Palmer College of Chiropractic West

Academics

Degree Requirements

In order to be eligible for the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic West, all PCCW candidates for graduation must meet the following criteria:

1. Must have completed four and one-third academic years of chiropractic education (13 quarters).
2. Must have earned not less than the final 25% of the total credits required for the D.C. degree from PCCW.
3. Must have successfully completed all course and clinic requirements, including CCEP testing.
4. Must have achieved no less than a 2.00 cumulative grade point average on a 4.00 scale.
5. Must have demonstrated intellectual and technical competence and proficiency in psychomotor, cognitive and affective skills.
6. Must have demonstrated understanding of and adherence to the ethical standards of the profession.
7. Must have achieved 21 years of age.
8. Must have fulfilled all financial obligations with the College.

Attendance at the graduation convocation is mandatory for all students. In extreme circumstances, students may be excused by application through the President's Office.

Palmer West graduates currently practice in all 50 states as well as in many international locations. They are engaged in private practice or working as “associate doctors” with established Doctors of Chiropractic. Palmer West has a good record of both supporting its students toward successful completion of the program and assisting them with their entry into the chiropractic profession.

Graduation Rate

The average percentage of students who began the Palmer West program in 2001 and successfully completed the program was 79%.

National Board Examinations

The National Board examinations are divided into two sections: written examinations (Part I, II, III and Physiotherapy) and practical examinations (Part IV). The written exams are administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)
in March and September at multiple test sites in the United States and Canada, while the practical examinations are administered at multiple sites in the United States in May and November. Palmer College of Chiropractic West is a test site for the National Board examinations. Tests are als0 given in France and Australia.

NBCE Pass Rates

The following are weighted arithmetic averages of consecutive first-time percent pass rates of the (NBCE) examinations for 2003 and 2004. Palmer West student results are compared to student results from all chiropractic colleges.

Licensure Requirements

Each state has an examining board which determines who shall be licensed to practice chiropractic in that state. Because some state licensing boards have unique requirements (including unique pre-chiropractic educational requirements), which may change from time to time, students are expected to learn the requirements of the states where they may be considering practice, prior to enrolling.

State boards may accept or require passing of National Board examinations as part of their examining procedure. Information on licensure requirements is available in the Registrar’s Office and the Library. Further licensure information may be obtained by calling Palmer College at 800-722-2586, Ext. 5402.

Technical Standards Policy

Palmer College of Chiropractic West defines the purpose and practice of chiropractic through its Tenets. Recognizing that the academic, clinical, social and personal preparation for the practice of chiropractic requires both mental and physical abilities, Palmer College of Chiropractic West requires that all qualified students admitted to the Doctor of Chiropractic program must be able to perform the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Candidates must have sufficient use of senses of vision, hearing and somatic sensation necessary to perform the chiropractic and general/physical examination including the procedures of inspection, palpation, auscultation and the review of radiographs as taught in the curriculum.
• Candidates must have sufficient physical strength and coordination to stand alone and perform the common chiropractic examination and adjustive procedures as taught in the curriculum.
• Candidates must have sufficient physical strength and coordination of both upper extremities necessary to apply chiropractic adjustments as taught in the curriculum.

Palmer College of Chiropractic West does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions process. After a candidate has been admitted into the chiropractic degree program, the College invites and encourages voluntary self-identification of students with disabilities. The College seeks to accommodate students with disabilities on an individual basis if supported by specific information and assessment data documented by appropriate licensed professionals. The degree of Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), in and of itself, does not entitle the recipient to practice chiropractic. Those who earn the degree must apply for a license to practice in the jurisdiction of their choice. Each jurisdiction’s licensing board then determines who is to be admitted to practice; the scope; and the extent of that practice under applicable law.

Technical Standards Procedure

Since the Board of Trustees’ adoption of the above technical standards, further study has been conducted by the administration as to the timing and manner of implementation of those standards. In so doing, it has been recognized that individuals may self-identify as having a disability at four different stages in the educational process:

1. prior to applying for admission;
2. during application process;
3. after acceptance as a student but prior to attending classes; or
4. while currently attending classes.

While inviting and encouraging voluntary self-identification by students with disabilities, the College has always related to its students as responsible adults with the independent right to make such life decisions. One of those responsibilities is to work with the Office of Student Learning and Development (OSLD) in requesting reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids and services pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Handbook for Students and Applicants With Disabilities.

Individuals who self-identify their disabilities during any of the four stages referenced above shall be referred to the coordinator of the OSLD. The OSLD coordinator will work in concert with the Disability Steering Committee whenever a question arises as to an individual’s ability to meet the requirements of the technical standards. A Disability Steering Committee has been established at each campus in order to adjudicate this process in a timely manner. The OSLD coordinator ensures compliance with this policy.

In considering a self-identifying prospective or actual applicant with a disability, the coordinator and/or the Committee may require an interview with the candidate to determine if the individual meets the technical standards sufficient to complete the curriculum. The coordinator and the Committee may request supporting documentation to be provided by the self-identifying individual from an appropriate licensed professional. All such professionals will be asked to identify what academic adjustments or reasonable accommodations, if any, would be required. If the coordinator and the Committee assess the individual as meeting the technical standards, the prospective applicant will be encouraged to apply. Similarly, if the coordinator and the Committee determine that an applicant has met the technical standards, the admissions review process will continue. If the coordinator and Committee determine that an individual does not meet the technical standards, that individual will be withdrawn from further consideration.

In considering a matriculated student with a disability, the coordinator shall proceed pursuant to the Policies and Procedures for Enrolled Students under the Handbook for Students and Applicants with Disabilities.

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