Blair Chiropractic Society

 Proficiency Certification

                        Blair Technique Proficiency Certification

The following is the procedure established for the proficiency certification for Blair doctors in the Blair Upper Cervical Specific Technique.  The Blair procedure is a very exacting and demanding method of health care and it is imperative that the doctors utilizing the technique be as precise as possible. The Blair Technique Proficiency Certification status should assure doctor and patient alike that the “certified” chiropractor has gained skills and passed the testing procedures established by the Committee on Technique and Instruction and Certification of the Blair Chiropractic Society.

Application Process

The applicant must request in writing on his/her office stationary the desire to be evaluated for Blair Technique Proficiency Certification. This request should be directed to the Chair of the Committee on Technique and Instruction.  The request for testing must be accompanied by proof of attendance of Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced Blair courses, including seminar dates and names of instructors.  A check of $50.00 as a non-refundable processing fee  made out  to the Blair Chiropractic Society should be included with the application.

The examination is administered in two different sections.

X-ray Examination

The applicant should submit five (5) complete sets of Blair upper cervical x-ray series taken by the applicant in his/her office.  The  submitted x-rays do not have to be consecutive, but should include at least A-P open mouth, base posterior, lateral stereos,  and right & left protractoviews (stereo protractoviews if taken).  The films should have all been taken within 90 days of submission of the application.

An x-ray sheet will be sent to the applicant and he/she must mark listings bilaterally from C-1-4; angles should be marked at those same levels; contraindications should be listed, pathologies should be noted, preferable side of laterality and access to transverse process should also be recorded.  Examination doctors, there will be two Certified Advanced Blair Instructors evaluating the x-rays, will glean the x-rays for film quality, patient placement, and the correctness of the findings.

Following successful completion of the x-ray portion of the examination, the applicant will be notified by the Chair of the Committee on Instruction and Technique of the date and location where two Certified Advanced Blair Instructors will test him/her on the practical portion of the examination.

Failure to pass the x-ray portion of the examination require a minimum 90 day waiting period to resubmit the x-rays and another application fee will be required.

Practical Examination

• Five (5) upper cervical listings (including double misalignments) chosen at random from the Blair Upper Cervical Technique will be given to the applicant. He/she will be required to explain each listing regarding both the mechanism of displacement and correction.
• Applicant must set up, explain and  show correct patient placement for the side posture toggle table.
• The applicant must explain and convey knowledge of paraspinal skin temperature differential pattern analysis (when to and when not to adjust)
• The applicant will be required to manually demonstrate leg balance tests as they are taught in the Blair seminar series. This should include the modified Derifield/Thompson prone leg check, Cervical Syndrome Tests, and Modified Prill spinal balance leg checks.
• Applicant will need to convey skills regarding his/her Upper Cervical patient management talents.

Upon successful completion of both the x-ray and the practical portion of the examination, the applicant will be votes pass/fail by the Committee on Instruction and Technique.  The Blair Society Board of Directors has the final determination on the qualifications of the applicant and determining Proficiency Status.  A Certificate of Proficiency will then either be sent to the applicant or awarded at the Annual Blair Conference.

Maintaining Proficiency Status

Once the applicant attains Blair Proficiency status, he/she will maintain that level and be listed on the Blair web site as “certified” provided:

• The doctor attends at least one Blair seminar or the Annual Blair Conference.
• The doctor remains an active dues paying member of the Blair Society.
• The doctor continues to conduct himself/herself in a professional manner as a credit to the legacy of the late Dr. William G. Blair.