SB443 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tammy Irons

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Cam WardGerald O. Dial

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Chiropractors, term chiropractic further defined, schools teaching chiropractic required to be accredited by Council on Chiropractic Education, additionally certified chiropractors authorized to prescribe and administer certain drugs and natural compounds, Sec. 34-24-120 am'd.

Summary

SB443 would redefine chiropractic to include methods from Council on Chiropractic Education–accredited schools and allow chiropractors with extra certification to prescribe certain drugs, natural compounds, and OTC medicines under defined limits.

What This Bill Does

It defines chiropractic as the science and art of locating and removing interference with nerve energy using methods taught in schools accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or its successors and recognized by the State Board. It requires chiropractic schools to be accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or successors and recognized by the Board. It allows chiropractors with additional certification to prescribe and administer legend drugs that are natural compounds, as well as natural compounds not classified as legend drugs, and over-the-counter medicines and OTC natural compounds. It maintains limits on other medical practices (no surgery, obstetrics, or X-ray treatments with radioactive materials) and sets an implementation date for the act to become law.

Who It Affects

• Chiropractors who obtain an additional chiropractic certification: may prescribe and administer legend drugs that are natural compounds, natural compounds not classified as legend drugs, and over-the-counter medicines and OTC natural compounds, subject to Board rules.
• Patients receiving chiropractic care: may have access to prescriptions for certain natural/legend compounds and OTC medicines from chiropractors with the additional certification; chiropractic schools must meet accreditation standards to be recognized.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'chiropractic' as the science and art of locating and removing interference with nerve energy, using methods taught in chiropractic schools accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or its successors and recognized by the State Board.
• Requires schools teaching chiropractic to be accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education or its successors and recognized by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
• Allows chiropractors with an additional certification to prescribe and administer legend drugs that are natural compounds (including nutrients, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, and bioidentical compounds).
• Allows chiropractors with an additional certification to prescribe and administer natural compounds that are not legend drugs (including nutrients, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, and bioidentical compounds) and over-the-counter medicines and OTC natural compounds.
• Maintains prohibitions on practicing outside defined bounds (no surgery, no obstetrics, no X-ray treatments or radioactive materials) and specifies that prescribing is limited to the categories provided in this act.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Chiropractic Examiners, State Board of