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Profession-specific course

Ethics and Professionalism for Chiropractors in Australia

Applying the Chiropractic Board's Code to Evidence, Advertising and Patient Care

  • 3 CPD hoursEstimated learning time
  • 20-question assessmentPass mark 80%
  • Online, self-pacedStart any time
  • CertificateFor your CPD records

Written for

About this course

Few professions face as much public scrutiny of their claims as chiropractic. The Chiropractic Board's position on children has changed several times since 2019, and the Board published a revised Statement on paediatric care in September 2026. Advertising about non-musculoskeletal conditions, long treatment plans, routine X-rays and boundary issues continue to feature in notifications. For a busy chiropractor, keeping track of what the Board now expects is a real challenge.

This course turns the shared Code of conduct and the Board's statements and fact sheets into decisions you can make with confidence: when imaging is justified, how to build treatment plans around clinical need and review points, how to discuss maintenance care honestly, what the paediatric statement means for infants and older children, how to advertise without testimonials or unsupported claims, how to run a public posture screening, what to say about vaccination, and how to obtain consent and keep boundaries during hands-on care.

It is written for Australian practice, with scenarios from private clinics, multi-practitioner practices and community settings, and it reflects the co-regulatory arrangements in New South Wales and Queensland and the 2026 review of CPD and recency standards.

Who this course is for

  • Registered chiropractors in private, group and multidisciplinary practice
  • Practice owners and principals responsible for associates, policies and advertising
  • Associates and employed chiropractors facing visit or retention targets
  • New graduates and chiropractors returning to practice
  • Chiropractors who care for children, adolescents, athletes, older people or pregnant patients, including those working with sporting clubs and schools
  • Chiropractors who want structured, reflective ethics learning for their CPD plan

What you’ll learn

  • Apply the Board's current positions

    Use the shared Code, the 2026 Statement on paediatric care and the Board's fact sheets in day-to-day decisions.

  • Justify care and imaging

    Build evidence-informed treatment plans with outcome measures and review points, and justify every radiograph.

  • Advertise and inform lawfully

    Remove testimonials and unsupported claims, clarify titles and handle vaccination questions appropriately.

  • Protect patients and yourself

    Obtain informed consent including material risks, keep boundaries, and meet CPD, first aid and notification obligations.

Learning objectives

  • Explain the roles of the National Law, the Chiropractic Board, Ahpra and the co-regulatory bodies in New South Wales and Queensland.
  • Apply the shared Code of conduct and core ethical principles to chiropractic decisions, including where commercial pressures arise.
  • Integrate acceptable evidence, clinical experience and patient values, and recognise red flags requiring referral.
  • Develop treatment plans with measurable outcomes and review points, and discuss maintenance care with balanced information.
  • Justify diagnostic imaging and meet radiation licensing and protection obligations.
  • Apply the Board's revised Statement on paediatric care, including the position on spinal manipulation for children under two.
  • Advertise and communicate health information lawfully, including on vaccination and at public health activities.
  • Obtain informed consent that includes material risks, conduct examinations respectfully and maintain professional boundaries.
  • Keep records, bill honestly and meet CPD, first aid, recency, insurance and notification obligations.

Scenarios covered

Practice situations you reason through, step by step, in the course.

  • The colicky 14-month-old

    Responding to parents who request spinal manipulation, applying the under-two position and referring with care.

  • The patient who wants X-rays

    Using the Board's five justification questions and explaining why imaging is not indicated.

  • The 24-visit plan

    Building a treatment plan around review points when the practice expects block bookings.

  • The immunity post

    Fixing social media content that makes unsupported claims and uses testimonials.

  • The shopping centre screening

    Running a public posture activity that is genuinely for public benefit.

  • Treatment near the groin

    Explaining, seeking ongoing consent and offering a chaperone during soft tissue work.

Course contents

8 sections, 35 lessons, then the final assessment.

