Your pathway to sports chiropractic excellence.
Build the knowledge, practical skills and international experience needed to work confidently in sport — from your first ICSC module through to advanced learning and global opportunities.
Start with the two-minute ICSC introduction.
Dr Christine Foss introduces the ICSC online learning modules and explains what is included in this part of the certification. The online component is completed through the FICS learning platform.
One international certificate. Four ways to reach it.
The International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic (ICSC) is the qualification FICS uses for chiropractors seeking selection to FICS teams at international sporting events. Your pathway depends on your previous sports chiropractic education and qualifications.
Which pathway sounds like you?
Choose the statement that best describes your current position. We will take you directly to the most relevant pathway below.
Build the complete foundation
The standard route for chiropractors and eligible final-year chiropractic students completing the full FICS certification.
- Complete the ICSC online learning modules.
- Attend Upper and Lower Extremity hands-on seminars.
- Demonstrate practical experience working with athletes.
- Hold current CPR certification.
- Provide evidence of your authority to practise.
View full Pathway 1 requirements
1. Hands-on education
Complete both the Upper Extremity and Lower Extremity ICSC seminars. Current seminar guidance describes approximately 10 hours of online theory for each seminar stream, followed by 12 hours of face-to-face practical training per extremity. Attending Upper and Lower back-to-back therefore provides 24 hours of in-person practicum.
Seminar content includes common sports injuries, joint assessment and manipulation, soft-tissue applications, taping and applied sports-care protocols. Head-injury and concussion content is incorporated into the Upper Extremity stream.
2. ICSC online learning
Complete the ten ICSC online-learning modules. The learning environment is self-paced and uses assessments within the individual modules to validate progress. The current Education delivery guidance states that there is no additional single program-wide final examination after the required modules have been completed.
3. Athlete experience
Demonstrate eligible post-graduation experience caring for a broad range of athletes in a competitive sporting environment. The detailed current professional-experience section uses two standard evidence routes: the FICS Clinical Experience Log or a Sporting Organisation Reference.
4. CPR / emergency-care evidence
Hold current CPR certification, or an accepted equivalent emergency-care credential, from a recognised provider. The published Education guidance requires this to be less than two years old at final submission.
5. Evidence to practise
Provide proof of your current authority to practise chiropractic in your jurisdiction, such as an active licence or registration where required, or equivalent professional recognition where formal licensure is not mandated. Where applicable, provide malpractice or professional-liability insurance.
Browse ICSC modules and bundles →Recognition for advanced study
Designed for eligible chiropractors who already hold recognised sports-specific postgraduate education.
- Submit your postgraduate qualification for review.
- Complete at least one required live hands-on seminar.
- Complete the Pathway 2 online learning bundle.
- Submit the required evidence for final review.
View expedited pathway details
Qualifications currently identified by FICS
- Masters of Sports Science and Rehabilitation degree
- Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (USA)
- DACBSP® — American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (USA)
- Diplomate in Sports Chiropractic (USA)
- IFEC Sports Chiropractic Program (France)
If your sports-specific postgraduate qualification is not listed, send your degree and transcript to admin@fics.sport for an individual review.
Step 1 — Submit your qualification
Provide evidence of the postgraduate sports-specific chiropractic education you want FICS to consider for Recognition of Prior Learning / advanced standing.
Step 2 — Choose the live hands-on route
- Upper Extremity only: complete the live Upper Extremity seminar. The required head-injury/concussion content is incorporated into this stream, so ICSC01 is not separately required.
- Lower Extremity only: complete the live Lower Extremity seminar and also complete ICSC01 — Head Injury in Sport because the Lower stream does not contain the required head-injury component.
- Both seminars: complete Upper and Lower Extremity. ICSC01 is not separately required because the Upper stream covers the required content.
Step 3 — Complete the Pathway 2 online bundle
- ICSC09 — Cultural Diversity
- ICSC10 — International Sports Chiropractic
Step 4 — Submit supporting evidence
Complete the final submission requirements shown in the ICSC Completion section, including the evidence required for your pathway.
Why isn't a Master's in Exercise and Sport Science automatically recognised?
The current FICS guidance identifies curriculum gaps such as upper- and lower-limb sports-injury assessment, emergency care of concussion, imaging, head and facial injury assessment and applied sports-injury management. The ICSC recognition standard is intended to verify these sports-chiropractic competencies rather than general sport-science knowledge alone.
How is the FICS extremity seminar different from previous CCSP training?
FICS describes the online extremity learning as the evidence and theory foundation — injury mechanisms, prevalence, research and grading systems — with the live hands-on seminar acting as the applied capstone. Advanced standing recognises prior education while still covering content required by the international FICS pathway.
Transition your FICS qualification
A dedicated transition route for chiropractors who previously completed the ICCSD or ICCSP.
