The Blair Faculty Instructor certification serves to assure the doctor and student alike that the Faculty Instructor is considered qualified to teach the basics of the Blair Technique on campus as the equivalent of the Blair Primary and Intermediate Seminars by virtue of passing the testing procedures established by the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Society Inc, 501c3. A full description of the Blair Primary and Intermediate Seminars can be obtained from the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association website; which includes the Blair concepts of misalignment of the upper cervical spine, spinographic technique for the imaging of specific articular misalignments, the interpretation of spinographic findings, leg length procedure and analysis, paraspinal skin temperature differential pattern analysis and all Atlas and Axis side of laterality and side-opposite single misalignment adjustments.

Faculty Prerequisites

  1. A minimum of 2 years of experience in teaching and/or practice.
  2. Attendance of 1 full three-part Blair Technique seminar series given by a Certified Blair Instructor.
  3. Either be a full-time faculty member of a chiropractic college or part time chiropractic college instructor while also in private practice.

 

Faculty Application Process

  1. The request for Faculty Instructor Certification should be submitted to the Director of Certification and Instruction of the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association via email: admin@blairchiropractic.com.
  2. The request is to be accompanied by proof of attendance of at least one set of Primary, Intermediate and Advanced Blair Seminars, including seminar dates and names of instructor(s).
  3. A non-refundable payment of $100 to the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association is due in full prior to the initial examination.

 

Faculty Imaging Examination

    APPLICANT’S INSTRUCTIONS
    1. Prior to analyzing and submitting your images, carefully review the Applicant Requirements and CBCT Analysis Rubric.
    2. Print out as many Blair CBCT Imaging Analysis forms (Page 5 of CBCT Applicant Packet Below) as the number of image sets that you are submitting.
    3. You will be assigned 2 Blair Certified Instructors to examine and grade the image sets.

    APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
    I. LEVEL 1 and Faculty Certifications: Submit five (5) complete (not necessarily consecutive) Blair CBCT Image sets. All five sets must pass with 75% or greater from each instructor.
    II. LEVEL 2 Certification: Submit ten (10) complete and consecutive Blair CBCT Image. All ten sets must pass with 80% or greater from each instructor.
    III. The applicant does not need to take the CBCT image themselves but must use a software analysis program to create and analyze the required Blair CBCT views. A tutorial video on the CS3D program will be provided, explaining how to create, save, and label each image for Blair CBCT certification. Any software capable of generating the required views may be used. For Faculty Certification only, the applicant may receive 5 CBCT patient DICOM files for analysis, which will be sent by the Director of Certification and Instruction.
    IV. The submitted Blair CBCT Image sets need to be taken no earlier than 90 days before submission of the application for the LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2, and Faculty Certifications.
    V. At a minimum the Blair CBCT Image series is made up of:

    1. Base Posterior in MPR
    2. Left Protracto View in MPR
    3. Right Protracto View in MPR
    4. PA/AP Cervical View in MPR
    5. Neutral Lateral Cervical views in MPR (2 views)
    6. Left Articular Pillar Slice in MPR
    7. Right Articular Pillar Slice in MPR
    8. Left Lateral Cervical in 3D
    9. Right Lateral Cervical in 3D
    10. Posterior Cervical View in 3D.
    Additionally, if the views described above are insufficient for visualizing the articular misalignment of a specific segment, any additional views or 3D angles should also be submitted. 

    VI. All Blair CBCT Views in MPR in which measurements were made should be saved both Marked and Unmarked.
    VII. The requisite Blair CBCT Imaging Analysis Form is to be filled out completely for each set.

    1. Listings for C1 to C4 must be marked when present.
    2. All angles from C1 to C4 must be marked.
    3. Contraindications and pathologies should be noted.

    VIII. Preferred contact based on listing, angles, and anatomy should be recorded.
    IX. Blair CBCT views need to be submitted as JPEG, PNG or similar formats and sent via Dropbox or Google Drive. Each view should be properly labeled. EX: 1. Image Set 1 of 5 Base Posterior View in MPR.jpeg
    X. Instructors will evaluate Image quality, patient placement, and findings. The examiner may also request the entire Patient DICOM file to confirm the findings.
    XI. Failure to pass one or more sets:

    1. LEVEL 1 and FACULTY: submit a like number of sets within a 90-day period to avoid another application fee and the resubmittal of another 5 sets.
    2. LEVEL 2: submit a like number of sets (up to 3) within a 90-day period to avoid another application fee and the resubmittal of another 10 sets. The resubmitted sets must be consecutive to the original 10 sets.

     

    Download CBCT Applicant Packet Here

    CBCT Imaging Guide for Certification Video

     

    Faculty Practical Examination

    The applicant will be notified by the Director or Certification and Instruction following successful completion of the Imaging portion of the examination.  The Director will then select and contact 2 Certified Blair Instructors to perform the Practical Examination portion of the Blair Faculty Instructor Certification.

    1. Demonstration on a toggle monitor (or other appropriate device) adjustments for all Atlas and Axis side of laterality and side-opposite single misalignment adjustments. The applicant will be required to explain each listing regarding both the mechanism of displacement and correction. Each simulated adjustment may be attempted twice.
    2. If the analyzed imaging was not taken by the applicant, then the applicant must show the capacity to take the Blair series of x-rays either in an x-ray setting or describe the process in detail.
    3. The Applicant must set up, explain and show correct patient placement for the side posture toggle table.
    4. Skill must be shown in paraspinal thermography and pattern analysis. The applicant should be fluent with the types of scanning machines and the purpose of bilateral skin temperature differential devices.
    5. 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.

     

    Faculty Oral/Written Examination

    This is usually done in conjunction with the Practical portion of the process. The applicant is to be tested on the Blair principles of articular misalignment in relation to joint mechanics and spinographic imaging of the upper cervical spine.

     

    Passing Faculty

    1. Each section of each certification is considered passed if the applicant scores 70% correct from each of the two instructors. A “passing” mark must be earned for each of the three requirements set forth above (Imaging, Practical, and Oral/Written examinations), within a period of three years of the initial examination or submission.
    2. Following successful completion of all portions of the Blair Faculty Instructor Certification process, the results will be forwarded to the Director of Certification and Instruction.
    • The Blair Faculty Instructor Certificate will be awarded at the next Annual Blair Conference or mailed to the applicant in the event he/she cannot attend the conference.

     

    Maintaining Faculty Instructor status

    1. The doctor must submit to periodic re-evaluation by Certified Blair Instructors at the choosing of the Director of Certification and Instruction.
    2. Maintain professional conduct as a credit to the legacy of the late Dr. William G. Blair.
    • The Certified Blair Faculty Instructor will ONLY be allowed to teach the Blair Technique on campus or at other college approved sites. Attempting to present Blair seminars privately off campus could result in revocation of Faculty Instructor certification.
    • Failure to comply with the requirements mentioned above or altering the instruction away from the guidelines established by William G. Blair, D.C. will result in either inactivation or revocation of the Faculty Instructor certification. Any classes taught without an active Instructor certification will not be approved by the Blair Society, and students will not be able to use those classes towards their own certifications.