  1. Section 1: The Regulatory Framework for Chiropractic in Australia4 lessons
    • 1.1 The National Law, the Chiropractic Board and Ahpra
    • 1.2 The Shared Code of Conduct
    • 1.3 Board Statements, FAQs and Registration Standards
    • 1.4 What Notifications Tell Chiropractors
  2. Section 2: Ethical Foundations for Chiropractic Practice5 lessons
    • 2.1 Core Ethical Principles in a Chiropractic Context
    • 2.2 Professional Identity, Philosophy and the Regulatory Standard
    • 2.3 A Structured Approach to Ethical Decisions
    • 2.4 Culturally Safe Chiropractic Care
    • 2.5 Commercial Pressure and the Patient's Interest
  3. Section 3: Evidence-Based Practice, Scope and Treatment Planning5 lessons
    • 3.1 What the Board Means by Evidence-Based Practice
    • 3.2 Scope, Red Flags and Referral
    • 3.3 Duration and Frequency of Care
    • 3.4 Co-Management and Communicating With Other Practitioners
    • 3.5 Maintenance and Wellness Care
  4. Section 4: Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Safety4 lessons
    • 4.1 Justifying Imaging
    • 4.2 Licensing, Equipment and Radiation Protection
    • 4.3 When a Patient Requests Imaging
    • 4.4 Reporting, Incidental Findings and Communicating Results
  5. Section 5: Care of Children and Other Vulnerable Patients4 lessons
    • 5.1 The Statement on Paediatric Care
    • 5.2 Consent, Assessment and Referral for Children
    • 5.3 Adolescents, School-Age Children and Sport
    • 5.4 Other Patients Who May Be More Vulnerable
  6. Section 6: Advertising, Health Information and Public Communication4 lessons
    • 6.1 The National Law on Advertising
    • 6.2 Claims, Evidence and Titles
    • 6.3 Health Activities in a Public Setting
    • 6.4 Vaccination, Public Health and Social Media
  7. Section 7: Consent, Examination and Professional Boundaries4 lessons
    • 7.1 Informed Consent for Manual Therapy
    • 7.2 Examination, Draping and Ongoing Consent
    • 7.3 Professional Boundaries
    • 7.4 Communication, Cultural Safety and Handling Concerns
  8. Section 8: Records, Business Integrity and Professional Accountability5 lessons
    • 8.1 Health Records That Support Safe Care
    • 8.2 Fees, Health Funds and Third-Party Payers
    • 8.3 CPD, First Aid, Recency and Insurance
    • 8.4 Clinic Safety, Infection Prevention and Emergencies
    • 8.5 Notifications, Self-Reporting and Practitioner Health
  9. Final assessment and written reflection20 questions

Assessment and certificate

  1. Work through the course

    Study each section at your own pace, including the case illustrations and apply-it questions.

  2. Pass the assessment

    20 scenario-based questions. You need 16 correct (80%) to pass.

  3. Write your reflection

    A short written reflection on how the learning applies to your own practice.

  4. Download your certificate

    Shows your name, the course, the date and 3 CPD hours. Anyone can check it on our verification page.

What you keep for your CPD records

  • A certificate of completion recording approximately 3 CPD hours of learning
  • A written reflective account on treatment planning, advertising and consent
  • Quick-reference tables on imaging justification, red flags, advertising and consent
  • A practice review prompt you can use with colleagues to check treatment plan policies, prepaid packages, website content and social media marketing

How certificates and CPD records workVerify a certificate

Primary sources

The course is built on these official documents. Check them for the current version.

Questions about this course

Does Ahpra or the Chiropractic Board accredit this course?

No. This course is not accredited by Ahpra, not approved by the Chiropractic Board of Australia and not endorsed by any professional association. It is independent education. Under the Board's CPD standard you choose activities that meet your learning goals and record the actual time spent with your reflection.

How many CPD hours does it provide?

It is designed for approximately 3 hours of learning, including the reflective account and assessment. Record the time you actually spend against your learning plan.

Does the course reflect the new Statement on paediatric care?

Yes. It explains the history from the 2019 interim policy to the revised Statement published in September 2026, including the advice not to use spinal manipulation on children under two. Always read the current Statement on the Board's website as well.

Can chiropractors still use the title 'Dr'?

Chiropractors may use 'Dr' as a courtesy title, but advertising guidance expects practitioners who are not medical practitioners to make their profession clear wherever they use it, so the public is not misled.

What are the current CPD requirements for chiropractors?

The current standard requires 20 hours of CPD each year guided by a learning plan, with reflection, plus a current first aid qualification. Records are kept for five years. Revised CPD and recency standards were consulted on in 2026, so check the Board's website for the standard in force.

Is this course suitable if I have a condition on my registration?

It can support learning on ethics and professionalism, but if you have a condition, undertaking or caution, confirm with Ahpra or the Board, and with your lawyer or indemnity insurer, whether a particular course is acceptable before you enrol.

Does it cover practice in New South Wales and Queensland?

Yes. The standards are national, and the course explains that complaints are handled by the Health Care Complaints Commission and the Chiropractic Council of NSW in New South Wales, and through the Office of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland.

Does the course cover X-ray licensing?

Yes. It explains the Board's five questions for justifying imaging, the need for a state or territory radiation licence and registered equipment if you take your own radiographs, the ARPANSA code of practice for chiropractors, and how to record findings and act on incidental findings. Licensing details differ between states and territories, so check with your local radiation regulator.

Is the course useful for practice owners?

Yes. It covers employer targets, prepaid packages, practice advertising and public screenings, and includes prompts to review practice policies and marketing with your team.