Frequently asked questions

The International Agency for Chiropractic Evaluation is a non-profit agency founded on January 4, 2001, by experts in chiropractic education, regulation and testing. Since 2012 it has offered an accreditation service focused on the evaluation of vertebral subluxation-centered education.

IACE is not in competition with, nor is it an alternative to, any other organization or accrediting agency.

Institutional accreditation, which considers the stability of the entire institution, and programmatic accreditation, which focuses on the vertebral subluxation-centered curriculum, planning and outcomes. Both are rigorous and academically equivalent.

The institution must be legally constituted and authorized to operate in its jurisdiction, the program must have and be pursuing a vertebral subluxation-centered mission, and the institution must demonstrate the operation or feasibility of such a program in terms of function, demographics, public need, student interest and availability of clinical facilities.

By sending a Letter of Intent from its chief executive and governing body, documentation of eligibility, the completed Application for Status and the application fee to the Executive Director. The Home Office is available to assist during the application and self-evaluation.

Accreditation Applicant is not an accredited status; it may be used for up to 12 months while the program goes through consultation, self-evaluation and site evaluation. Candidate for Accreditation is granted to programs in substantial compliance with a credible plan for full compliance, for up to five years. Accreditation is granted to programs that meet the Standards: initially for one, three or five years, and on renewal for up to seven.

Under the 2025 Accreditation Documents, the process includes a one-day preliminary site visit, followed by a virtual site evaluation of usually two weeks to one month. A revision published for public comment in March 2026 proposes adding an initial on-site phase of one or two days.

The 2025 fee schedule lists a $1,500 deposit, a $3,500 initial application fee, a $3,000 site evaluation fee and a $2,000 annual fee, plus travel and lodging for the preliminary visit. Fees are set by the Board of Directors and payable in U.S. dollars.

IACE publishes proposed revisions in its News section with a deadline for comments. Comments and suggestions are sent to info@internationalchiropractic.org.

Complaints must be written, specific and accompanied by any available documentation, and are addressed to the Executive Director. Complaints about a program should first go through that program's own complaint procedure.

IACE is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and gifts are presented as tax-deductible. Donors are recognized as Friend ($100–$1,000), Ambassador ($1,000–$5,000) or Visionary ($5,000+).

Members of the Board of Directors, the Commission on Accreditation, the Pool of Experts and the Pool of Site Evaluators are all volunteers. Complete the Volunteer Application Form in the Documents library and send it back to IACE with your CV.