- Requirements depend on how long ago you completed ICCSD/ICCSP.
- Update key contemporary learning where required.
- Provide evidence of current athlete work and practice.
View Pathway 3.1 and 3.2
Pathway 3.1 — less than 8 years since completion
- ICSC01 — Head Injuries in Sport
- ICSC04 — Emergency Procedures
- ICSC10 — International Sports Chiropractic
- Copy of your ICCSD or ICCSP
- Current evidence of working with athletes
- Evidence that you remain in practice
Pathway 3.2 — more than 8 years since completion
For qualifications completed more than eight years ago, FICS currently requires the live hands-on seminars to refresh practical knowledge and integrate current online-learning updates.
The Upper Extremity seminar covers the head-injury and emergency-procedure updates required for this pathway, so ICSC01 and ICSC04 are not listed here as separate Pathway 3.2 requirements.
- Upper Extremity hands-on seminar
- Lower Extremity hands-on seminar
- ICSC09 — Cultural Diversity
- ICSC10 — International Sports Chiropractic
- Copy of your ICCSD or ICCSP
- Current evidence of working with athletes
- Evidence that you remain in practice
How the FICS certification evolved
- ICCSD (2002–2016): the International Chiropractic Sports Diploma established an international sports chiropractic education route, particularly for countries without a national sports organisation.
- ICCSP (2016–2019): the program evolved into the International Chiropractic in Sports Practitioner qualification and moved further into online delivery.
- ICSC (2019–present): the International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic became the wholly FICS-owned certification, with learning housed in the FICS environment so content can be updated as best practice changes.
Recognised partner programs
FICS maintains formal recognition arrangements with selected sports chiropractic education programs.
- Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences — Canada
- UQTR Sports Chiropractic Program — Canada
- Chiropractic Knowledge Hub — Denmark
View articulation agreement details
RCCSS(C) — Canada
The Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (Canada) Fellowship in Sports Chiropractic is recognised by FICS through a formal articulation arrangement. On successful completion, eligible graduates may apply for ICSC recognition. Administrative fees apply when the ICSC is awarded.
UQTR — Canada
Students enrolled in the UQTR Sports Chiropractic Program complete ICSC10 and participate in the required hands-on seminar arranged through the college. Seminar dates and details are communicated through the program.
Chiropractic Knowledge Hub — Denmark
Candidates must first complete the Masterclass in Sports Chiropractic and provide evidence of that accreditation to FICS. The current Education page states that 7 of 12 online theory modules are formally recognised through the articulation arrangement.
Denmark Masterclass holders then complete:
- Both FICS hands-on practicum seminars — Upper and Lower Extremity
- ICSC04
- ICSC07
- ICSC10
- Eligible post-graduation athlete experience
- Current CPR from a recognised provider, within two years
- Evidence of current authority to practise and, where applicable, professional-liability insurance
Education designed to move from knowledge to real-world sport.
Your exact requirements depend on your pathway, but ICSC certification brings together contemporary learning, practical skills and evidence that you can operate professionally around athletes.
Choose your route
Identify the ICSC pathway that matches your previous education and professional background.
Learn online
Complete the e-learning modules required for your pathway through the FICS learning environment.
Train hands-on
Build practical sports chiropractic skills with experienced international instructors.
Work with athletes
Demonstrate post-graduation experience caring for a diverse athlete population in sporting environments.
Submit & certify
Provide your completion certificates and supporting evidence to FICS for final review.
ICSC eligibility
Candidates need an appropriate chiropractic education. Eligible final-year students can begin selected learning components before graduation, while professional athlete-experience requirements are completed after graduating.
Recognised chiropractic education
FICS currently recognises chiropractic degrees from programs accredited through an appropriate Council on Chiropractic Education, Professional Statutory Regulatory Body, or relevant government education or health authority.
- Council on Chiropractic Education accredited programs (for example ECCE, CCEA, CCE Canada or CCE USA)
- Programs accredited or recognised by an appropriate Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB)
- Programs accredited through the relevant government Ministry of Health and/or Education
Students & other qualifications
Students in, or entering, their final year may undertake the online and hands-on learning components in advance.
Graduates from programs not covered by the standard categories may request an individual mapping review of their qualification and academic transcript.
For student-discount eligibility, the current FICS guidance asks for evidence that the applicant is in the final year of a chiropractic program or within the first year after graduation.
Show that you can work with athletes — not only treat them in clinic.
The professional experience requirement demonstrates your ability to work with a broad athlete population in a sporting environment. FICS currently provides two evidence routes.
Clinical Experience Log
Document your practical athlete experience using the FICS clinical experience record, including at least 50 different athletes and their associated injuries and treatments.
Sporting Organisation Reference
Provide a signed reference from an eligible sporting club, team or organisation confirming your professional experience and athlete exposure.
