The “Greeley Grift”: How the Chiropractic Cartel Exploits Chiropractors Worldwide
Originally published: 2025-05-26
A Cartel’s Grip on Chiropractic
In the latest episode of the On Purpose podcast, Drs. Christopher Kent and Matthew McCoy delivered a blistering critique of the chiropractic cartel that continues to stifle innovation, exploit students, and maintain an iron grip on chiropractic licensure in the United States.
The Birth of the “Greeley Grift”
At the center of their conversation lies the NBCE’s new requirement: every chiropractor, no matter where they’re from, must travel to Greeley, Colorado, to take Part IV of the National Board exams — a move Dr. McCoy has dubbed the “Greeley Grift.”
The “Greeley Grift” is no exaggeration. As Dr. McCoy put it, this centralized testing model forces every chiropractic graduate, whether they’re from one of the 50 states or one of 172 countries around the world, to physically journey to the NBCE’s headquarters in Greeley, Colorado. This requirement burdens students and professionals alike with additional costs, travel logistics, and stress — all to satisfy a private testing monopoly.
“You’re not getting your credentials to practice from your school. You’re getting them from the NBCE, and you’ve got to pay their toll.” — Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
A System Designed for Control and Profit
The problem, as Kent and McCoy argue, goes far deeper than travel inconveniences. It’s a symptom of the larger chiropractic cartel — a system of collusion between the CCE (Council on Chiropractic Education), the NBCE, and the FCLB (Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards). This cartel, they explain, uses its political influence to enshrine its control in state statutes and regulations. “Every state has language in their statute, rules, and regulations that gives a monopoly to the CCE,” Dr. McCoy explains, adding that this monopoly extends to the NBCE’s exams, including Part IV, which many states now require for licensure. The state boards and the chiropractors who sit on those boards are in on it.
“Let that sink in… Every chiropractor on the planet has to come to Greeley to pay them their fee and take their exam.”
A Lack of Evidence, a Mountain of Debt
What’s more, Dr. Kent emphasizes that the NBCE’s claims of “public protection” and “competency assurance” for Part IV have no data to back them up. Schools already certify their students’ clinical competency at graduation — with real data and documented outcomes. Yet the NBCE stands at the finish line, demanding another toll. “The National Board is standing on the other side of that stage saying, ‘No, no, no, you’re not competent until we say you’re competent,’” Dr. McCoy says. And they’re charging for that privilege — using student loan money and exploiting young chiropractors, many of whom are already burdened by crushing debt.
The Call to Action: Ending the Monopoly
Perhaps most damning of all is the incestuous relationship between these cartel players. The NBCE funds the FCLB, which then pressures state licensing boards to adopt and enforce the very same NBCE testing requirements. This loop of influence, funded by students’ borrowed money, locks out alternative viewpoints and stifles competition — all in violation of basic principles of fair commerce and academic freedom.
“They’re using student loan money to exploit these young people and keep this cartel afloat.”
Drs. Kent and McCoy are clear: they aren’t calling for the NBCE or CCE to disappear. They’re demanding that these private organizations end their monopolistic stranglehold and allow free competition and real innovation in chiropractic education and practice. With the current push by the federal government to recognize alternative accreditors and return oversight to the states, there’s a window of opportunity to finally break the cartel’s grip.
“We’re not saying shut them down. We’re saying open the door to competition, because what they’re doing is un-American.”
A Final Plea to Chiropractic Elders
As the podcast concludes, Dr. Kent calls on chiropractors — especially those who’ve been in the profession for decades — to stand up and speak out. “If you’ve been in practice for 20 years or more, you’re an elder in the profession,” he says. “You need to get your act together, stand up, speak out, and put a stop to this.”
It’s time for chiropractors everywhere to say enough is enough to the “Greeley Grift.” It’s time to demand real change — to end the cartel, free chiropractic education, and ensure that the next generation of chiropractors can thrive without the shackles of this monopolistic exploitation.
“If you’ve been in practice for 20 years or more, you’re an elder in the profession… You need to stand up, speak out, and put a stop to this.”
