SB 507 — Chiropractic Preceptorship Modifications (North Carolina) — Summary
Status: Enacted (Session Law 2023-84) — Ratified June 29, 2023; Signed by Governor July 7, 2023; Effective October 1, 2023.
Purpose
- To expand the clinical training authority for chiropractic students by authorizing participation in preceptorship programs that allow students, under direct supervision, to perform certain chiropractic support services without holding a full license.
Key provisions
- Adds/rewrites two statutory provisions (G.S. 90‑142.1 and G.S. 90‑147):
- Defines a “preceptorship program” as a clinical program of an approved chiropractic college in which a chiropractic student, under the direct supervision of a licensed chiropractor, observes and may perform the duties of a certified chiropractic clinical assistant (per G.S. 90‑143.4) and remains subject to applicable statutory rules (e.g., G.S. 90‑143(a), G.S. 90‑151).
- Defines “direct supervision” for preceptorships as the supervising licensed chiropractor being within the immediate patient treatment area and available to the student at all times.
- Clarifies that students participating in an authorized preceptorship may perform chiropractic services without a license while under direct supervision.
- Retains enforcement authority for the North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (including injunctive relief) to prevent unlicensed practice outside these authorized supervised settings.
- Requires the North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to adopt temporary rules to implement the act.
Who is affected
- Chiropractic students enrolled in accredited/approved chiropractic colleges (gain expanded hands‑on clinical training opportunities).
- Licensed chiropractors who supervise students (responsible for direct supervision and patient safety).
- Chiropractic colleges/clinical training programs (may update curricula and clinical placement arrangements).
- Patients receiving care in supervised student clinics (care provided under licensed oversight).
- The NC State Board of Chiropractic Examiners (tasked with rulemaking and oversight).
Practical and policy implications
- Education/training: Enables more experiential learning by explicitly permitting students to perform defined clinical assistant duties under immediate supervision.
- Workforce development: May help pipeline experience for new graduates and strengthen clinical readiness.
- Patient safety and oversight: The statute conditions student practice on “direct supervision” (supervisor physically present in treatment area), and preserves regulatory enforcement tools to address unauthorized practice.
- Regulatory implementation: The Board’s temporary rules will determine operational details (scope of permitted tasks, documentation, limits, supervision ratios, reporting, etc.).
Statutory/timeline details
- Statutes amended/added: G.S. 90‑142.1 (preceptorship authorization/definitions) and G.S. 90‑147 (practice without license; misdemeanor exception for supervised students).
- Effective date: October 1, 2023.
- Enactment: Ratified June 29, 2023; Signed by Governor July 7, 2023 (SL 2023‑84).
Sources / cross references
- Session Law 2023‑84 (SB 507, North Carolina)
- G.S. 90‑143.4 and related provisions governing certified chiropractic clinical assistant duties (referenced in the bill).
