What is the Training of a Chiropractor?
One question that many people seem to have about chiropractors concerns the amount of schooling required in order to practice. I have people ask me if it's an online certificate or a bachelor degree at least once a week. So I wanted to go through what it takes to become a Chiropractor.
Most chiropractors have already taken close to four years of pre-med undergraduate courses before they even apply to chiropractic college. This includes biology, physics, psychology, inorganic and organic chemistry, and all of the associated lab work.
If you are accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, then the really demanding work begins. You’ll work through four to five academic years, which includes a lot of time learning the hands-on adjusting techniques that will become a big part of your practice.
Students of chiropractic care must spend a minimum of at least 4,200 hours with their teacher, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of fully supervised clinical training with an instructor as they learn the appropriate diagnosis and treatment techniques to help heal your body and restore it to its natural, fully functioning state.
To become a practicing chiropractor, you will need to pass a series of exams from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners or NBCE. You will take Part I during your second year of chiropractic school, and it includes questions about general anatomy and physiology, spinal anatomy, pathology, chemistry, microbiology and similar subjects. You'll take Part II during your third year, and it covers chiropractic practice, general diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and other specialized topics. You can take Part III and Part IV six to nine months after you graduate. Part III covers case history, case management, clinical exams and chiropractic techniques. Part IV tests more advanced case management and chiropractic techniques.
After you pass these national tests, you can apply for a license in your state. And that is the general process to become a Chiropractor!
