ABFP Certification Requirements

Each category and the recommended minimum number of hours are noted below. Course numbers are from the National College of Chiropractic and are for example only. Credit for each category is obtained by completing the minimum number of hours and successful passing of a category examination on the subject matter presented in each session. Education may be obtained from any institution having status with an accredited agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or program acceptable to the ABFP. Any postgraduate course being used to meet these requirements is subject to approval and must be verified in writing by the ABFP.

The current requirements after January 01, 2002 are:

1. PART I Core Requirements (230 hours)
2. PART II Forensic program (120 hours)
3. PART III Passing Forensic examination (all 8 parts)

**Note: A candidate may sit the exam with part II only but will not be certified as a DABFP until all 3 components listed above are completed.

PART I-CORE REQUIREMENTS Category I-Orthopedics (minimum 40 hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 1 Regional Orthopedics: Cervical Spine and Cervical/Brachial Region 10 9630, part 1 2 Regional Orthopedics: Thoracolumbar 10 9650, part 1 3 Regional Orthopedics: Upper Extremity 10 9640, part 1 4 Regional Orthopedics: Lower Extremity 10 9660, part 1 CategoryII Diagnostic Imaging(minimum 40 hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 5 Radiology: Bone and Joint Disease 10 9100-1 6 Imaging of Trauma 20 9100-6&7 7 Diagnostic Imaging: CT, MRI< & Nuclear 10 9100-3 *National College Orthopedic Radiology Course No-9670 (50 hours) satisfies requirements for sessions 5,6 and 7. Category III- Clinical Diagnosis (minimum 60 hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 8 Clinical Evaluation: History and Physical 10 9600 9 A Systematic Approach to Laboratory Diagnosis 10 9602 10 Clinical Neurology: Examination Procedures 10 9610, part I 11 Concepts and Protocols in NeuroDiagnostic Testing 10 9405, 900-(1-10), 9801-(1-5) 12 Assessment/Evaluation of Peripheral Vascular and Other Organ Systems 10 TBA Category IV- Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Modalities and Procedures (minimum 30 hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 13 P.T. in Musculoskeletal Disorders 10 9603 14 Concepts and Protocols in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 20 9307-4 Category V - Impairment Rating and Disability (minimum 36 hours - with a minimum of 6 hours covering the organ systems) Session Description Hours NCC# 15 Impairment Rating and Disability Determination for the Forensic Examiner 36 TBA OR 16 Applications in Impairment Rating: Federal Disability and Organ Systems 10 TBA AND 17 Disability Evaluation and Rating of Physical Impairment 30 9681 *This requirement must be based on the most current edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Category VI-Forensic Examiner's Responsibilities (minimum 30 hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 18 Literature Review, Critique and Research Design 10 9682, 9408, 9157, 9308-19 19 Outcome Assessment Measurement 10 TBA 20 Behavioral Science Applications in Impairment Rating and Disability Determination 10 TBA Minimum Total Hours: 230 PART II-FORENSICS **Category VII-Forensic Chiropractic Program Leading to Certification (120 Hours) Session Description Hours NCC# 21 Forensic Science - Introduction and State of the Art 20 22 Law for the Forensic Examiner 20 23 Explaining and Understanding Science 20 24 Independant Medical Evaluation 20 25 Disability and Physical Performance Assessments 20 26 Effective Techniques for the Forensic Examiner 20 **Instructors for the Forensic Chiropractic Program must be approved by the ABFP (Minimum Total Hours: 120) PART III-WRITTEN EXAMINATION (Forensics) This examination can be taken after completing the 120 hour forensics program.