How much schooling does a chiropractor need to have?
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This is a question that I am asked on a very regular basis and as I address it, I find that there are a great deal of misconceptions around the education that a chiropractor receives. And thus… today’s post we will be discussing all things chiropractic education!
How long does a chiropractor go to school for?
Chiropractic school is typically a 4 year doctorate program, some schools take those four years of material and condense it into an accelerated schedule of 10 trimesters (3 years and 4 months). In order to apply to chiropractic school you must have completed at least 3 years of undergraduate study with at least 90 semester hours. Of these 90 semester hours, typically a third of those must be life and science courses such as anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, etc. Some chiropractic schools require a completed bachelor’s degree before accepting a potential candidate into the program. [1] Between undergraduate studies and the doctorate of chiropractic program, all doctors of chiropractic undergo 6.5 - 7 years of schooling at a very minimum. Personally, I completed my bachelor’s in Integrative Physiology (4 years) and then I attended an accelerated doctorate program at Parker University that took 3 years and 4 months. Add in the 8 months of organic chemistry and public speaking I had to take for pre-requisites and I went to school for 8 years after graduating high school to become a chiropractor! Chiropractors also have the option to continue their education in post-graduate programs such as residencies and diplomate programs, making the amount of education under their belts quite hefty! If you’re curious about the different diplomate programs and residencies that chiropractors might undergo, be sure to check out this previous post.
Are chiropractors real doctors?
Yes, pinch us, we’re real!! But seriously, all joking aside, yes we are a real doctor. There are actually numerous types of doctorate degrees that result in someone having the title “Dr.” in front of their name. There is a research doctorate, like a PhD, and then there are applied or professional doctorates, such as a medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), doctor of nursing (DNP), doctor of physical therapy (DPT), doctor of chiropractic (DC), and many more! As an individual with an applied or professional doctorate, we are required to take rigorous national board exams specific to our profession as well as a state-specific exam to obtain a license in the state in which we want to practice.
As chiropractors, we take 4 different national chiropractic board exams, as well as one for physical therapy. These board exams cover everything from basic sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology and biochemistry, to philosophy, technique, clinical assessment/diagnosis and reading xrays. In order to obtain a license to practice chiropractic in Texas, we must pass all of the National board exams as well as a Texas Jurisprudence Exam.
Do chiropractors have the same schooling as a medical doctor?
As chiropractors, the first half of our education is very comparable to that of a medical student. For the first two years of chiropractic and medical school, a majority of the courses are basic sciences and labs. This will include anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology. [2] Medical school places a greater emphasis on pharmacology and pathology while chiropractic school places a greater emphasis on physiology and anatomy. The second half of schooling is where the two paths really start to diverge. Medical students will begin doing rotations in different specialities as they learn how to interview patients, perform exams, diagnose and prescribe medication or treatment. Chiropractic students will begin learning adjusting techniques, exam/diagnosis, nutrition, and physical therapy modalities. For a specific breakdown on the number of hours chiropractic and medical students take in different subjects, check out this article.
Can chiropractors prescribe medication?
No we cannot. In the United States, prescribing medication falls outside of a doctor of chiropractic’s scope of practice. While we do take one semester on pharmacology, this is nowhere near the magnitude that a medical student receives in regards to drugs and medications. In addition to it falling outside our scope of practice, for a majority of chiropractors, medications and pharmaceuticals do not really line up with our philosophy or approach for care. As chiropractors, we typically look at a condition with a more natural approach. Operating from the understanding, that our bodies are self-healing entities, we tend to look for ways that the body is inhibited from functioning/healing optimally and finding ways to remove that inhibition and promote optimal function.
I often times find it is easy to get offended or defensive when someone asks if chiropractic is simply a certification or an associates degree, but at the end of the day, people don’t know what they don’t know! As chiropractors, it is our responsibility to better explain what we do, why we do it, and what all goes into being the licensed professional we are. Here in the U.S. we are extremely fortunate to have access to such a variety of educational programs, which results in having access to a wide variety of highly-educated health professionals. While each type of professional has a different educational background and skillset, that is what allows people to have more options and unique perspectives when choosing their approach for living a healthy life!
If there is something you’ve been curious about regarding chiropractic or what it takes to become a chiropractor, we’d love to hear about it in the comments section below! If you’re feeling shy, we will always respond to a phone call or message as well. And as always, we look forward to seeing you in the office in the near future!
Resources
February 3, 2020. How to go to school to become a chiropractor. (Retrieved November 4, 2020). https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/how-to-get-into-chiropractic-school-and-become-a-chiropractor
What to expect in medical school. (Retrieved November 4, 2020). https://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/what-to-expect-in-medical-school