Regulation of Chiropractic

To ensure that the business of chiropractors can be properly regulation and have legal implications, in 1994 the Chiropractors Act was finalised. This Act ultimately led to the formation of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) to keep track of all chiropractors practicing in the UK. The Chiropractors Act 1994 ensures that all chiropractors in the UK follow specific, laid out guidelines that provide the best standard of care for their patients. It has established certain rules that chiropractors must follow regarding how they train, practice and develop. The Act is connected a great deal to the Osteopaths Act 1993 as they both revolve around body manipulation to gain alternative medical benefits.

What is included in the Act?

The Chiropractors Act 1994 has numerous sections that set out regulations that have been made compulsory and must be followed by all UK chiropractors.


The Act opens with the discussion of how chiropractors must be have completed a full registration. It includes the correct process of doing so as well as explaining the reasoning and procedure behind suspending the registration of a chiropractor (which may be done if a legitimate complaint has ben made against them to the General Chiropractic Council). This may subsequently lead to the chiropractor being struck off the register; however, the Chiropractors Act describes how this may be revoked.

Following this is the education segment. This part of the Act contains the rules and regulations behind the appropriate education that should be received by a chiropractor in training. It outlines the standards of education expected and the recognised qualifications that the chiropractor should leave the educational establishment with in order to practice on members of the public. This ensures that chiropractors are fully aware of which institutions are registered to provide proper chiropractic training and from which they will receive a legitimate qualification. These qualifications are required if they wish to call themselves a chiropractor and register with the General Chiropractic Council.

Many may see the next section as the most crucial as it outlines the Code of Practice. This Code of Practice guarantees that all chiropractors in the UK follow particular guidelines in regards to their professionalism and conduct whilst practicing. It also discusses the consequences of misconduct on behalf of the chiropractor. This includes the general process carried out by the General Chiropractic Council with their various committees, which may result in the chiropractor in question’s registration being suspended or struck off entirely if deemed appropriate. This segment also maintains that the chiropractic complaints cases being investigated are done so fairly and without bias.

For those chiropractors who have had their General Chiropractic Council registration (which is a crucial requirement to work legally in the UK) removed either temporarily or permanently may be referred to reading the Appeals section of the Act. This section provides information in regards to appealing against the various decisions that lead to the revoking of the registration. This appeal may be held against the Registrar, Health Committee or Professional Conduct Committee’s decisions.

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