The Certification of Level 2 in the Blair Technique serves to assure the doctor and patient alike that the chiropractor is considered advanced by the Blair Society by virtue of passing the testing procedures established by the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Society, Inc (501c3).

 Level 2 Blair Certification Prerequisites

  1. Three years of full-time chiropractic practice (or equivalent part-time practice) using the Blair Technique on at least 80% of patients.
  2. Be a full dues-paying member of the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association for the previous three years.
  3. Attendance of at least 2 full three-part Blair Technique seminar series given by 2 different Certified Blair Instructors.
  4. Have held a Level 1 Blair Certification for at least one year.
  5. Possession of or access to Blair protractoclamps and stereo x-ray equipment or other similar imaging systems such as CBCT which will produce similar articular data needed for proper Blair analysis.
  6. Utilization of both prone leg checks and paraspinal pattern analysis on at least 80% of patients.

Level 2 Blair Certification Application Process

  1. The request for Blair Level 2 certification should be submitted to the Director of Certification and Instruction of the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association via email: admin@blairchiropractic.com.
  2. Request is to be accompanied by proof of attendance of 2 sets of Primary, Intermediate and Advanced Blair Seminars, including seminar dates and names of instructors.
  3. Include a check or electronic payment for $400 made out to the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association, which is non-refundable and due in full prior to the initial examination or submission.

Level 2 Blair Certification Imaging Examination

  1. Once the application has been accepted and approved by the Director of Certification and Instruction, the applicant will be assigned two certified Blair Instructors.
  2. Submit ten (10) complete and consecutive sets of Blair Upper Cervical X-Ray or CBCT series to the two selected instructors.
  3. The submitted X-rays need to be taken and marked by the applicant. The CBCT imaging itself does not need to be taken by the applicant, however they will be responsible for creating all the necessary CBCT Views using a suitable program, with Left and Right Markers.
  4. The submitted x-ray/CBCT image sets need to be taken no earlier than 90 days before submission of the application.
  5. At minimum the Blair X-Ray series is made up of an:
    • A-P open mouth,
    • Base posterior,
    • Left Lateral Cervical Stereoviews (2 rotated views taken with either tube shift or patient shift as described in the Blair Manual)
    • Right Lateral Cervical Stereoviews (2 rotated views taken with either tube shift or patient shift as described in the Blair Manual)
    • Left Protracto View (stereoviews when necessary)
    • Right Protracto View (stereoviews when necessary).

*Retakes or supplemental views may be included in each film set as necessary to obtain readable images of the articular margins of each of the joints in question.

  1. At minimum the Blair CBCT Image series is made up of an:
    • A-P/P-A cervical in MPR (minimum slice thickness of 20mm with midpoint at center of the occipital condyle),
    • Base Posterior using APL method or 45 degree method in MPR (minimum slice thickness of 30mm with center of the axial plane at the Clivus),
    • Left Protracto Views in MPR (Minimum of 40mm of thickness and showing both the convexity and Slope clearly),
    • Right Protracto View in MPR (Minimum of 40mm of thickness and showing both the convexity and Slope clearly),
    • Posterior Cervical in 3D
    • Left lateral Cervical in 3D
    • Right Lateral Cervical in 3D
    • (Recommended, not mandatory) Left ‘’Arch/Curve Protracto Slices’’ at Part 1(Slice thickness .5-2mm),
    • (Recommended, not mandatory) Right ‘’Arch/Curve Protracto Slices’’ at Part 1(Slice thickness .5-2mm),

*Additional Images can be added to obtain readable images of the articular margins of each of the joints in question

 The requisite Imaging Analysis Form to be filled out for each set will be sent via email after request to be tested has been approved.

  1. Listings for C1 to C4 must be marked.
  2. All angles from C1 to C4 must be marked.
  3. Contraindications and pathologies should be noted.
  4. Preferred contact based on listing, angles and anatomy should be recorded.
    1. Traditional Film X-Rays: Include two stamped and addressed envelopes one made out to the second Instructor and the other to yourself.
    2. Digital X-Rays and CBCT: Digitally taken x-rays or CBCT images (as described above) need to be submitted as jpegs, tiff, png. The Certified Blair Instructor grading the imaging examination may also request the entire DCM file to confirm findings.The Image files and folders of each case should be properly labeled and shared via dropbox or google drive to both instructors.
    3. Level 2 Applicants will be evaluated on film quality, patient placement and findings. All ten sets must pass with an 80% or greater from each instructor.
    4. Failure to pass one or more sets: the applicant may submit a like number of sets (up to three) within a 90 day period in order to avoid another $400 application fee and resubmittal of another 10 sets. The submitted sets must be consecutive to the original 10 sets.

Download CBCT Applicant Packet Here

 

 

 

CBCT Imaging Guide for Certification Video 

 

Level 2 Blair Certification Case Report

  1. The Level 2 Applicant must submit 1 complete case study of a patient including history, initial exam findings, and progress of care over 2-3 months. Records to include notes on leg checks, listings adjusted, and digital Titron scan file, as well as patient feedback at progress exam intervals.
  2. Case study passes by evidence of improvements in subluxation indicators over time as well as patient satisfaction/results.

 

Level 2 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 select and contact 2 Certified Blair Instructors to perform the Practical Examination portion of the Blair Level 2 Certification.

  1. Demonstration on a toggle monitor (or other appropriate device) all Atlas and Axis adjustments. C1ASL (LTC, RTC, RAC) C1ASR (RTC, LTC, LAC), C1PIR (RTC, RAC, LTC), C1PIL (LTC, LAC, RTC), C1 ASL/ASR (RTC, LTC), C1PIR/PIL (RTC, RAC, LTC, LAC), C2 ARS, C2 ALS, C2 PRI(RSC, LLC), C2PLI(LSC,RLC) C2 ARS/PRI, C2 ALS/PLI, C2 PRI/PLI (SC). 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. The Applicant must set up, explain and show correct patient placement for the side posture toggle table.
  3. The Applicant must explain and convey knowledge of paraspinal skin temperature differential pattern analysis, and pattern analysis in general regarding when to adjust.
  4. 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.
  5. The Applicant will need to convey skills regarding his/her Upper Cervical patient management talents.

 

Level 2 Blair Certification 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.

Level 2 Passing

  1. Each section of each certification is considered passed if the applicant scores 80% correct from each of the two instructors. A “passing” mark must be earned for each of the four requirements set forth above (Imaging, Case Report, 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 Level 2 Blair Certification process, the results will be forwardedto the Director of Certification and Instruction.
  3. The Level 2 Blair 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 Level 2 Blair Certification status

  1. Attend at least one Blair seminar or the Annual Blair Conference every 2 years.
  2. Remain an active dues paying member of the Blair Chiropractic Membership Association.
  3. The doctor must submit to periodic re-evaluation by Certified Blair Instructors at the choosing of the Director of Certification and Instruction.
  4. A Level 2 Blair Practitioner must maintain outstanding professional ethics as a representative of the Blair Technique and the Blair Chiropractic Society.
  5. Failure to comply with the above mentioned requirements or altering the guidelines established by William G. Blair, D.C. will result in either inactivation or revocation of the Level 2 Blair Certification.