CALIFORNIA CHIROPRACTIC
ETHICS STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ What is the penalty for not reporting child abuse? Answer:
Misdemeanor, $1,000 fine and/or 6mo in jail
◉ How is child abuse defined? Answer: Endangering a child or the
health of a child.
◉ When is a patient considered inactive? Answer: 12 months since the
date of the last patient treatment
◉ What action may the board take in the instance that a DC was charged
with a DUI? Answer: DC can be charged with unprofessional conduct
◉ A homeless child is NOT considered child abuse because? Answer:
homelessness is not sufficient to report a child for abuse or neglect
◉ You have a current patient who had a box fall on them at work. They
are filing this as a worker's comp case, but you adjust and collect your
fee as normal. What potential consequences is the doctor facing?
Answer: a fine up to 3x the amount collected
,◉ In what instances can a chiropractor's license be automatically
suspended? Answer: conviction of a felony involving fraud in relation to
worker's compensation or medi-cal
◉ What must be included in the naming of chiropractic corporations?
Answer: name or last name of on eor more of the the present,
prospective, or former share holders, "chiropractic", and "corporation"
or wording or abbreviations denoting corporate existence
◉ How many hours of CE are required annually and in what categories?
Answer: 24 hours/year
2 hours in ethics/law
4+ in any of the following: history and physical exam, adjusting,
proper/ethical billing and coding
◉ How is a citation issued? Answer: Citation must be served in person,
signed by the executive officer, and reference the law or code being
violated.
◉ You want to advertise that you are the best DC in town! Why is this
not allowed and what are the legal consequences? Answer: constitutes a
fraudulent claim and is grounds for a license being revoked/suspended
◉ Fraudulent claim Answer: A scientific claim that cannot be
substantiated by reliable, peer reviewed, published scientific studies
Makes a claim of professional superiority or of performing services in a
superior manner
, ◉ A chiropractor is found guilty of false advertisement. What is the
penalty? Answer: a misdemeanor 6mo in jail and/or $2,500 fine
◉ A chiropractor makes sensational or fabulous statements, what is the
consequence? Answer: Suspension of license for up to 1 year, license
placed on probation, whatever the board may deem proper (except
revoking license)
◉ You send out lab work for a patient and their results come back as
HIV positive. How must you respond? Tell them verbally? Give them
written copy of lab results? Answer: Health care professionals must
provide results in oral or written form if requested by the patient. Results
may also be disclosed electronically
◉ You are doing a screening and offer a promotional deal of free exam.
When you assess the patient in the office you determine they need x-
rays. This was not included in the promotional deal they agreed to. Can
you still take x-rays? under what conditions? Answer: no charge shall be
made unless the patient is informed of the cost and agrees to payment
prior to completion of services
◉ You hire a referral service. Is this legal? If so, how must they comply
with the board to be legal? Answer: The service must register with the
state board, providing its name and address.
ETHICS STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS
◉ What is the penalty for not reporting child abuse? Answer:
Misdemeanor, $1,000 fine and/or 6mo in jail
◉ How is child abuse defined? Answer: Endangering a child or the
health of a child.
◉ When is a patient considered inactive? Answer: 12 months since the
date of the last patient treatment
◉ What action may the board take in the instance that a DC was charged
with a DUI? Answer: DC can be charged with unprofessional conduct
◉ A homeless child is NOT considered child abuse because? Answer:
homelessness is not sufficient to report a child for abuse or neglect
◉ You have a current patient who had a box fall on them at work. They
are filing this as a worker's comp case, but you adjust and collect your
fee as normal. What potential consequences is the doctor facing?
Answer: a fine up to 3x the amount collected
,◉ In what instances can a chiropractor's license be automatically
suspended? Answer: conviction of a felony involving fraud in relation to
worker's compensation or medi-cal
◉ What must be included in the naming of chiropractic corporations?
Answer: name or last name of on eor more of the the present,
prospective, or former share holders, "chiropractic", and "corporation"
or wording or abbreviations denoting corporate existence
◉ How many hours of CE are required annually and in what categories?
Answer: 24 hours/year
2 hours in ethics/law
4+ in any of the following: history and physical exam, adjusting,
proper/ethical billing and coding
◉ How is a citation issued? Answer: Citation must be served in person,
signed by the executive officer, and reference the law or code being
violated.
◉ You want to advertise that you are the best DC in town! Why is this
not allowed and what are the legal consequences? Answer: constitutes a
fraudulent claim and is grounds for a license being revoked/suspended
◉ Fraudulent claim Answer: A scientific claim that cannot be
substantiated by reliable, peer reviewed, published scientific studies
Makes a claim of professional superiority or of performing services in a
superior manner
, ◉ A chiropractor is found guilty of false advertisement. What is the
penalty? Answer: a misdemeanor 6mo in jail and/or $2,500 fine
◉ A chiropractor makes sensational or fabulous statements, what is the
consequence? Answer: Suspension of license for up to 1 year, license
placed on probation, whatever the board may deem proper (except
revoking license)
◉ You send out lab work for a patient and their results come back as
HIV positive. How must you respond? Tell them verbally? Give them
written copy of lab results? Answer: Health care professionals must
provide results in oral or written form if requested by the patient. Results
may also be disclosed electronically
◉ You are doing a screening and offer a promotional deal of free exam.
When you assess the patient in the office you determine they need x-
rays. This was not included in the promotional deal they agreed to. Can
you still take x-rays? under what conditions? Answer: no charge shall be
made unless the patient is informed of the cost and agrees to payment
prior to completion of services
◉ You hire a referral service. Is this legal? If so, how must they comply
with the board to be legal? Answer: The service must register with the
state board, providing its name and address.
