Chiropractic Online Education Guidelines

All actively practicing California-licensed doctors of chiropractic must complete 24 hours of CE each year. CE must be completed by the end of the licensee’s birth month for renewal.

A maximum of 12 hours may be completed through distance learning (online CE), with the remaining hours taken via BCE-approved non-distance (in-person) formats. New licensees are exempt in the year of initial licensure (CCR §364).

Documentation & Compliance Checklist

• Record keeping: Retain certificates for at least 4 years for CE audit.
• Deadlines: Complete and date all CE before your birth-month renewal.
• Mandatory hours first: 2h Ethics & Law + 4h clinical categories.
• Balance formats: Use up to 12h online; plan remaining hours as in-person.

How many hours online? California allows a maximum of 12 hours per renewal year via distance learning (computer/Internet/video). The balance must be non-distance, BCE-approved in-person CE.

Do live webinars count as in-person? Unless the BCE classifies a webinar as non-distance, live-streamed Internet courses generally count toward the 12-hour distance cap. Confirm each course’s BCE approval details.

• Ethics & Law — 2 hours
• Clinical minimum — 4 hoursfrom one or a mix of:
  • History Taking & Physical Examination
  • Chiropractic Adjustive/Manipulation Techniques
  • Proper & Ethical Billing & Coding
• Electives: Remaining hours from other BCE-approved subjects per CCR §361(g).

Exemptions & Reductions (CCR §364)

• New licensees: Exempt in year of initial licensure.
• Disability/Hardship: With qualifying documentation, distance learning may be permitted for all 24 hours.
• Teaching/Service: Limited CE credit may apply; verify with BCE.

Create your plan with up to 12 hours of California chiropractic CE online (distance learning) and complete the remaining hours with BCE-approved in-person CE.

• Instant certificates: Download immediately after completion—audit ready.
• Device compatibility: Phone, tablet, or desktop with pause/resume and progress tracking.
• Approval check: Each course must display a current BCE approval number and category.

This page summarizes publicly available California chiropractic CE regulations for educational purposes; it is not legal advice. Course approvals, eligible formats, and audits are set by the BCE and CCR (§361, §363.1, §364). Always confirm current rules and specific course approvals on the BCE website.