Council on Chiropractic Education
The Council on Chiropractic Education - USA (CCE-USA) is an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for accreditating programs and institutions which lead to the degree of'doctor of chiropractic'. It seeks to ensure the quality of chiropractic education in the USA by imposing standards, by encouraging educational improvement, and by providing public information.
History of CCE
In the 1920s, the profession of chiropractic was divided; members of two rival associations, the 'Universal Chiropractic Association' (UCA) and the 'American Chiropractic Association' (ACA) disagreed about the nature of training needed by the chiropractic profession. In 1930, the two associations merged to form the 'National Chiropractic Assovoiation' (NCA) and in 1935 John Nugent DC became the first Director of the Committee on Education Standards (CES). Nugent had played a significant role in developing the Basic Science Board for all healthcare providers, and his efforts led to the formation of what would become the CCE.
Between 1935 and 1940, national chiropractic associations such as the NCA; the Chiropractic Health Bureau (CHB); and the Council on State Chiropractic Examining Boards (CSCEB) worked to support improvements in chiropractic education. The NCA transformed into the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Chiropractic Health Bureau became the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). In 1938 the CES and CSCEB merged into a new CES. Under the direction of this committee, the first institution self-study questionnaire was sent to all 37 chiropractic institutions actively engaged in chiropractic education in the United States. In 1941, after independent inspection of the schools and evaluation of the educational criteria, the CES issued its first list of institutions with status; it contained 12 provisionally approved institutions.
The Council on Education (COE) was formed by institutional representatives and members of the CES. In 1947, it received the approval of the House of Delegates of the NCA. The Council continued to work to improve chiropractic education, merging weaker institutions with other institutions to create stronger academic programs. Many substandard institutions were closed, and by 1961, the original 37 chiropractic schools were reduced to ten.
In 1964, the NCA merged with other groups to form the current ACA with continued support for the Council on Education. In 1971 this committee was incorporated as the CCE, an autonomous national organization, separate from the ACA. The CCE was first listed as a Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency by the US Commissioner of Education in 1974 and has kept its status since. In 1975, the CCE was accepted as a member of the 'Council of Specialized Accrediting Agencies'. It was recognized by the 'Council on Postsecondary Accreditation' from 1978 through 1992; in 1992, the CCE was granted continued recognition by the 'Council on Recognition of Postsecondary Education' (for a five-year period to 1997, and, in 1997, until 2002), and is now recognized by the successor, the 'Council on Higher Education Accreditation'.