Doctor's Education

How well educated is your doctor of chiropractic?

After completing their undergraduate studies, today's Doctor's of Chiropractic receive an additional 4 years of first professional degree college education, almost 4500 college classroom hours, actually more than medical doctors. Before starting practice they pass rigorous National Board Examinations and meet stringent state licensing requirements. To keep up with the latest research, doctors attend seminars and read professional journals.

Basic Science Comparison

Chiropractic hours (minimum)	Subject	Total Hours Medical Hours (minimum)
540	Anatomy/Embryology	508
240	Physiology	320
360	Pathology	401
165	Chemistry	325
120	Microbiology	114
630	Diagnosis	324
320	Neurology	112
360	X-ray	148
60	Psychiatry	144
60	OB/GYN	148
210	Orthopedics	156
3,065	Total Hours	2,706

Other required subjects

Spinal Adjustments		Pharmacology
Advanced Radiology		General Surgery
4,485	GRAND TOTAL CLASS HOURS	4,248

 

In 1897, D.D. Palmer opened the Palmer Infirmary and Chiropractic Institute in Davenport, Iowa.  Over a century later, there are more than 20 chiropractic colleges in the United States and in six other countries.  Although more tightly focused, chiropractic education is just as comprehensive as a medical education. To enter chiropractic college, students must have four years of undergraduate work with a heavy emphasis on basic sciences, and many schools now require a bachelors degree. The four-year course of chiropractic study includes classroom and lab work, as well as an internship to give students practical experience caring for patients under the close supervision of instructors.

A great portion of a medical education is devoted to disease diagnosis and pharmacology. Since chiropractic does not involve the use of drugs, the chiropractic student’s time is devoted to health-related topics such as anatomy, neurology, X-ray techniques, orthopedics, and analysis and correction of vertebral subluxation.  After students have acquired the necessary foundation of knowledge during the early part of their schooling, they later focus on specialized subjects, including chiropractic philosophy and practice, along with chiropractic diagnosis and adjusting techniques that aren't taught in any other health care field.

Before obtaining their degrees, all students must complete approximately 900 hours of work in the clinic setting.  And, after students graduate, they must then pass a state license exam. Most graduates also take the National Board of Chiropractic Examination which tests the doctors' knowledge in many areas. These particular tests are so comprehensive that most states now accept them as the state license exam.  In addition, a Doctor of Chiropractic must also pass a practical exam and interview conducted by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners in the state where they are seeking a license

** This information was compiled from a review of the curriculum catalogues of 22 medical schools and 11 chiropractic colleges and updates from the National Health Federation Bulletin.

Chiropractic doctors have the philosophy, knowledge and expertise to take care of most health concerns naturally. So, before any health decisions are made for you and your family, ask your doctor of chiropractic if he or she can help. It's the natural choice. You'll be glad you did! We want you to experience a higher quality of life and believe that once you experience natural healthcare, you will never be satisfied with anything less.