Chapter Chir 10

Chir 10.01(1r) (1r) “Physiotherapy treatment” means the therapeutic use of physical agents or means, including heat, cold, light, air, water, sound, electricity, massage therapy or bodywork therapy, and physical exercise with and without assistive devices, to treat or manage injury, disease, bodily defects, or bodily weaknesses.

Chir 10.01(2) (2) “Preliminary patient history” means the process of taking patient vitals and gathering baseline data regarding a patient, including the nature of the chief complaint, family history, and medical history. The “preliminary patient history” is intended to provide a starting point for further inquiry by the chiropractor into the patient’s condition.

Chir 10.01 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 03-082: am. (1) and (2) Register July 2004 No. 583, eff. 8-1-04; 2017 Wis. Act 180: am. (3) Register April 2018 No. 748, eff. 5-1-18; CR 17-010: am. (1), cr. (1g), (1r), am. (2), r. (3) Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.

Chir 10.015 Chir 10.015 Chiropractic technician course of study. The board shall grant certification as a chiropractic technician to an applicant who satisfies the requirements under s. 446.026 (2) (a), Stats. The course of study required under s. 446.026 (2) (a) 3., Stats., shall be one of the following:

Chir 10.015(1) (1) A course of study meeting all of the following requirements:

Chir 10.015(1)(a) (a) The course of study shall include a prerequisite 4-hour therapeutic overview course covering chiropractic technician scope of practice, anatomy, and contraindications followed by all of the following:

Chir 10.015(1)(a)1. 1. Four hours of instruction in gathering baseline data regarding a patient.

Chir 10.015(1)(a)2. 2. Four hours of instruction in taking patient vitals.

Chir 10.015(1)(b) (b) The course of study shall include a final assessment of competency of the didactic and clinical components of the program.

Chir 10.015(1)(c) (c) The course of study shall be conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training, or experience by reason of which the individuals should be considered qualified concerning chiropractic technician scope of practice, anatomy, contraindications, and taking and preparing a preliminary patient history.

Chir 10.015(2) (2) A course of study the board determines is reasonably equivalent to the course of study under sub. (1).

Chir 10.015 History History: CR 17-010: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; CR 18-105: am. (1) (a) (intro.) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff.6-1-20.

Chir 10.02 Chir 10.02 Delegation of adjunctive services to a chiropractic technician. A chiropractor may delegate the performance of an adjunctive service to a chiropractic technician if all of the following conditions are met:

Chir 10.02(1) (1) The chiropractor maintains records or ensures the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify the chiropractic technician is certified under ch. 446, Stats.

Chir 10.02(2) (2) For the delegation of massage therapy or bodywork therapy, the chiropractor maintains records or ensures the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify the chiropractic technician is licensed under ch. 460, Stats.

Chir 10.02(3) (3) For the delegation of adjunctive services other than massage therapy or bodywork therapy and taking and preparing preliminary patient histories, the chiropractor maintains records or ensures the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify the chiropractic technician has successfully completed a didactic and clinical training program approved by the board and covering the performance of the delegated service. Successful completion of a training program is demonstrated by attaining proficiency in the delivery of that service to minimally competent chiropractic practice standards as measured by objective knowledge and skills testing. The didactic and clinical training program shall meet or be determined by the board to be reasonably equivalent to all of the following criteria:

Chir 10.02(3)(a) (a) The program constitutes an organized program of learning that contributes directly to the professional competency of a chiropractic technician to perform the delegated service.

Chir 10.02(3)(b) (b) The program pertains to subject matters that integrally relate to the performance of the delegated service.

Chir 10.02(3)(c) (c) The program is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training, or experience by reason of which the individuals should be considered qualified concerning the performance of the delegated service.

Chir 10.02(3)(d) (d) The program fulfills pre-established goals and objectives.

Chir 10.02(3)(e) (e) The program provides proof of attendance.

Chir 10.02(3)(f) (f) The program includes a final assessment of competency of the didactic and clinical components of the program.

Chir 10.02(3)(g) (g) If the program includes instruction in one or more of the subject matters under subds. 1. to 7., the instruction shall meet the following requirements:

Chir 10.02(3)(g)1. 1. Instruction in the performance of thermotherapy and cryotherapy shall comprise one hour.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)2. 2. Instruction in the performance of electrotherapy shall comprise 3 hours.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)3. 3. Instruction in the performance of therapeutic ultrasound shall comprise 3 hours.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)4. 4. Instruction in the performance of light therapy shall comprise 3 hours.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)5. 5. Instruction in the performance of surface electromyography shall comprise 3 hours.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)6. 6. Instruction in the performance of mechanical therapy and decompression shall comprise 3 hours and may not include instruction in manual traction or manipulation.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7. 7. Instruction in exercise and rehabilitation shall comprise 24 hours and include all of the following topics:

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.a. a. Basic functional anatomy.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.b. b. Kinesiology and joint movement.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.c. c. Indications and contraindications.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.d. d. Recordkeeping and reporting.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.e. e. Scope of practice.

