Chiropractors are a type of holistic doctors that focus on the muscles and skeleton system. You first need an undergraduate degree, and then you can move on to chiropractic schools available across the United States. Chiropractic schooling takes an additional four years after you complete an undergraduate degree. A chiropractic college focuses on vertebral sublaxation, which manipulates the spine to fix pain and discomfort. Chiropractic schooling requires 90 credit hours to graduate, and you can earn between $45,710 and $96,500 a year.
Requirements for a Chiropractic Degree
You only need a basic understanding of biology, psychology, and chemistry to enter into chiropractic college. However, having an undergraduate degree gives you a boost into the chiropractic college of your choice. Each state has its own regulations for chiropractic school, so before you decide to choose a college, look into regulations for chiropractors. This will give you a good idea about the requirements and classes you must take during your chiropractic education.
You also want to make sure the chiropractic college you choose is accredited. Federal accreditation means you can go anywhere in the United States and transfer your credits. It also means the school is recognized as a standard college that gives students the required education it takes to get licensed after you finish college. The Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education is the main organization responsible for accreditation. Check with the site before you choose a chiropractic college, check here.
Doctor of Chiropractic Class Requirements
In your undergraduate level classes, taking biology, chemistry, biochemistry and other medical undergraduate classes help get you started for the doctor of chiropractic degree. Your post-graduate classes cover more advanced lectures including chemistry, biology, psychology, microbiology, neuroscience, immunology, toxicopharmacology, and other anatomy classes. You are also required to take classes that focus on ethics and the vertebral sublaxation techniques that all chiropractors use to adjust the spine.
Chiropractors also require clinic duties during the Doctor of Chiropractic courses and chiropractic school. Clinic duties let you get used to the rounds you must make once you graduate, and it gets you acclimated to the typical day of a chiropractor. You see patients, help the chiropractor on duty, and shadow the main chiropractor. These clinic duties are started after several credits are earned at your chiropractic college of choice.
Keep your GPA no lower than 3.0, although some students are able to get into chiropractic college with much lower grades. Some extracurricular activities and a great resume help when your GPA is lower. These tips help you get into a good chiropractor school and get you started with your career.