Chiropractors

High School

To become a doctor of chiropractic (DC), you will have to study a minimum of six to seven years after high school. Preparing for this profession is just as demanding as preparing to be a medical doctor, and the types of courses you will need are also similar. Science classes, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, will prepare you for medical courses in college. Figure drawing may give you a better sense of the human anatomy. English, speech, foreign languages, drama, and debate can sharpen the communication skills that are essential for this profession. Math, business, and computer classes can help you get ready to run a private practice.

Postsecondary Training

Most chiropractic colleges require at least two years of undergraduate study before you can enroll. Some require a bachelor's degree. Aspiring chiropractors typically earn bachelor's degrees in kinesiology, exercise physiology, other majors that focus on physical movement, or biology.

Currently, 19 institutions in the United States Canada have chiropractic programs that are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Visit https://www.cce-usa.org/members.html for a list of schools. Find out which chiropractic colleges interest you and learn about their requirements. Selecting chiropractic schools well in advance will allow you to structure your undergraduate study to meet the requirements of the schools of your choice. Some chiropractic colleges provide opportunities for prechiropractic study and bachelor's degree programs. In general, you need course work in biology, communications, English, chemistry, physics, psychology, and social sciences or humanities. Contact the national professional associations listed at the end of this article for information about schools and their requirements.

Upon completing the required undergraduate work and enrolling in a chiropractic college, you can expect to take an array of science and medical courses, such as anatomy, pathology, and microbiology. The postgraduate degree program usually takes about four years to complete. The typical curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical internship instruction. The American Chiropractic Association says that the average DC program provides the equivalent in classroom hours to those required by allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. During the first two years of most chiropractic programs you will spend a majority of your time in the classroom or the laboratory. The last two years generally focus on courses in spinal adjustments. During this time, potential chiropractors also train in outpatient clinics affiliated with the college. Upon successful completion of the professional degree program, you will receive the DC degree.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education seminars, webinars, conference sessions, and other learning opportunities are provided by the American Chiropractic Association, other national associations, the International Chiropractors Association, and state-level organizations. For example, the American Chiropractic Association offers the Student Leadership Conference. Participants can attend workshops and conference sessions such as Trauma-Informed Approaches for Quality Patient Care, Guiding Patient Choices: Navigating Uncertainty in Healthcare Conversations, and Professional Development Bootcamp. Chiropractic colleges and universities also offer classes that chiropractors can take to learn about new treatment strategies and other topics. Visit the Web sites of chiropractic associations and postsecondary institutions for information about continuing education opportunities.