practice of animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment if registered to do so by the board, and if the animal has been referred to the chiropractor by a veterinarian.

Subd. 2.Scope of practice; animal chiropractic.

Criteria for registration to engage in the practice of animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment must be set by the board, and must include, but are not limited to: active chiropractic license; education and training in the field of animal chiropractic from an American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, International Veterinary Chiropractic Association, or higher institution-approved course consisting of no less than 210 hours, meeting continuing education requirements; and other conditions and rules set by the board. The board shall consult with the State Board of Veterinary Medicine in preparing proposed rules on animal chiropractic.

Subd. 3.Titles.

Notwithstanding the limitations established in section 156.12, subdivision 4, a doctor of chiropractic properly registered to provide chiropractic care to animals in accordance with this chapter and rules of the board may use the title "animal chiropractor."

Subd. 4.Provisional interim status.

Upon approval by the board, a licensed chiropractor who has already taken and passed the education and training requirement set forth in subdivision 2 may engage in the practice of animal chiropractic during the time that the rules are being promulgated by the board. Enforcement actions may not be taken against persons who have completed the approved program of study by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association until the rules have been adopted by the board.

Subd. 5.Education and training.

(a) The following educational criteria must be applied to any licensed chiropractor who requests registration in animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment. The criteria must include education and training in the following subjects:

(1) anatomy;

(2) anatomy laboratory;

(3) biomechanics and gait;

(4) chiropractic educational basics;

(5) animal chiropractic diversified adjusting technique, including:

(i) lecture cervical;

(ii) thoracic;

(iii) lumbosacral;

(iv) pelvic; and

(v) extremity;

(6) animal chiropractic diversified adjusting technique, including:

(i) laboratory cervical;

(ii) thoracic;

(iii) lumbosacral;

(iv) pelvic; and

(v) extremity;

(7) case management and case studies;

(8) chiropractic philosophy;

(9) ethics and legalities;

(10) neurology, neuroanatomy, and neurological conditions;

(11) pathology;

(12) radiology;

(13) research in current chiropractic and veterinary topics;

(14) rehabilitation, current topics, evaluation, and assessment;

(15) normal foot anatomy and normal foot care;

(16) saddle fit and evaluation, lecture, and laboratory;

(17) veterinary educational basics;

(18) vertebral subluxation complex; and

(19) zoonotic diseases.

(b) A licensed chiropractor requesting registration in animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment must have completed and passed a course of study from an American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, International Veterinary Chiropractic Association, or higher institution-approved program, consisting of no less than 210 hours of education and training as set forth in paragraph (a).

Subd. 6.Record requirements.

(a) A licensed chiropractor engaged in the practice of animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment must maintain complete and accurate records and patient files in the chiropractor's office for at least three years.

(b) A licensed chiropractor engaged in the practice of animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment must make treatment notes and records available to the patient's owner upon request and must communicate their findings and treatment plan with the referring veterinarian if requested by the patient's owner.

Subd. 7.Signage requirement.

A licensed chiropractor who treats both animal and human patients in the same facility must post a conspicuous sign in the reception area of that facility informing customers that nonhuman patients are treated on the premises.

History:

2008 c 297 art 1 s 29; 2026 c 127 art 4 s 24