Why pre-screen chiropractors before the practice interview
Two things separate practitioners you want in a clinic. The first is examining properly before treating, because presentations that look musculoskeletal sometimes are not. The second is a low threshold for referring on, since the risk in this work sits with the case that should have gone to a doctor. Both are visible in a short screen and neither appears on a curriculum vitae. Ask what makes them refer rather than treat.
What actually matters when screening Chiropractor candidates
- 01
Clinical competence
Probe adjusting technique range: Diversified, Gonstead, Activator, flexion-distraction, drop table. Ask about caseload mix, licensure and board exams (NBCE parts), and soft tissue or rehab adjunct work.
- 02
Patient safety and protocol
Test red flag screening: cauda equina, vertebral artery insufficiency, fracture, malignancy. Ask when they ordered imaging, deferred adjustment, or referred to a physician or emergency care.
- 03
Patient communication
Assess how they explain subluxation findings, care plans, and realistic timelines without overpromising. Look for handling of patients who expect one visit to fix chronic pain.
- 04
Working in a clinical team
Check coordination with massage therapists, physical therapists, primary care and insurers. Ask about SOAP note quality, EHR systems used (ChiroTouch, Jane), and coverage during absence.
Pre-screening questions to ask Chiropractor candidates
12 questions grouped by what they test. Ask the same set in every screen and score answers on a consistent scale, or send them as an async video screen and compare answers side by side.
Registration and training
3 questions01What are your qualifications, and where are you registered to practise?
Listen forQualification and current registration stated plainly, with jurisdiction and any conditions named.
Registration described vaguely, or qualifications that do not match where the role is based.
02How long have you been practising, and in what kind of clinic settings?
Listen forSettings and caseload described, including whether they worked alongside other health professionals.
Practice history with unexplained gaps, or solo practice with no professional contact.
03Do you hold certifications in particular chiropractic techniques?
Listen forTraining in techniques they actually use, with a view on which suit which presentation.
One technique applied to every patient, or certifications listed with no clinical reasoning.
Assessment before treatment
3 questions04Do you take a full history and examination before beginning any treatment?
Listen forA consistent routine including red flag screening, with treatment held back until the picture is clear.
Treatment given at the first visit before a full history, or examination described as brief.
05How do you decide when imaging is warranted for a patient?
Listen forImaging used on clinical indication, with an understanding of what routine imaging does not add.
Imaging taken routinely for every new patient, or used to justify a treatment plan.
06Do you treat children or pregnant patients, and how does your approach change?
Listen forClear modifications and clear limits, with these groups treated more cautiously rather than the same.
No change in approach for these groups, or claims of benefit beyond musculoskeletal complaints.
Referring on
3 questions07How often do you refer patients on to other healthcare professionals?
Listen forReferral described as routine, with specific presentations that go straight to a doctor.
Referral rare or reluctant, or no presentation they consider outside their scope.
08How do you evaluate whether the treatment you are providing is working?
Listen forProgress measured against agreed outcomes, with a defined point at which they stop and reassess.
Treatment continued indefinitely, or improvement assessed only by how the patient feels on the day.
09How do you create a treatment plan for a new patient?
Listen forShort plans with review points, and the patient told what to expect and when it should improve.
Long plans sold at the first appointment, or courses of care fixed before any response is seen.
Reviewed against progress
3 questions10Do you use hands-on manipulation, instruments, or both?
Listen forTechnique matched to the patient and their comfort, with informed consent for manipulation described.
One approach used regardless of presentation, or consent treated as a form to sign.
11What is your approach to educating patients about their condition?
Listen forPlain explanation with realistic expectations, including activity advice rather than dependence on treatment.
Explanations that create dependence, or advice that discourages ordinary activity.
12Do you offer lifestyle or nutrition advice as part of a treatment plan?
Listen forAdvice kept within their training, with anything beyond it referred to an appropriate professional.
Nutritional or supplement advice given beyond their scope, or products sold alongside treatment.
How to score responses
Score every candidate on the same four criteria immediately after the screen. At this stage you are shortlisting for panel interviews, not making the final call.
Clinical competence
35%5Names specific techniques with patient presentations for each, holds current state licence and NBCE credentials, describes weekly caseload numbers.
Patient safety and protocol
30%5Cites concrete cases where they withheld cervical manipulation, documented informed consent, and referred out with clear clinical reasoning.
Patient communication
20%5Translates imaging and exam findings into plain language, sets measurable goals, and manages expectations on visit frequency honestly.
Working in a clinical team
15%5Describes documented referral loops with named providers, clean SOAP notes surviving audit, and smooth handovers within a multi-provider clinic.
The risk in this work sits with the case that should have gone to a doctor. A one-way video screen asks what makes them refer rather than treat.
Try it on HirevireScreening FAQ
Process basics
How long should a pre-screening round for this role take?
Fifteen minutes across eight to ten questions, answered async. Enough to establish registration and training, test their assessment routine, and hear where their referral threshold sits.
What should I verify outside the screen?
Registration with the relevant board, indemnity insurance and any practice history, in full. The screen establishes clinical judgement; those checks establish the legal right to practise in your jurisdiction.
Evaluating answers
What is the strongest signal when screening this role?
A clear referral threshold. Practitioners with good judgement name the presentations that go to a doctor immediately. Anyone who treats everything that walks in is a clinical and insurance risk.
What should worry me in an answer?
Claims of benefit beyond musculoskeletal complaints, or long treatment plans sold at the first appointment. Both cause complaints and both are visible in how someone describes their approach.
Go deeper on this role
Sanat has been hiring since 2012 and watching the recruitment industry change up close ever since, and turned that screening process into Hirevire's video screening platform. LinkedIn
