The recognition of the Council on Chiropractic Education.
By F. Dow Bates, DC
Governor, District 1, American Chiropractic Association
Des Moines, Iowa
On Aug. 16, 1972, CCE filed a formal application to be listed as a Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency by the U.S. Commissioner of Education.It was granted on Aug. 26, 1974. Today, CCE is recognized as the source of accreditation of programs and institutions that offer the doctor of chiropractic degree.
Without the recognition of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) in 1974 by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW)—now known as the Department of Health and Human Services. Much else would not have come to fruition. And indeed, much has been accomplished.
In regards to victories on a national scale, the Wilk vs. AMA case was certainly a victory. Another success would be the inclusion of chiropractic in the Departments of Defense and VA. However, without the base of CCE, many of our achievements could not have attained.
Politically, the enormous importance of Sen. Tom Harkin and his longstanding and deep abiding interest and support of chiropractic brought us chiropractic research funding through the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, and ongoing assistance to our profession in Washington, D.C. Sen. Harkin made it okay to say chiropractic out loud in Washington and no one in Washington has offered their help more often.
Sen. Chuck Grassley has also become an important factor in chiropractic achievement—most notably the Medicare Demonstration Project—and has served as one of chiropractic’s strongest allies. CCE and its positive effect were important in achieving the support of both Sens. Harkin and Grassley.
In my state, as in others, there have been many victories for chiropractic since CCE accreditation. For example, these include improvement of the Iowa Chiropractic Practice Act as well insurance equality legislation in the 1980s.
The fact remains, that without CCE and its credibility and its ability to thereby lift the credibility of our education, none of these and many other achievements would have been possible to the extent that it has been. CCE's recognition by HEW is a key base for the successes of this profession.
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