History of CCE

Historical Development of the Council on Chiropractic Education

The importance of quality education was recognized early in the chiropractic
profession.  Voluntary efforts to improve chiropractic education were
undertaken as early as 1935 when the National Chiropractic Association
(NCA) created a Committee on Educational Standards (CES).

During the years between 1935 and 1940, various national chiropractic
associations such as the NCA; the Chiropractic Health Bureau (CHB); and
the Council on State Chiropractic Examining Boards (CSCEB) supported
the improvement of chiropractic education with both funds and human
power.  Years later the NCA became the American Chiropractic 
Association (ACA) and the Chiropractic Health Bureau became the
International Chiropractors Association (ICA).

In 1938 the CES and CSCEB merged into a new CES.  Under the direction
of this committee the first institution self-study questionnaire was sent to
all 37 chiropractic institutions actively engaged in chiropractic education in
the United States.

In 1939 the CES completed work on educational criteria, which were
presented for approval of the chiropractic institutions.  Funds were
subsequently appropriated by the NCA to employ an inspector to visit the
applicant institutions and evaluate their programs against their self-studies
and the educational criteria.  In 1941 the CES issued its first list of
institutions with status; the list contained twelve provisionally approved
institutions.

In 1947 institutional representatives and members of the CES formed the
Council on Education.  On August 4, 1947, this Council received the
approval and support of the House of Delegates of the NCA.

In 1952 the Council on Education made initial contact with the United
States Office of Education (later to become the United States Department
of Education [USDE]) with an official application for recognition being filed
in 1959.

From 1941 to 1961 the Council continued to strengthen chiropractic
education.  Many of the weaker institutions were merged with other
institutions to create stronger academic programs. A number of the
grossly substandard institutions were closed.  By 1961, the number of
institutions had been reduced to ten.

In 1964 the NCA merged with other groups to form the ACA, which
continued to support the Council on Education.

Suggestions for strengthening academics and procedures were received
and implemented, and in 1969 an unofficial filing of materials with the
USDE resulted in further suggestions for change.

In 1971 the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) was incorporated
as an autonomous national organization and continues to function as such.

On August 16, 1972, CCE filed a formal application and on August 26,
1974, the U.S. Commissioner of Education, Department of Health,
Education and Welfare first awarded the Accrediting Commission of the
CCE its recognition on the list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting
Agencies and Associations for a period of one (1) year.

CCE was accepted as a member of the Council of Specialized
Accrediting Agencies in 1975.  CCE continues membership with the
now, Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA).

The U.S. Commissioner of Education, Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, extended the recognition of the Accrediting Commission
of the CCE on December 11, 1975, for a period of three years.

On July 1, 1976, the New York State Education Department began
accepting the status decisions of the CCE Commission on Accreditation
(COA), thus discontinuing its policy of independent evaluation of
chiropractic institutions outside the state of New York.

On October 13, 1976, the CCE was granted initial recognition by the
Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) for a period of five
years for the accreditation of educational programs leading to the
Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

The U. S. Commissioner on Education, Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, granted continued recognition to the CCE Commission on
Accreditation on June 21, 1979, for a period of three years.

In July 1981, CCE initiated an effort to identify those clinical
competencies requisite to entrance into the chiropractic profession.
An ad hoc task force was appointed consisting of members
representing CCE member Doctor of Chiropractic Programs (DCPs),
as well as professional and regulatory organizations.  The work of
the task force was completed and the clinical was competencies
were adopted by the CCE in 1984.

CCE announced the establishment of reciprocal agreements with the
Council on Chiropractic Education Canada (CCEC) on March 26, 1982
bilaterally recognizing accreditation decisions rendered respectively by
CCE and CCEC.

CCE received continued recognition by COPA on April 14, 1982, for a
period of five (5) years.

On November 18, 1982 the U. S. Commissioner on Education continued
recognition of the CCE Commission on Accreditation for a period of
four (4) years.

CCE announced the establishment of reciprocal agreements with the
Australian CCE (ACCE) on February 2, 1986 bilaterally recognizing
accreditation decisions rendered respectively by CCE and ACCE.

In 1986-87 the CCE underwent a major review and revision of the
Educational Standards for Chiropractic Institutions (Standards),
subsequently renaming the document as Standards for Chiropractic
Programs/institutions (Standards). A random sample of more than
500 persons from CCE's various publics were asked to critique the
Standards.

CCE received continued recognition by COPA on April 17, 1987, for
a period of five years.

On September 28, 1987 the U. S. Department of Education
continued the recognition of the Commission on Accreditation of the
CCE for a period of two years and later, on July 13, 1989 extended
the recognition for two additional years.

In 1987-89 the CCE continued the Standards review process in
response to impending substantive changes in postsecondary
education and accreditation recognition requirements. The USDE
and the COPA revised their provisions and procedures governing
recognition of accrediting bodies to require that program review
assess outcomes as well as resources.

In 1990, the CCE approved major revision of its Standards; the
revision focused on the development of an accreditation program
that assesses chiropractic institutional effectiveness and outcomes.

