The General Chiropractic Council (Registration During Transitional Period) Rules Order of Council 1999

Prescribed test of competence

6.—(1) The Registrar may, in relation to an application for conditional registration, and having regard to any information provided or obtained under Rule 3 or 4 and the proposed terms of the required undertaking, require the applicant to pass the test of competence prescribed by the following provisions of this Rule, or such part of it as the Registrar considers appropriate (after consulting the Education Committee or a sub-committee of the Education Committee so far as he considers it necessary).

(2) The prescribed test of competence shall comprise a test conducted as a written or oral test (or both) covering the following heads for the purposes of determining whether the applicant meets the required standard of proficiency in relation to them–

(a) knowledge and understanding of the ethical basis and holistic nature of the practice of chiropractic;

(b) medical and scientific knowledge relevant to the practice of chiropractic;

(c) clinical assessment, including physical examination before and during treatment, interview and case history;

(d) diagnosis or clinical impression;

(e) the selection of appropriate treatment;

(f) the delivery of treatment and evaluation of the response to treatment;

(g) the giving of advice concerning treatment, treatment dependence, minimisation of recurrence or the need for further treatment, and related matters;

(h) the obtaining of consent to treatment;

(i) communication with other chiropractors, general medical practitioners and other health professionals, including assessment of the need for second opinions or for referrals;

(j) record keeping.

(3) The prescribed test of competence may if the Registrar so requires include a test requiring a practical demonstration by the applicant.

(4) The prescribed test of competence shall be conducted by examiners appointed by the General Council, who shall be persons who have successfully completed a course of training approved by the General Council in the methods of assessing an applicant undergoing the test of competence, and who–

(a) as regards a test of competence conducted at any time, are fully registered chiropractors of not less than 5 years' professional experience, or

(b) as regards a test of competence conducted during the transitional period, are members of the General Council appointed under paragraph 44 of Schedule 1 to the Act (chiropractic members), or are chiropractors who have not less than five years' professional experience or who have, in the period of five years ending with the day on which these Rules come into force, been appointed as an examiner in chiropractic by a school of chiropractic in respect of a qualification which has not been refused recognition under section 14 of the Act.