§34-24-123. License requirements under article; permit requirement for nonlicensed owner of chiropractic practice.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to practice chiropractic unless he or she shall have first obtained a valid license as provided in this article and possesses all the qualifications prescribed by the terms of this article. Any person who shall practice or attempt to practice chiropractic without such a license or any person who shall buy or fraudulently obtain such a license or shall violate any of the terms of this article, or shall use the title "chiropractic," "D.C.," or any word or title to induce the belief that he or she is engaged in the practice of chiropractic, without first complying with the provisions of this article, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than one year, either or both, at the discretion of the court. All subsequent offenses shall be separate and distinct offenses and punishable in like manner.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person who is not otherwise licensed by the board to own, in whole or in part, any chiropractic practice unless he or she shall have first obtained a valid permit in the name of the chiropractic practice or office. Each applicant must pass an examination administered by the board on this article and the rules of the board. Upon completion of all requirements and passage of the examination, a permit shall be issued. Employment of a chiropractor by a hospital, as defined in Section 22-21-7, shall be excluded from the requirements of this subsection. The board shall establish a reasonable fee for the issuance and renewal of the permit, which shall be renewable annually and shall provide a grace period for any permit to be renewed in the same manner as provided for licensees in Section 34-24-165. The holder of a permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to this article and any rules or regulations issued pursuant thereto.

(Acts 1959, No. 108, p. 612, §20; Acts 1989, No. 89-237, p. 321, §2; Act 2004-442, p. 780, §1; Act 2006-295, p. 602, §1; Act 2013-414, p. 1568, §1.)