Credentials Explained
Not all Applied Kinesiology training is equal. Here's what my credentials actually mean and why they matter.
The Problem with "Certified"
Dozens of organizations offer "muscle testing certifications" after weekend seminars. Take a course, pass a test, call yourself a kinesiologist.
That's not Applied Kinesiology.
Real Applied Kinesiology training is restricted to licensed healthcare professionals and requires years of intensive study, supervised practice, and board examination. The credentials I hold represent the highest level of training available in the field.
Here's what they actually mean.
Diplomate, International Board of Applied Kinesiology (DIBAK)
What it is:
The highest certification in Applied Kinesiology. Fewer than 500 practitioners worldwide hold this credential.
What it requires:
- Licensed healthcare professional (DC, MD, DO) as prerequisite
- Minimum 300 hours of intensive ICAK-approved instruction
- Three years of supervised clinical practice applying AK protocols
- Written examination covering anatomy, physiology, neurology, and AK methodology
- Practical examination demonstrating mastery of muscle testing and treatment protocols
- Ongoing continuing education to maintain certification
What it means:
This isn't a weekend course. It's mastery of George Goodheart's original Applied Kinesiology protocols and the decades of clinical development that followed. The written and practical exams aren't easy. The failure rate is significant because the standard is high.
When you see DIBAK after someone's name, you're looking at someone who spent years earning that credential and continues to maintain it through ongoing education.
Diplomate, Clinical College of Nutrition (DCCN)
What it is:
Advanced certification in clinical nutrition and biochemistry for chiropractors.
What it requires:
- 300+ hours of postgraduate study in nutrition, biochemistry, and clinical application
- Comprehensive examination covering nutritional science, supplementation, and clinical protocols
- Ongoing continuing education in nutritional research and application
What it means:
When muscle testing reveals nutritional factors affecting your function, this training ensures my recommendations are evidence-based and targeted to what your nervous system actually needs.
This isn't generic wellness advice or supplement sales. It's understanding how nutritional biochemistry affects neurological function and using that knowledge to address patterns identified through muscle testing.
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
What it is:
Four-year postgraduate professional degree.
What it requires:
- Minimum bachelor's degree as prerequisite
- 4,200+ hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction
- Extensive study of anatomy, physiology, neurology, radiology, diagnosis, and treatment
- Clinical internship treating patients under supervision
- National board examinations (four parts)
- State licensing examination
What it means:
Chiropractors are portal-of-entry providers. You don't need a referral to see me. But that also means I'm trained to identify when your problem requires medical referral instead of chiropractic treatment.
The DC gives me the foundation to understand how the body works. Applied Kinesiology gives me the tools to identify where it's not working correctly.
Teaching Applied Kinesiology
Beyond my clinical practice, I teach Applied Kinesiology courses to healthcare practitioners across the country—chiropractors, medical doctors, naturopaths, and osteopaths.
Teaching forces you to understand the material at a deeper level than just applying it clinically. You have to be able to explain not just what to do, but why it works, when it doesn't work, and how to troubleshoot when results aren't what you expect.
It also keeps me connected to the latest developments in the field and forces me to stay current with emerging research.
Why Credentials Matter
You can find practitioners who claim to do "muscle testing" or "kinesiology" after taking weekend courses. Some are sincere but undertrained. Some are frauds who damage the field's reputation.
Credentials don't guarantee results. But they do indicate:
- Legitimate training through recognized organizations (ICAK for AK, not random "institutes")
- Ongoing education requirements to maintain certification
- Accountability to professional boards that can revoke credentials for misconduct
- Foundation knowledge in anatomy, physiology, and neurology necessary to apply AK safely
When you're trusting someone to identify patterns in your nervous system, you want to know they actually understand how that system works.
The Bottom Line
I've spent 15+ years and thousands of hours earning and maintaining these credentials because Applied Kinesiology done correctly requires that level of training.
The DIBAK means I've demonstrated mastery of the most rigorous diagnostic protocols in manual medicine. The DCCN means I understand nutritional biochemistry at a level that informs clinical decisions. The DC means I have the foundational knowledge to recognize when your problem is within my scope and when it requires medical referral.
That's who's evaluating you.
Verify My Credentials
International Board of Applied Kinesiology:
ICAK Diplomate Directory
Clinical College of Nutrition:
Verification available through the American Chiropractic Association Council on Nutrition
Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners:
License verification available at www.tbce.texas.gov
Ready to work with a Board Certified practitioner?
Questions first?
Call or text: (972) 989-4683
Email: [email protected]