What should the reference include?
- Official organisation letterhead where available
- Name, role and contact information of the referee
- Team, sport and level of competition
- Period of service and approximate total hours
- Exposure to at least 50 different athletes
- Your role and professional responsibilities
- Relevant multidisciplinary team involvement
- Referee signature and contact details
Full sporting organisation letter requirements and suggested format
Professional experience is eligible only after graduation. You may continue the other ICSC requirements before graduating and complete this evidence component afterwards.
Sporting-organisation letter duration: where a club/team reference is used, the published requirement asks the letter to confirm that you worked as the chiropractor for a competitive sporting team for at least one complete season.
Eligible professional experience
The experience must involve caring for athletes in a sporting environment. Treating athletes only inside a private clinic does not provide the same exposure to varied athletes, sporting demands and multidisciplinary environments.
The letter must confirm
- Format: the letter is written in English.
- Letterhead / referee identity: use official club, team or organisation letterhead where available. If unavailable, clearly provide the referee's full name, position, organisation, email and relevant contact details.
- Team and sporting level: identify the team or organisation, sport, level of competition and the nature of the competition.
- Period of service and hours: identify the relevant season/event dates, approximate hours per week where applicable, and the total number of professional experience hours being verified.
- Athlete exposure: confirm exposure to at least 50 different athletes and a range of athlete presentations and treatment needs.
- Role and responsibilities: describe your role, principal responsibilities, communication with athletes, teamwork and professional conduct, and whether you worked independently or with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
- Referee contact details: provide enough information for FICS to verify the experience or request clarification. An email address is required as a minimum.
- Signature: the person providing the reference must sign the letter.
How FICS describes eligible competition
- A recreational junior team would not normally meet the high-performance requirement.
- A secondary school, university, academy, representative, club, state or national team competing in an organised league or competition may be eligible.
- The purpose is to demonstrate breadth of athlete exposure and your ability to function within a real sporting environment.
Suggested letter structure
- Club / organisation letterhead
- Date
- Referee name, position, organisation and email / contact details
- Applicant's role with the team or organisation
- Sport, competition level, season/event and dates
- Training, competition or event coverage and approximate total hours
- Confirmation of exposure to at least 50 individual athletes
- Description of professional responsibilities and multidisciplinary teamwork
- Referee signature
Examples of relevant clinical care may include spinal and extremity manipulation, soft-tissue techniques, stretching and mobility work, cryotherapy, sports or kinesiology taping, myofascial techniques and other appropriate sports chiropractic management. The letter does not need to list every treatment or every athlete.
Suggested reference-letter template
[Club / organisation letterhead]
[Date]
Referee: [Full name] · [Position] · [Organisation] · [Email / contact details]
This letter confirms that Dr [Name] worked as [role] with [team / organisation] during the [year / season], supporting athletes in [sport] at [competition level].
Period and hours: [dates], [training / game / event coverage], approximately [X] hours per week and [XXX] total verified professional-experience hours.
Athlete exposure: confirm care of at least 50 different athletes across a range of acute and chronic presentations, recovery, performance and return-to-sport needs.
Responsibilities: describe assessment and management, communication with athletes/coaches, multidisciplinary teamwork or sole-practitioner responsibilities, and relevant sports-chiropractic services.
Verification: referee signature and email address are required so FICS can verify the experience if needed.
Flexible online learning. Practical hands-on application.
FICS combines self-paced online education with seminar theory and face-to-face practical training. The detailed learning objectives remain available as a formal program resource.
Online Learning (eLS)
Enrol at any time, work at your own pace and complete modules in the order that suits your pathway. Individual modules include section assessments to validate learning.
View ICSC learning objectives →Hands-On Seminars
Before the face-to-face practicum, candidates complete approximately 10 hours of video-based theory structured into five modules, each about two hours. The theory is a prerequisite for attendance at the practicum.
Each seminar practicum contains 12 hours of in-person practical training. Upper and Lower Extremity back-to-back therefore provide 24 hours of face-to-face practical work.
Explore hands-on seminars →Assessment Model
Seminar-theory quizzes currently use an 80% minimum pass mark with three attempts. Candidates who do not pass after the third attempt are asked to contact FICS for review, feedback and support.
All video learning is delivered in English. Downloadable transcripts are provided through the learner dashboard to support translation and multilingual access.
All ICSC requirements are to be completed within three years of beginning the first modules. FICS advises that extensions may be considered when circumstances require them.
There is no single rigid order for completing the online learning and seminars. Follow the requirements for your pathway and plan your seminar dates around the available FICS schedule.
The e-learning environment allows FICS to update course material as research, clinical guidance and international sport requirements develop.
More about the hands-on seminar format
- The practicum is 100% hands-on and candidates work in pairs to practise and refine clinical skills with instructors.
