Tennessee passes law regulating animal chiropractic care
Tennessee has just passed a new law to regulate animal chiropractic care, setting clear rules for who can provide chiropractic care for animals. The legislation requires both chiropractors and veterinarians to hold specific certifications before treating animals. This move aims to protect animal health by ensuring practitioners have the proper training.
The law sets standards for education and ongoing training, making Tennessee one of the few states to tightly control animal chiropractic work. It draws a clear line between animal chiropractic and veterinary medicine, but also means only certain professionals can legally practice. This change reflects a growing trend to better regulate alternative animal care methods and maintain safe treatment practices.
Overview of Tennessee's Animal Chiropractic Care Law
Tennessee's new law, Senate Bill 0128/House Bill 0164, brings clear rules for animal chiropractic care to protect animal welfare across the state. The legislation focuses on who can perform animal chiropractic treatments and under what conditions, involving both chiropractors and veterinarians. The Tennessee Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners oversee these professionals to make sure they follow the law. This law took effect in 2025 and requires practitioners to meet specific standards before they can treat animals.
Certification Requirements and Standards
The law sets firm education and certification standards for those offering animal chiropractic care. Chiropractors must complete at least 200 hours of postgraduate coursework focused specifically on animal chiropractic techniques. This training goes beyond general chiropractic education and ensures the practitioner understands animal anatomy and care methods deeply.
Certification is mandatory from recognized bodies such as the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). To get certified, practitioners must finish specialized training, pass exams, and demonstrate competence in safe and effective animal chiropractic care.
These standards guarantee that animal chiropractic providers in Tennessee are qualified and prepared to deliver care responsibly. It shields animals from untrained hands and gives animal owners peace of mind knowing their animals receive expert treatment.
Scope of Practice Defined
The law clearly defines what animal chiropractic care includes—and what it does not. Animal chiropractic care focuses on spinal adjustments, manipulation, and manual therapy aimed at improving the musculoskeletal system's function.
Importantly, the law excludes veterinary medicine procedures such as surgery, prescribing drugs, or performing diagnostics that require a veterinary license. This boundary ensures that animal chiropractors do not cross into roles requiring veterinary medical skills and licensing.
By setting these clear limits, the law maintains professional clarity and helps protect animal health by keeping chiropractic care within its specialized realm.
Continuing Education and Practitioner Oversight
To keep their certification current, practitioners must complete ongoing continuing education requirements. This keeps them up to date with the latest techniques, safety protocols, and best practices in animal chiropractic care.
Both the Tennessee Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners provide oversight to certified practitioners. They maintain a publicly available list of certified animal chiropractors, so pet owners and veterinarians can easily verify a practitioner's credentials.
This level of oversight ensures accountability and offers a resource for those seeking legitimate care. It also encourages practitioners to maintain high standards throughout their careers rather than just meeting initial certification requirements.
For more details on the law and its requirements, you can visit the official Tennessee Senate Bill 0128/House Bill 0164 page or check the Tennessee Board of Chiropractic Examiners application guidelines. The Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners also provides oversight information for veterinarians involved in animal chiropractic care.
Comparison with Animal Chiropractic Regulations in Other States
Tennessee’s new law regulating animal chiropractic care places it among a handful of states shaping clear rules on who can safely provide these treatments. Across the U.S., state laws fall into three general categories: those that allow independent practice by certified chiropractors, those that require veterinary supervision or referral, and those that restrict or outright prohibit animal chiropractic care. Let’s see how Tennessee fits within the broader picture.
States Allowing Independent Animal Chiropractic Practice
Only a few states, including Tennessee, permit chiropractors to independently provide animal chiropractic care if they hold the proper certification. This approach trusts chiropractors who complete specialized postgraduate training to treat animals without mandatory veterinary oversight.
Here are some states in this group:
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- Utah
- Tennessee
In these states, requirements typically include 200 hours or more of specific animal chiropractic education and certification from recognized bodies like the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). This model treats trained chiropractors as qualified, autonomous providers, acknowledging their expertise in non-veterinary spinal care for animals.
This type of independent practice encourages chiropractic specialists to serve animals directly, expanding access while maintaining training-based standards. Tennessee has joined this select club, aiming for clear rules that protect animals without overcomplicating access to care.
States Requiring Veterinary Supervision or Referral
A larger number of states require animal chiropractic treatments to be performed only under the supervision or referral of a licensed veterinarian. This usually means a chiropractor must have veterinary involvement either before care begins or throughout treatment.
Key states here include:
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Texas
The main reason behind requiring veterinary oversight is to ensure animal safety through veterinary diagnosis and involvement. These states prefer to keep chiropractic care as a complementary service, not a standalone treatment. Veterinarians hold the authority to decide if chiropractic care suits an animal’s health needs.
While this adds a step to the process, supporters argue it protects animals from unqualified care and ensures issues needing medical attention aren’t missed. Critics, however, say it can limit timely access, especially where veterinarians trained in animal chiropractic are scarce.
States Restricting or Prohibiting Animal Chiropractic Practice
Some states impose strong restrictions or ban animal chiropractic altogether, often due to veterinary opposition or concerns about unregulated treatment. These laws may treat chiropractic care on animals as practice without a license unless performed by a veterinarian.
States with such restrictions include:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Kentucky
In these states, chiropractic care for animals is either illegal for non-veterinarians or heavily curtailed. The concern centers on protecting animal health by preventing non-veterinarian practitioners from administering care that might require veterinary expertise.
Veterinary organizations in these states tend to be vocal opponents of independent animal chiropractic services and push for strict enforcement of veterinary licensing laws. This stance reflects broader debates about scope of practice, roles, and professional boundaries in animal health.
Tennessee's law, by requiring certification with oversight but allowing chiropractors to operate within defined limits, strikes a middle ground. It acknowledges chiropractic care as a specialized skill distinct from veterinary medicine, yet emphasizes the need for professional standards. This balanced approach differentiates Tennessee from states with stricter or looser policies, aiming to enhance animal welfare through clear, responsible rules.
For a detailed rundown on what each state allows or limits, visit the comprehensive guide on Animal Chiropractic Laws State by State. Understanding these differences can help practitioners navigate their roles and help pet owners seek safe care options nearby.