Choosing A Chiropractic Career

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So, You Want To Be A Chiropractor

If you're considering a chiropractic career, or you're just interested in learning more about what chiropractors do, then this is the lens for you. Even if you're already in chiropractic college you'll find lots of helpful resources here, including job description, requirements and links to chiropractic colleges and licensing boards.

Visit www.chiropracticbydesign.biz for more information about chiropractic.

Significant Points To Consider 

According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor:
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  • Job prospects should be good; employment is expected to increase faster than average as consumer demand for alternative health care grows.
  • Chiropractors must be licensed, requiring 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education, the completion of a 4-year chiropractic college course, and passing scores on national and state board examinations.
  • About 58 percent of chiropractors are self-employed.
  • Earnings are relatively low in the beginning, but increase as the practice grows.

The Chiropractor's Job Description 

Chiropractors, (aka Doctors of Chiropractic, Chiropractic Physicians, or DC's) diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine. DC's believe that interference with these systems impairs the body's normal functions and lowers its resistance to disease. They also hold that vertebral dysfunction alters many important body functions by affecting the nervous system and that skeletal imbalance through joint dysfunction, especially in the spine, can cause dis-ease.

The chiropractic approach to health care is holistic, stressing the patient's overall health and wellness. It recognizes that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity. DC's provide natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments and rely on the body's inherent recuperative abilities. They also recommend changes in lifestyle-in eating, exercise, and sleeping habits, for example-to their patients. When appropriate, DC's consult with and refer patients to other health practitioners.

Like other health practitioners, DC's follow a standard routine to secure the information they need for diagnosis and treatment. They take the patient's medical history; conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations; and may order laboratory tests. X-rays and other diagnostic images are important tools because of the chiropractor's emphasis on the spine and its proper function. DC's also employ a postural and spinal analysis common to chiropractic diagnosis.

In cases in which difficulties can be traced to the involvement of musculoskeletal structures, chiropractors manually adjust the spinal column. Some DC's use adjunctive therapies (i.e. ultrasound, massage, acupuncture, heat). They also may apply supports such as straps, tapes, and braces. DC's counsel patients about wellness concepts such as nutrition, exercise, changes in lifestyle, and stress management, but do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.

Some DC's specialize in sports injuries, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, nutrition, internal disorders, or diagnostic imaging.

Many chiropractors are solo or group practitioners who also have the administrative responsibilities of running a practice. In larger offices, DC's delegate these tasks to office managers and chiropractic assistants. Chiropractors in private practice are responsible for developing a patient base, hiring employees, and keeping records.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement 

All States and the District of Columbia regulate the practice of chiropractic and grant licenses to chiropractors who meet the educational and examination requirements established by the State. Chiropractors can practice only in States where they are licensed. Some States have agreements permitting chiropractors licensed in one State to obtain a license in another without further examination, provided that their educational, examination, and practice credentials meet State specifications.

Most State boards require at least 2 years of undergraduate education; an increasing number are requiring a 4-year bachelor's degree. All boards require the completion of a 4-year program at an accredited chiropractic college leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

For licensure, most State boards recognize either all or part of the four-part test administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. State examinations may supplement the National Board tests, depending on State requirements. All States except New Jersey require the completion of a specified number of hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain licensure. Chiropractic associations and accredited chiropractic programs and institutions offer continuing education programs.

In 2005, 15 chiropractic programs and 2 chiropractic institutions in the United States were accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. Applicants are required to have at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate study leading toward a bachelor's degree, including courses in English, the social sciences or humanities, organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology. Many applicants have a bachelor's degree, which may eventually become the minimum entry requirement. Several chiropractic colleges offer prechiropractic study, as well as a bachelor's degree program. Recognition of prechiropractic education offered by chiropractic colleges varies among the State boards.

Chiropractic programs require a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. During the first 2 years, most chiropractic programs emphasize classroom and laboratory work in basic science subjects such as anatomy, physiology, public health, microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry. The last 2 years stress courses in manipulation and spinal adjustment and provide clinical experience in physical and laboratory diagnosis, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, physiotherap

Chiropractic Text Books 

A sampling of books you'll need in chiropractic college.

Essentials of Skeletal Radiology (2 Vol. Set)

Amazon Price: $228.65 (as of 11/16/2009) Buy Now

Rehabilitation of the Spine: A Practitioner's Manual

Amazon Price: $102.37 (as of 11/16/2009) Buy Now

Principles and Practices of Chiropractic

Amazon Price: $112.26 (as of 11/16/2009) Buy Now

Chiropractic Career Outlook 

Job prospects are expected to be good for persons who enter the practice of chiropractic. Employment of chiropractors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 as consumer demand for alternative health care grows. Because chiropractors emphasize the importance of healthy lifestyles and do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, chiropractic care is appealing to many health-conscious Americans. Chiropractic treatment of the back, neck, extremities, and joints has become more accepted as a result of research and changing attitudes about alternative, noninvasive health care practices. The rapidly expanding older population, with its increased likelihood of mechanical and structural problems, also will increase demand for chiropractors.

