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Online course · Australia

Ethics and Professionalism for Chiropractors in Australia

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

  • About 3 hours
  • 20 scenario questions
  • Reflective account
  • Certificate of completion
  • Online, self-paced

About this course

Chiropractors have faced closer regulatory attention than most professions in recent years, particularly on paediatric care, imaging, advertising and public health messages. This three-hour course applies the Chiropractic Board's Code and statements to those areas.

The course opens with the regulatory framework for chiropractic, the shared Code, Board statements, FAQs and registration standards, and what notifications tell chiropractors. Ethical foundations follow, including professional identity and philosophy, a structured approach to decisions, cultural safety and commercial pressure.

Evidence-based practice, scope and treatment planning are covered in detail, including red flags, duration and frequency of care, co-management and maintenance care. A section on diagnostic imaging covers justification, licensing, patient requests and incidental findings. Care of children and other vulnerable patients is covered with the revised Statement on paediatric care that took effect on 10 September 2026.

Later sections address advertising law, claims and titles, health activities in public settings, vaccination and social media, consent for manual therapy, examination and draping, boundaries, records, fees and third-party payers, CPD, first aid, recency, insurance, clinic safety and notifications.

What you will learn

  • Know which bodies regulate chiropractors and how the NSW and Queensland systems differ
  • Apply the shared Code and core principles where commercial pressure is in play
  • Combine evidence, experience and patient values, and spot red flags that need referral
  • Write care plans with measurable goals and review points, and discuss maintenance care in a balanced way
  • Justify any imaging and meet radiation licensing and protection duties
  • Apply the revised paediatric statement, including its advice against spinal manipulation for children under two
  • Advertise and share health information lawfully, including on vaccination
  • Meet first aid, CPD, recency and insurance standards and bill patients and funders honestly

Who this course is for

  • Chiropractors in private and multidisciplinary practice
  • Chiropractors who treat infants, children or adolescents
  • Chiropractors who take or request x-rays
  • Clinic owners who manage marketing and social media
  • Chiropractors preparing for a Board audit or responding to a concern

How the course works

  1. Once you enrol, open the course from My Courses whenever it suits you. It runs in your browser on desktop or mobile, with nothing to install.

  2. Read 35 lessons grouped into 8 sections. Each lesson unlocks when you finish the one before, and your progress is kept in your browser between visits.

  3. Pause on the worked scenarios and reflection prompts. Anything you type is kept in your course pack, which you can download in Word format or print to PDF.

  4. Complete the final assessment of 20 scenario-based questions with a pass mark of 80% (16 of 20). Retakes are allowed.

  5. After the reflective account and feedback, the course is marked complete in your account and your certificate of completion becomes available. It states the estimated learning time (about 3 hours); log the time you actually spend.

Course content

9 sections · About 3 hours · 20-question final assessment

1The Regulatory Framework for Chiropractic in Australia4 lessons
  • The National Law, the Chiropractic Board and Ahpra
  • The Shared Code of Conduct
  • Board Statements, FAQs and Registration Standards
  • What Notifications Tell Chiropractors
2Ethical Foundations for Chiropractic Practice5 lessons
  • Core Ethical Principles in a Chiropractic Context
  • Professional Identity, Philosophy and the Regulatory Standard
  • A Structured Approach to Ethical Decisions
  • Culturally Safe Chiropractic Care
  • Commercial Pressure and the Patient's Interest
3Evidence-Based Practice, Scope and Treatment Planning5 lessons
  • What the Board Means by Evidence-Based Practice
  • Scope, Red Flags and Referral
  • Duration and Frequency of Care
  • Co-Management and Communicating With Other Practitioners
  • Maintenance and Wellness Care
4Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Safety4 lessons
  • Justifying Imaging
  • Licensing, Equipment and Radiation Protection
  • When a Patient Requests Imaging
  • Reporting, Incidental Findings and Communicating Results
5Care of Children and Other Vulnerable Patients4 lessons
  • The Statement on Paediatric Care
  • Consent, Assessment and Referral for Children
  • Adolescents, School-Age Children and Sport
  • Other Patients Who May Be More Vulnerable
6Advertising, Health Information and Public Communication4 lessons
  • The National Law on Advertising
  • Claims, Evidence and Titles
  • Health Activities in a Public Setting
  • Vaccination, Public Health and Social Media
7Consent, Examination and Professional Boundaries4 lessons
  • Informed Consent for Manual Therapy
  • Examination, Draping and Ongoing Consent
  • Professional Boundaries
  • Communication, Cultural Safety and Handling Concerns
8Records, Business Integrity and Professional Accountability5 lessons
  • Health Records That Support Safe Care
  • Fees, Health Funds and Third-Party Payers
  • CPD, First Aid, Recency and Insurance
  • Clinic Safety, Infection Prevention and Emergencies
  • Notifications, Self-Reporting and Practitioner Health
9Conclusion, Final Assessment and Reflection4 lessons
  • Conclusion and key points
  • References and quick-reference guide
  • Final assessment (20 questions, 80% pass mark)
  • Your reflective account

Assessment and certificate

  • Certificate of completion stating the estimated learning time (about 3 hours); record the time you actually spend.
  • A written reflective account you can keep with your CPD records.

Questions about this course

Does the course include the revised paediatric statement?

Yes. It covers the Chiropractic Board's revised Statement on paediatric care, in effect from 10 September 2026, including its advice not to use spinal manipulation to treat children under two.

Is x-ray use covered?

Yes. A section covers justifying imaging, radiation licensing and protection, patient requests for imaging and communicating results.

What does it say about vaccination?

It explains the Board's expectations on public health communication, including that chiropractors should not provide advice that contradicts public health vaccination messaging.

How does it compare with the two-hour chiropractic courses?

This three-hour course combines ethics and professional standards with detail on imaging, paediatrics and advertising. The two-hour courses go deeper on ethical reasoning and on records, CPD and accountability.

How should I record this course in my CPD log?

Log the date, the course name and the time you actually spend; the certificate shows only the estimated learning time. Add two or three lines on what you will do differently, and file the certificate next to your reflective account.

Who runs this course?

Probity Courses, an education provider with no affiliation to Ahpra, the National Boards or any regulator. Your Board's own codes and guidelines always take precedence over course material.

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