The Chiropractic College Guide

A chiropractic college develops and educates professional physicians who specialize in treating patients with skeletal, muscular and nervous disorders, while avoiding surgical and drug interventions. A chiropractic school’s programs includes at least 4200 hours of combined laboratory, clinical and classroom experiences. The chiropractic student learns how to diagnose patients and develop doctor-patient relationships while enhancing their communications skills.

Treatment techniques, physical therapy, professional issues, manipulation, spinal adjustment and other therapeutic procedures are taught as well. The clinical and laboratory components are an integral part of a chiropractic college. Students are given the opportunity to put what they have studied into practice and begin treating actual patients while under close supervision.

Prerequisites required for entry into a chiropractic college include successful completion of at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate education, classes in all the basic sciences (e.g. Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Nutrition...), and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Most applicants to chiropractic schools already possess a baccalaureate degree, usually in one of the sciences. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) sets forth guidelines which colleges must follow when establishing standards and admission requirements.

Most chiropractic colleges offer a typical four-year education, although some have a three-year accelerated program. The first two years strengthen the background in basic sciences, while the second two focus more on clinical application. The average cost of tuition varies widely from $11,000 to $20,000 a year, depending on whether the program runs 9 or 12 months a year. Traditional financial aid is available however. On successful graduation from a chiropractic college, the student receives the degree Doctor of Chiropractic and is then eligible to sit the State boards examination and become licensed.

After graduation, the prospects are almost endless. There is an employment rate of nearly 100% for new graduates and chiropractors rarely ever go through career switches. The chiropractic field is one of the fastest growing career fields out there and is expected to increase even more because of the interest in natural healing. Most graduates become private practitioners or enter group practices while a few conduct research, work in hospitals or teach. To maintain licensure, 12-48 hours of continued education is required yearly. In this way, chiropractors are enabled to earn their diplomat status in specialties such as sports injuries, pediatrics, neurology, rehabilitation, family practice, nutrition, radiology, internal disorders... Many chiropractors are beginning to use alternative therapies such as massage or heat therapy and are focusing on holistic healing and lifestyle changes.

Currently there are 19 chiropractic colleges that are accredited by the CCE. Finding the perfect one involves analyzing and comparing what each offers. Check out the school environment and the curriculum. Find out if the program teaches alternative or adjunct therapies and if a broad spectrum of manipulative techniques is included. Explore the clinical setting and see how involved the students are and how many patients they get to treat. For most students, hands-on application is the most important part.

A chiropractic education is an excellent choice with many benefits. More and more of the chiropractic colleges are developing pre-chiropractic training so the education can be completed all at one place. The average annual earning of a chiropractor is upwards of $60,000 and steadily increasing. Compared to this, a chiropractic education is relatively inexpensive and quickly pays for itself.