The Chiropractic College Guide

A chiropractic college develops and educatesDoctor of Chiropractic and is then eligible to sit the
professional physicians who specialize in treatingState boards examination and become licensed.
patients with skeletal, muscular and nervousAfter graduation, the prospects are almost endless.
disorders, while avoiding surgical and drugThere is an employment rate of nearly 100% for
interventions. A chiropractic school's programs includesnew graduates and chiropractors rarely ever go
at least 4200 hours of combined laboratory, clinicalthrough career switches. The chiropractic field is one
and classroom experiences. The chiropractic studentof the fastest growing career fields out there and is
learns how to diagnose patients and developexpected to increase even more because of the
doctor-patient relationships while enhancing theirinterest in natural healing. Most graduates become
communications skills.private practitioners or enter group practices while a
Treatment techniques, physical therapy, professionalfew conduct research, work in hospitals or teach. To
issues, manipulation, spinal adjustment and othermaintain licensure, 12-48 hours of continued education
therapeutic procedures are taught as well. The clinicalis required yearly. In this way, chiropractors are
and laboratory components are an integral part of aenabled to earn their diplomat status in specialties
chiropractic college. Students are given thesuch as sports injuries, pediatrics, neurology,
opportunity to put what they have studied intorehabilitation, family practice, nutrition, radiology,
practice and begin treating actual patients while underinternal disorders... Many chiropractors are beginning to
close supervision.use alternative therapies such as massage or heat
Prerequisites required for entry into a chiropractictherapy and are focusing on holistic healing and
college include successful completion of at least 90lifestyle changes.
semester hours of undergraduate education, classesCurrently there are 19 chiropractic colleges that are
in all the basic sciences (e.g. Biology, Anatomy andaccredited by the CCE. Finding the perfect one
Physiology, Nutrition...), and a cumulative GPA of atinvolves analyzing and comparing what each offers.
least 2.5. Most applicants to chiropractic schoolsCheck out the school environment and the curriculum.
already possess a baccalaureate degree, usually inFind out if the program teaches alternative or adjunct
one of the sciences. The Council on Chiropractictherapies and if a broad spectrum of manipulative
Education (CCE) sets forth guidelines which collegestechniques is included. Explore the clinical setting and
must follow when establishing standards andsee how involved the students are and how many
admission requirements.patients they get to treat. For most students,
Most chiropractic colleges offer a typical four-yearhands-on application is the most important part.
education, although some have a three-yearA chiropractic education is an excellent choice with
accelerated program. The first two years strengthenmany benefits. More and more of the chiropractic
the background in basic sciences, while the secondcolleges are developing pre-chiropractic training so the
two focus more on clinical application. The averageeducation can be completed all at one place. The
cost of tuition varies widely from $11,000 to $20,000average annual earning of a chiropractor is upwards
a year, depending on whether the program runs 9 orof $60,000 and steadily increasing. Compared to this,
12 months a year. Traditional financial aid is availablea chiropractic education is relatively inexpensive and
however. On successful graduation from aquickly pays for itself.
chiropractic college, the student receives the degree