On January 28, 1992 the Commission on Accreditation of the CCE
was granted continued recognition by COPA for a five-year period.

On August 18, 1992, the Commission on Accreditation of the CCE
was awarded continued recognition by the U.S. Department of
Education for a period of five (5) years.

CCE announced the establishment of reciprocal agreements with
the European Council on Chiropractic Education (ECCE) on January
23, 1993 bilaterally recognizing accreditation decisions rendered
respectively by CCE and ECCE.

A task force was appointed in 1994 for the purpose of revising the
clinical competencies.

In 1995, CCE approved major revisions of its Standards in order to
maintain compliance with the provisions added to the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (HEA) by the Higher Education Amendments
of 1992, and the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1993.

In 1996, the CCE approved major revisions of the Clinical
Competency Document and established Clinical Competencies as
a section of the Standards.

Since 1996, CCE has continued to take seriously its commitment
to ensure that the Standards for the accreditation of DCPs are
adequate and effective measures for assessment of quality, and
relevant to the requirements and expectations of the chiropractic
profession and to the protection of the public.  Specific revisions
of the Standards have taken place from time to time, particularly
with regard to requirements for admission to the programs and
clinical aspects of the curriculum. In this regard, the CCE Board of
Directors has approved a specific and systematic program for
review of the Standards and the accreditation process.  This
program insures regular and thorough reconsideration, and
improvements where necessary.

On March 21, 1997 the Commission on Accreditation of the CCE
was granted continued recognition by the Commission on
Recognition of Postsecondary Education (CORPA), which
replaced COPA, for a five-year period.

On August 1, 1997 the Commission on Accreditation of the CCE
was awarded continued recognition by the U. S. Department of
Education for a period of four (4) years.

In January 1999, the CCE Board of Directors voted to change the
organizational structure and makeup of the components of CCE:
the Board of Directors composed of thirteen individuals, seven from
the accredited chiropractic programs/institutions, four practicing
chiropractors from the field and two individuals from the general public. 
The Board of Directors establishes the Standards, elects the members
of the COA, and conducts the general business of CCE through its
Executive Committee and the Executive Director. 

The COA became a separate body composed of eleven individuals,
five from the accredited chiropractic programs/institutions, four
practicing chiropractors from the field and two individuals from the
general public.  The COA implements the CCE Standards and
renders decisions pertaining to the accreditation of
programs/institutions.

Initially named the CCE Council, The CCE Corporation was given
responsibility for election of the Board of Directors and approval of
the CCE Bylaws.  This body was composed of representatives from
each of the accredited programs.

A task force was formed for the purpose of reviewing the clinical
competencies and worked from 1999-2000.  The resulting
competencies more closely reflected changes that had occurred in
chiropractic education since they were first implemented and were
more consistent with the primary care role of the Doctor of
Chiropractic.

In the year 2000, the CCE Board of Directors conducted an
extensive review of proposed revisions of the Standards, involving
participation by all entities in CCE and interested outside parties. 
Major revisions of the Standards resulted from this activity.

In January 2001, the CCE Board of Directors supported the
formation of the Councils on Chiropractic Education International
(CCEI).  After CCEI developed mutual recognition and
endorsement policies among the chiropractic accrediting agencies
worldwide, the CCE Board of Directors rescinded its
previously-established reciprocal agreements.

On December 17, 2001 the CCE Commission on Accreditation
was granted continued recognition by the U. S. Secretary of
Education, for a period of five (5) years.

In 2002, the CCE Commission on Accreditation instituted
processes to enhance consistency in application of requirements
and in reporting on site team visits, and revised the COA Manual
that included examples illustrating compliance with the CCE
Standards, to assist programs in understanding CCE accreditation
requirements.

In January 2005, the Board of Directors (BOD) established
“membership” into the structure of CCE, with “members” being
representatives of the accredited DCPs, in accordance with the CCE
Articles of Incorporation.  As a provision of this change, the member
programs elected the majority of the BOD and voted, along with the
BOD, on amendments to the Articles of Incorporation.

On February 2, 2005 CCE received continued recognition by the
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which replaced
CORPA, with a required interim five-year report and a full recognition
review in ten years.

In July 2005, the CCE Board of Directors along with several
stake-holders from the chiropractic profession conducted a strategic
planning workshop resulting in the establishment of important initiatives
to 1. Improve Accreditation Standards, 2. Enhance Public Relations
Effort, 3. Clarify CCE’s Role in International Chiropractic, 4. Expand
Dialogue with Key Stakeholders Regarding Best Practices in
Chiropractic, 5. Develop and Implement Strategies to Increase Ethical
Practice and Conduct; and 6. Provide Accreditation Services for
Chiropractic Post Doctorate Certification.

In January 2006, the CCE Board of Directors changed the normal
revision of the CCE Standards from a one-year to a five-year process. 
The Board also authorized the establishment of a Standards
Improvement Task Force, to begin review and recommend any needed 
revisions to the Standards.  This group initially met in July 2006.

On December 12, 2006 the U.S. Secretary of Education continued
recognition of the CCE Commission on Accreditation for a period of five
(5) years.