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All Rights Reserved by
Las Colinas Chiropractic, P.C. |
Chiropractic Education
Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are
among the most stringent of any of the health care
professions.
The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has
already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical
undergraduate college education, including courses in
biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics,
psychology and related lab work. Once accepted
into an accredited chiropractic college, the
requirements become even more demanding — four to five
academic years of professional study are the standard.
Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the
intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of
time is spent in clinical training.
Doctors of chiropractic — who are licensed to practice
in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in many
nations around the world — undergo a rigorous education
in the healing sciences, similar to that of medical
doctors. In some areas, such as anatomy,
physiology, and rehabilitation, they receive more
intensive education than most medical doctors or
physical therapists. |
Curriculum requirements for the Doctor of Chiropractic
Degree (DC) in
comparison to the Doctor of Medicine Degree (MD) and the
Doctor of
Physical Therapy Degree (DPT)1,2
|
Average
Program
Length |
Average
Classroom and
Clinical Study
hours Prior to
Graduation* |
Advanced
Certification
Available |
Chiropractic
Curriculum |
4 years |
4,820 |
Yes |
Medical
Curriculum |
4 years |
4,670 |
Yes |
Physical
Therapy
Curriculum |
3 years |
3,398 |
Yes |
* Does not include hours attributed to
post-graduation residency programs.
Like other primary health care doctors, chiropractic
students spend a significant portion of their curriculum
studying clinical subjects related to evaluating and
caring for patients. Typically, as part of their
professional training, they must complete a minimum of a
one-year clinical-based program dealing with actual
patient care. In total, the curriculum includes a
minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and
clinical experience. The course of study is
approved by an accrediting agency which is fully
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
This has been the case for more than 25 years.
Before they are allowed to practice, doctors of
chiropractic must pass national board examinations and
become state-licensed. Chiropractic colleges also
offer post-graduate continuing education programs in
specialty fields ranging from sports injuries and
occupational health to orthopedics and neurology.
These programs allow chiropractors to specialize in a
healthcare discipline or meet state re-licensure
requirements.
This extensive education prepares doctors of
chiropractic to diagnose health care problems, treat the
problems when they are within their scope of practice
and refer patients to other health care practitioners
when appropriate.
Source: The American Chiropractic Association
References
- Meeker W, Haldeman H.
Chiropractic: A Profession at the Crossroads of
Mainstream and Alternative Medicine. Annals of
Internal Medicine 2002, Vol 136, No 3.
- American Physical Therapy
Association. 2005-2006 Fact Sheet, Physical
Therapist Education Programs. January 2007
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