As the genesis of chiropractic and the major development of the profession occurred in the United States of America, chiropractic education was nurtured and developed in the US throughout the 20th century.  Emulating that success in recent decades, chiropractors in other regions of the world have promoted this model for chiropractic education in their countries.  As a natural consequence of these educational efforts and the establishment of effective accreditation practices, the US Council on Chiropractic Education has been joined by CCEs in Australia, Canada and Europe in efforts to assure excellence in chiropractic education and quality in the profession through accreditation.  The success of this work has become evident in the solid development of chiropractic in their respective regions/countries.

While this quality assurance model and the CCEs themselves have taken hold in English speaking countries and across Europe where English can be used in professional circles, the same has not been true in other regions, some of which are showing tremendous interest and potential growth in chiropractic.  Educational ventures in some of these locations seem to indicate endeavors of high quality.  However, others are questionable and some seem to be cause for considerable concern with regard to inadequacy in the scope, thoroughness and quality of the education expected for practice of chiropractic.  Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, government, regulatory, and social acceptance of less than professional chiropractic sometimes seems to accompany instances of insufficient rigor and completeness in chiropractic education.

In recognition of these conditions and the need to assure quality in the further growth and development of the profession across the world, the four established CCEs have founded and developed CCEI as the means to address the educational aspects of this concern.  CCEI recognizes that differing cultural, social/traditional, governmental and regulatory factors influence many situations, and CCEI endeavors to work and cooperate with related agencies and groups in the profession to address those challenges as well.

PRIMARY THRUSTS

In the quest for quality assurance, CCEI:

provides information and assistance to educators, professionals and governments in areas where quality assurance activities and recognition are needed;

guides and supports the creation and development of additional accrediting bodies that can assure educational quality in their countries/regions;

recognizes and further supports credible accrediting agencies that are developed according to the well-accepted and established CCEI model.

BENEFITS OF CCEI ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Beyond the overarching benefits from this primary CCEI agenda, students, educational programs, regulatory bodies and testing entities experience important benefits from the work of CCEI.  Due to the sound basis provided by the CCEI International Chiropractic Accreditation Standards and the related CCEI Statement on Equivalence, they are aided in:

admission of international students and transfer from one program to another;

international portability of degrees/academic credentials;

acceptance and examination for licensure/credentialing in various jurisdictions;

preparation and verification of readiness for standardized professional testing.

THE FUTURE

Even though CCEI has enjoyed successful beginnings, this organization realizes that many challenges have yet to be identified and overcome.  CCEI will continue to refine itself and its agenda to best serve the profession.  This particularly is the case in service to those who depend on assurance of quality in order to receive the best possible education in chiropractic and those who strive to make excellent decisions regarding regulation, licensure and testing.

We invite you and your organization to review the CCEI organizational materials and to strongly consider making a sustaining grant for our work.  Of course, CCEI will be pleased to provide more information as might be needed.