Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians® (DACBSP®)
*The ACBSP™ is granting a one-year extension on the time frame for submitting your practical field hours. The extension moves the submission deadline from three (3) years to (4) years.
The CCSP® certification is a pre-requisite to earning the DACBSP® certification. Earning the DACBSP® certification requires successful completion of an online written exam, a six-station practical exam, and 250 hours of practical experience in the field (requirements can be completed in any order).
Licensed doctors of chiropractic who satisfy one of the following, and are able to provide official documentation demonstrating such, are eligible to sit the DACBSP® examination:
- Active Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician/Practitioner® (CCSP®) with the completion of a minimum of 200 hours postgraduate education in the DACBSP® Program, at an accredited chiropractic college.
- Active Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician/Practitioner® (CCSP®) with completion of a Masters of Science (MS) degree in an equivalent program in the domain of sports medicine.
- Completion of a sports medicine residency program in its entirety.
DACBSP® candidates must maintain their CCSP® certification in an active status with the ACBSP™. If the doctor’s CCSP® certification is found to be inactive with the ACBSP™, the doctor must bring their certification back to active status prior to being permitted to take the exams or prior to the acceptance of field hours.
All candidates must have completed a post-graduate level hands-on emergency procedures course and a healthcare-provider level CPR certification course with a hands-on component as part of their program or study or in addition to their program. Online CPR courses that do not include a live, practical component are not acceptable. Candidates must provide documentation of successful completion of both courses prior to sitting for the exam. The CPR certification must be valid on the exam date.
Candidates with a current and valid EMT certification may use this certification in lieu of completing the Emergency Procedures course requirement. Candidates must provide proof of current and valid EMT certification to meet this requirement.
DACBSP® certification candidates may attempt the written and practical exams up to three (3) times and must pass both of the exams and complete the practical experience (field hours) requirement within three (3) years of the date of completion of the post-graduate education program (DACBSP® or MS program). If the qualifying post-graduate education program is past the three (3) year mark, candidates may take an additional course to refresh their transcript. All courses must be recorded on one (1) transcript then submitted to the national office for approval.
DACBSP® Practical
Initial Exam- For licensed doctors attempting the six-station practical exam for the first time.
DACBSP® Practical
Retake Exam- For licensed doctors retaking four or more stations.
DACBSP® Practical
Retake Exam- For licensed doctors retaking 1-3 stations.
DACBSP® Written
Initial Exam- For licensed doctors attempting the exam for the first time.
DACBSP® Written
Retake Exam- For licensed doctors attempting the exam for a second or third time.
Written Exams:
- 10/18/2025 – Exam application documents will be due Monday, 9/8/2025
Practical Exams:
- 9/27/2025 – Northwestern Health Sciences University (2501 West 84th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431)
Exam application documents will be due Tuesday, 9/2/2025
To register for either exam, visit the “Registrations” tab at the top of the page.
Written Exams:
- 4/4/2026 – Exam application documents will be due Monday, 3/2/2026
- 10/17/2026 – Exam application documents will be due Monday, 9/14/2026
Practical Exams:
- 4/23/2026 – 2026 Symposium in Dallas, Texas at Parker University
- Exam application documents will be due Monday, 3/23/2026
- Fall 2026 – Date and location TBD
Exam registration will open approximately 3 months before the exam date. To register for either exam, visit the “Registrations” tab at the top of the page.