Demand for chiropractic treatment, however, is related as well to the ability of patients to pay, either directly or through health insurance. Although more insurance plans now cover chiropractic services, the extent of such coverage varies among plans. Increasingly, chiropractors must educate communities about the benefits of chiropractic care in order to establish a successful practice.

In this occupation, replacement needs arise almost entirely from retirements. Chiropractors usually remain in the occupation until they retire; few transfer to other occupations. Establishing a new practice will be easiest in areas with a low concentration of chiropractors.

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Earnings 

Median annual earnings of salaried chiropractors were $69,910 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $46,710 and $118,280 a year.

In 2005, the mean salary for chiropractors was $104,363, according to a survey conducted by Chiropractic Economics magazine.

In chiropractic, as in other types of independent practice, earnings are relatively low in the beginning and increase as the practice grows. Geographic location and the characteristics and qualifications of the practitioner also may influence earnings. Self-employed chiropractors must provide their own health insurance and retirement.

More Information On A Career In Chiropractic 

General information on a career as a chiropractor is available from the following organizations:
American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
International Chiropractors Association
1110 North Glebe Rd., Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22201

Chiropractic Pictures from Flickr 

Before The Pull #50 by Tsar Kasim

Before The Pull #50

CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

CREW Chiropractic Co...

CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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CREW Chiropractic Costa Rica 2000 by planetc1

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Chiropractic Colleges in the United States 

Colorado College of Chiropractic (at Marycrest International University)
3001 South Federal Blvd., Box 1126
Denver, CO 80236

Phone: 303.937.4585 Fax: 303.937.4023
Life University College of Chiropractic
1269 Barclay Circle
Marietta, GA 30060

Phone: 800-543-3202 Fax: 770-426-2895
Life Chiropractic College West
25001 Industrial Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94545

Phone: 510-780-4500 Fax: 510-780-4525
Logan College of Chiropractic
PO Box 1065
1851 Schoettler Road
Chesterfield, MO 63006-1065

Phone: 800-533-9210 Fax: 636-207-2425
National University of Health Sciences
200 E. Roosevelt Road
Lombard, IL 60148

Phone: 630-629-2000
New York Chiropractic College
2360 State Rt. 89
PO Box 800
Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0800

Phone: 315-568-3000 Fax: 315-568-3015
Northwestern Health Sciences University
2501 West 84th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431

Phone: 612-888-4777 Fax: 612-888-6713
Palmer College of Chiropractic
1000 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52803

Phone: 800-722-3648 Fax: 563-884-5414
Palmer College of Chiropractic - Florida
4705 Clyde Morris Boulevard
Port Orange, FL 32129-4103

Phone: 866-585-9677 Fax: 386-756-7483
Palmer College of Chiropractic - West
90 East Tasman Drive
San Jose, CA 95134

Phone: 866-303-7939 Fax: 408-944-6032
Parker College of Chiropractic
2500 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75229

Phone: 800-438-6932 (GET-MYDC)
Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic
P. O. Box 1452
Spartanburg, SC 29304

Phone: 803-578-8770 Fax: 803-599-7145
Southern California University of Health Sciences
16200 E. Amber Valley Drive
Whittier, CA 90609

Phone: 800-221-5222
Texas Chiropractic College
5912 Spencer Highway
Pasadena, TX 77505

Phone: 713-487-1170 Fax: 713-487-4168
University of Bridgeport, College of Chiropractic
75 Linden Ave.
Bridgeport, CT 06601

Phone: 203-576-4278 Fax: 203-576-4483
Western States Chiropractic College
2900 N.E. 132nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97230

Phone: 503-256-3180 Fax: 503-251-5723

Education and Licensure Requirements 

Information on national and state education and licensure requirements is available from the following organizations:
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
901 54th Ave., Suite 101, Greeley, CO 80634-4400
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
5401 W. 10th St., Suite 101, Greeley, CO 80634-4400

HELP WANTED! 

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  • Reply
    Sherman_Chiropractic Sherman_Chiropractic Sep 30, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
    Excellent article with lots of good information for prospective chiropractic students.
    Thanks for linking to Sherman College.

    One of our professors, John Reizer, DC, has just published a book on practice management that your readers might like: "Chiropractic Marketing Tools That Will Absolutely Grow Your Practice" (ISBN 978-1-4357-4319-9) is available for purchase from most online book distributors nationwide or at http://www.lulu.com/content/3075085. In his book, Dr. Reizer clearly provides a step-by-step guide for readers on how to successfully implement the most cost-effective marketing tools in the modern chiropractic office.

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I am a full-time chiropractic wife (my husband is a third-generation chiropractor), office manager and mother to 2 amazing kids.  In my spare tim...

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