Chir 10.02(3)(g)7.f. f. Baselines assessment, outcomes, and goals.

Chir 10.02(4) (4) The chiropractor exercises direct, on-premises supervision of the chiropractic technician performing the delegated service.

Chir 10.02(5) (5) The chiropractor retains ultimate responsibility for the manner and quality of the service.

Chir 10.02 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 03-082: cr. (3) Register July 2004 No. 583, eff. 8-1-04; CR 17-010: r. and recr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; CR 18-105: am. (intro.), (4) Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; CR 20-084: am. (3) (g) 6. Register September 2021 No. 789, eff. 10-1-21.

Chir 10.023 Chir 10.023 Delegation of adjunctive services to a health care professional. A chiropractor may delegate the performance of an adjunctive service to a health care professional if all of the following conditions are met:

Chir 10.023(1) (1) The performance of the adjunctive service is within the scope of the health care professional’s license, registration, or certification.

Chir 10.023(2) (2) The chiropractor maintains records or ensures the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify the health care professional’s license, registration, or certification is current.

Chir 10.023(3) (3) The chiropractor exercises direct, on-premises supervision of the health care professional performing the delegated adjunctive service.

Chir 10.023(4) (4) The chiropractor retains ultimate responsibility for the manner and quality of the service.

Chir 10.023 History History: CR 18-105: cr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20.

Chir 10.024 Chir 10.024 Delegation of adjunctive services to individuals trained as medical assistants. A chiropractor may delegate the performance of an adjunctive service to an individual described under s. 446.02 (7) (a) 3., Stats., if all of the following conditions are met:

Chir 10.024(1) (1) The individual is qualified, through education, training, or experience, to perform the adjunctive service.

Chir 10.024(2) (2) The chiropractor maintains records or ensures the chiropractor’s employer maintains records that verify the individual’s training is current.

Chir 10.024(3) (3) The chiropractor exercises direct, on-premises supervision of the individual performing the delegated adjunctive service.

Chir 10.024(4) (4) The chiropractor retains ultimate responsibility for the manner and quality of the service.

Chir 10.024 History History: 2023 Wis. Act 168: cr. Register April 2024 No. 820, eff. 5-1-24.

Chir 10.025 Chir 10.025 Chiropractic radiological technician course of study. The board shall grant certification as a chiropractic radiological technician to an applicant who satisfies the requirements under s. 446.025 (2) (a), Stats. The course of study required under s. 446.025 (2) (a) 3., Stats., shall be one of the following:

Chir 10.025(1) (1) A course of study meeting all of the following requirements:

Chir 10.025(1)(a) (a) The course of study shall comprise 48 hours, including all of the following topics:

Chir 10.025(1)(a)1. 1. Introduction to x-ray examination.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)2. 2. Physics of x-ray examination.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)3. 3. Anatomy.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)4. 4. Patient position.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)5. 5. Safety measures.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)6. 6. Machine operation.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)7. 7. Exposure techniques and accessories.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)8. 8. Processing and dark room techniques.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)9. 9. Film critique and quality assurance.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)10. 10. Professionalism.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)11. 11. Recordkeeping.

Chir 10.025(1)(a)12. 12. Emergency procedures summary.

Chir 10.025(1)(b) (b) The course of study shall include a final assessment of competency of the didactic and clinical components of the program.

Chir 10.025(1)(c) (c) The certification program shall have a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, Stats., present in the facility and available to the students of the course of study.

Chir 10.025(2) (2) A course of study the board determines is reasonably equivalent to the course of study under sub. (1).

Chir 10.025 History History: CR 17-010: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18.

Chir 10.03 Chir 10.03 X-ray services. As provided under s. 446.02 (7) (d), Stats., a chiropractor may delegate x-ray services only to a chiropractic radiological technician or a health care professional acting within the scope of the health care professional’s license, registration, or certification. A chiropractor shall comply with s. Chir 4.04 before delegating the performance of x-ray services to a chiropractic radiological technician or a health care professional.

Chir 10.03 History History: Cr. Register, January, 1995, No. 469, eff. 2-1-95; CR 17-010: am. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18; CR 18-105: am. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff.6-1-20.