- Full in-person attendance and participation in all scheduled practical activities is required for the seminar completion certificate.
- Seminars are delivered internationally in partnership with FICS member NCSCs and local hosts.
- Practical content includes chiropractic adjustments / CMT, soft-tissue therapies, strapping and functional taping techniques.
- Seminars can also be attended for professional development without completing the full ICSC; non-member rates may be available.
- Final-year students and practitioners in their first postgraduate year may be eligible for discounted student seminar rates.
- For groups of approximately 20–30 participants, the current seminar information says FICS typically uses two instructors, approximately a 1:12 instructor-to-participant ratio, subject to venue and logistical factors.
Costs, discounts and payment
Your total cost depends on the pathway, seminar location and courses you need to complete. FICS offers bundles and member/student pricing to help candidates progress in stages.
Current ICSC cost information
Seminar pricing varies by host country, location and participant category. Always check the registration listing for current pricing.
Payment and invoice information
FICS processes card payments in Swiss Francs (CHF) through Stripe. The Education page currently publishes a 1.3% card surcharge.
Candidates who prefer a direct bank transfer can contact admin@fics.sport to request an invoice and bank details.
E-learning bundles allow candidates to spread module purchases, while hands-on seminar prices vary by location, host country and registration category.
Member benefits can reduce the cost
FICS members can access member pricing and online-learning discounts through their dashboard.
Where a National or Regional Chiropractic Sports Council operates in your country, FICS encourages joining through that organisation. Direct individual FICS membership is also available where appropriate.
Membership routes and student pricing
Where an NCSC/RCSC operates, FICS encourages candidates to explore the local council route first because membership through that council also connects the member with FICS.
Direct individual FICS membership is also available where appropriate. The current Education page lists direct individual membership at CHF 125.
FICS members can access a published 20% online-learning discount through the member dashboard and may register for seminars/events at member rates.
Students can request a 20% online-learning discount from FICS or the Student Commission. Event listings publish student seminar rates; proof of enrolment is required.
Ready to complete your ICSC?
Once every requirement for your pathway is complete, gather your evidence and submit it together to FICS for review.
Your completion checklist
- Required online-module completion certificates
- Required seminar completion certificates
- Evidence of practical athlete experience
- Current CPR or equivalent emergency-care certification
- Copy of your chiropractic degree
- Evidence of current authority to practise
Submit everything together
FICS asks candidates to submit the complete evidence package in one email, with the candidate's name included in each file name.
The current published review timeframe is approximately three to four working weeks.
FICS administration is based in Australia. The current Education guidance states that email acknowledgements are generally expected within 48 working hours.
Before you begin
Do I need ICSC certification to work on a FICS team at an international event?
Is there one final ICSC examination?
Why might I need updated head-injury education?
What if I already hold a postgraduate sports qualification?
Can I complete the program in any order?
Can students receive a discount?
Do I need a textbook for the online learning?
What is the time limit for completing the ICSC?
Use FICS learning as part of your ongoing professional development.
FICS describes ongoing CE/CPD/CEU as a prerequisite for sports chiropractors working at international games. FICS provides completion certificates showing learning hours and continues to work with councils and education partners to support recognition of sports chiropractic continuing education.
Certificates & local recognition
FICS course certificates show learning hours. Recognition toward local licence/registration requirements depends on your jurisdiction; some countries use a self-assessment process and require a local application.
Start with your NCSC
Many National Chiropractic Sports Councils work with their local governing bodies on recognition of FICS seminars and courses. FICS recommends contacting your local NCSC about the process in your country.
International partnerships
FICS continues developing education partnerships internationally. In the United States, selected hands-on seminars may carry CE credit in participating states; availability is advertised in the relevant seminar listing.
The current Education page directs candidates to Northeast College for the most up-to-date CE listing associated with ICSC01 and ICSC10. Search their catalogue using the keyword “FICS”.
The current FICS shop also states that the full ICSC program is included among continuing-professional-development events awarded CPD hours by the European Academy of Chiropractic. Local acceptance still depends on the relevant jurisdiction.
Keep learning. Keep progressing.
FICS education extends beyond the core ICSC pathway through live seminars, specialist learning, scholarships and an international network of certified sports chiropractors.
Hands-On Seminars
Find upcoming Upper and Lower Extremity practical seminars delivered internationally.
Explore seminars →Masterclasses
Go deeper into specialist clinical, performance and sports chiropractic subjects.
Explore masterclasses →Scholarships
Discover opportunities that support students, recent graduates and advanced postgraduate education.
Explore opportunities →ICSC Directory
Explore the public directory of sports chiropractors who have achieved ICSC certification.
View directory →Find the pathway that fits where you are now — and start building where you want to go.
Begin with your ICSC pathway, plan your online and hands-on learning, and progress toward internationally recognised sports chiropractic education.