Chiropractic/animals

AN ACT Relating to creating a license endorsement to allow 1
qualified licensed chiropractors to perform chiropractic diagnosis 2
and adjustments on nonhuman animals; and adding a new section to 3
chapter 18.25 RCW. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.25 6
RCW to read as follows: 7
(1) Upon application, in a form and manner determined by the 8
commission, the commission shall issue an initial license endorsement 9
to practice animal chiropractic to a licensed chiropractor if the 10
chiropractor: 11
(a) Currently holds a valid Washington state chiropractic 12
license; 13
(b)(i) Provides proof of successful completion of an approved 14
animal chiropractic educational program within the previous two years 15
that includes a minimum of 210 curriculum hours; or16
(ii) Provides proof the chiropractor holds a current animal 17
chiropractic certification; and 18
(c) Pays fees as required by RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.19
(2) An animal chiropractic endorsement issued pursuant to 20
subsection (1) of this section is valid for three years, at which 21
S-3596.1
SENATE BILL 5899
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Short, Liias, Dozier, Lovelett, and Riccelli
Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5899
time a chiropractor may apply for an endorsement renewal in a form 1
and manner determined by the commission. 2
(3) A chiropractor is eligible for renewal of their animal 3
chiropractic license endorsement if the chiropractor:4
(a) Provides proof of a current animal chiropractic license 5
endorsement and an attestation that the chiropractor has completed 6
all continuing education requirements as required in subsection (4) 7
of this section; and 8
(b) Pays fees as required by RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.9
(4) Each person holding a license endorsement issued pursuant to 10
this section shall complete at least 30 hours every three years of 11
approved continuing education focused on animal chiropractic.12
(5) A licensee practicing animal chiropractic:13
(a) May review existing imaging and imaging reports of animal 14
patients for diagnostic purposes, but may not order or obtain 15
magnetic, roentgen, or sonographic imaging of animal patients;16
(b) May provide care to correct subluxation of the spine and 17
extremities and modalities consistent with animal chiropractic 18
training and certification; and 19
(c) Shall encourage clients to seek veterinary care for all 20
nonchiropractic health issues. 21
(6) A licensee practicing animal chiropractic must maintain all 22
necessary patient records and documentation as required by RCW 23
70.02.080 and the commission in rule, and upon request provide those 24
records to the client or veterinarian designated by the client.25
(7)(a) Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, no person 26
shall engage in the practice of animal chiropractic, imply or 27
represent that they engage in the practice of animal chiropractic, or 28
offer or advertise animal chiropractic services unless they hold a 29
current animal chiropractic license endorsement issued pursuant to 30
this section. 31
(b) Only a licensed chiropractor that holds a current animal 32
chiropractic license endorsement may advertise animal chiropractic 33
services to the public using such terms that include, but are not 34
limited to, animal chiropractor, animal chiropractic, and animal 35
chiropractic adjustments. 36
(c) A licensed chiropractor who is enrolled as a student in an 37
approved animal chiropractic educational program may practice animal 38
chiropractic as is required in the curriculum of the animal 39
chiropractic educational program. 40
p. 2 SB 5899
(8)(a) Whenever a facility treats both animal and human patients 1
on the same clinical premises, appropriate signage must be posted on 2
the facility as established in rule by the commission.3
(b) Any facility offering services to both animal patients and 4
human patients must observe all clinical and sanitary standards 5
required in rule, state law, or local ordinance. 6
(9) Any animal chiropractor lawfully licensed in this state to 7
practice animal chiropractic services who reports, in good faith and 8
in the normal course of business, a suspected incident of animal 9
cruelty that is punishable under chapter 16.52 RCW to the proper 10
authorities is immune from liability in any civil or criminal action 11
brought against such animal chiropractor for reporting the suspected 12
incident. The immunity provided in this section applies only if the 13
animal chiropractor receives no financial benefit from the suspected 14
incident of animal cruelty beyond charges for services rendered prior 15
to the animal chiropractor making the initial report.16
(10) An animal chiropractor must maintain the address and contact 17
information for the closest veterinarian or emergency animal clinic 18
or both to be given to a client should an animal patient need 19
emergency care during a chiropractic appointment. 20
(11) An animal chiropractor is responsible and accountable for 21
services he or she renders to animal patients. 22
(12) The commission shall share information regarding complaints 23
or disciplinary action against an animal chiropractor with the 24
secretary and the veterinary board of governors annually.25
(13) The commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement 26
this section. 27
(14) For the purposes of this section: 28
(a) "Animal chiropractic" means the practice of chiropractic on 29
nonhuman animals. 30
(b) "Animal chiropractic certification" means a current 31
certification issued by the American veterinary chiropractic 32
association, the international veterinary chiropractic association, 33
or substantially equivalent entity identified by the commission in 34
rule. 35
(c) "Animal chiropractor" means a licensed chiropractor who holds 36
an animal chiropractic endorsement. 37
(d) "Animal patient" means the animal receiving the chiropractic 38
care. 39
p. 3 SB 5899
(e) "Approved animal chiropractic educational program" means an 1
animal chiropractic training program approved by the American 2
veterinary chiropractic association or the international veterinary 3
chiropractic association, or substantially equivalent entity 4
identified by the commission in rule. 5
(f) "Client" means the person presenting the animal patient for 6
chiropractic evaluation, care, and adjustments. 7
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p. 4 SB 5899