ICA reviews National Board .. 1-14-00

Dear Doctors,



I have some GREAT news to tell you about our battles against the National

Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) - WE ARE NOT ALONE!!  Dr. 
Joe Lupo,

Dr. Ken Hughes and myself were on an ICA conference call Wednesday 
night

and we learned that there is a growing national awareness of the negatives

associated with the NBCE's move to control the profession through ever

increasing testing of chiropractic students and chiropractors.



On January 10, 2000 the ICA released to the profession, a copy of a letter

sent to the NBCE that outlined the need for reform.  The letter noted

"ICA's Board met in Orlando, Florida in November, 1999, and there 
decided

upon a series of steps that would be vital in correcting the damaging and

abusive procedures and excessive costs presently in place in the National

Board testing system."  The letter went on to outline the research that had

gone into the decision making process, specifically the review of the

NBCE's tax return documents.  Dr. Bob Hoffman, ICA President noted in 
the

letter: "Those documents revealed the massive economic empire that the

organization had built over the years, amassing millions in assets and

registering an annual profit of well over $1 million.  'ICA estimated that

the National Board has added over $50 million to the student debt burden

over the past 12 to 14 years.  In light of what we know about the financial

strength of the National Board, the fees they charge and the delays they

cause in obtaining licensure are indefensible and must be reformed."  



The following paragraph perfectly summarizes why, here in Michigan and 
now

nationally, we have fought so hard against expanded testing of DCs who 
wish

to practice in Michigan:



  "ICA has significant concerns about the substance on which new graduates

are being tested.  The ICA has, as every professional society is entitled

to construct, its own vision and values for the chiropractic profession. 

Our concerns about the substance of National Board testing do not, 
however,

stem from philosophical differences between ICA's values and yours. 

Rather, they stem from an objective reading of state laws and chiropractic

college curriculum in comparison to the test contents, especially Part IV. 

We see a major divergence between what chiropractic is defined as being by

law, how it is taught in the colleges, and the direction of your test

questions.  To test candidates for licensure on topics outside the

professional scope of chiropractic as established by law, in a context far

different from which they were taught in chiropractic college is simply

inappropriate and unreasonable."



The letter finished with a veiled threat: "ICA will lead the way in

demanding fairness and responsibility from the National Board, or, lead the

way to the establishment of an alternative".



The ICA action was only the beginning of good news on the conference call. 

We were informed that the editor of the Dynamic Chiropractic magazine, 
Don

Peterson, has just finished doing an investigative report on the NBCE that

will be published on January 28th (?).  The report outlines lavish junkets

by the leadership of the NBCE, extended stays in 5 star hotels, limousine

service and the finest food available all on backs of poor, debt ridden

students.  Needless to say the profession will be waking up soon to what we

have known for so long here in Michigan.  It will be very interesting to

watch the fall out from the growing action against the NBCE.



As you should know by now, here in Michigan we have been able to kill the

inclusion of part IV of the National Boards for a chiropractic license.  We

are still fighting against part 3 but it looks like we might be fighting a

loosing battle.  Maybe the growing negative press against the NBCE will

help us to a victory!



I'll keep you informed!







Sincerely,



Kerry T. Kilpatrick, D.C., (Hon) F.I.C.A.