HB1026 • 2026

Foreign-trained chiropractors; licensure by endorsement.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-2936.1, relating to foreign-trained chiropractors; licensure by endorsement.

Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Walker
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Foreign-trained Chiropractors Can Get Virginia Licenses

This law allows foreign-trained chiropractors to get a license in Virginia if they meet specific requirements.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Board of Medicine to issue licenses to foreign-trained chiropractors who have degrees from accredited schools outside the U.S.
Requires that these chiropractors either hold or have held an unrestricted license in another country with similar standards as Virginia's.
Needs applicants to have practiced for at least two years and pass certain exams.
Checks if the applicant has no history of professional discipline, impairment, or criminal issues that could harm patients.

Who It Names or Affects

Foreign-trained chiropractors who want to work in Virginia
The Board of Medicine which will review applications

Terms To Know

unrestricted license: A full and complete license with no restrictions or limitations.
accrediting organization: An official group that checks if schools meet certain standards.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if a foreign-trained chiropractor does not meet the requirements.
It is unclear how many foreign-trained chiropractors will apply for these licenses.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 724 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0724)
2026-03-25 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026
2026-03-25 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-17 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1026)
2026-03-14 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-14 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-14 House
Enrolled
2026-03-14 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1026ER)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-05 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
2026-02-27 Health Professions
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
2026-02-17 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-17 Education and Health
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
2026-02-16 House
Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 House
Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
2026-02-16 House
Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 House
Read second time
2026-02-13 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-13 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-12 House
Read first time
2026-02-11 Health and Human Services
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1026)
2026-02-10 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-10 Health and Human Services
Committee substitute printed 26105733D-H1
2026-02-05 Health Professions
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-05 Health Professions
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 1-N)
2026-02-04 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1026)
2026-01-23 Health Professions
Assigned sub: Health Professions
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102254D
2026-01-14 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Foreign-trained chiropractors; licensure by endorsement.
Permits the Board of Medicine to issue a license to practice chiropractic to a foreign-trained chiropractor who meets certain requirements.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
54.1-2936.1
, relating to foreign-trained chiropractors; licensure by endorsement.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
54.1-2936.1
as follows:
§
54.1-2936.1
. Licensure by endorsement of foreign chiropractors.
The Board may issue a license to practice chiropractic to an applicant who:
1. Holds a degree in chiropractic from an institution located outside the United States that is accredited by the appropriate national or regional accrediting organization recognized in that country;
2. Either (i) holds a current, unrestricted license to practice chiropractic issued by a foreign jurisdiction whose educational and professional standards are substantially equivalent to those of the Commonwealth, as determined by the Board, or (ii) has held an unrestricted license to practice chiropractic issued by a foreign jurisdiction whose educational and professional standards are substantially equivalent to those of the Commonwealth, as determined by the Board, and has not had such unrestricted license revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted as a result of disciplinary action;
3. Has actively practiced chiropractic for at least two years;
4. Has no history of professional discipline, impairment, or criminal conviction that would pose a risk to the health and safety of patients;
5. Is legally authorized to reside and work in the United States; and
6. Has passed Parts I, II, and III of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination and the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.