How Long Does it Take to Become a Chiropractor?

Before you decide to become a chiropractor, consider how much time, money, and effort it will take to achieve your goal. This way, you can confirm that you have the resources and drive to enter the field. Although difficult, becoming successful in this profession can be very lucrative and satisfying.

Becoming a Chiropractor

It typically takes around eight years for someone to become a chiropractor. If you're interested in pursuing this career, here are the steps you'll need to take:

Pursue a College Degree

Before you can apply to a chiropractic school, it is necessary that you earn your undergraduate degree first. A degree related to topics such as biology, kinesiology, exercise science, or any other similar subject will demonstrate to admissions officers that you are passionate and have in-depth knowledge about areas like anatomy.

Make sure you check and fulfill all the necessary requirements for chiropractic school admissions before applying. If your degree is in an unrelated field, some of your previous class credits may be able to be transferred over.

Many chiropractic schools are willing to accept students who have completed the necessary prerequisite classes but have not yet graduated. Some of these individuals may be allowed to take additional classes required for graduation from chiropractic school while enrolled in the program. Most people require four years total before they can apply to chiropractic school, but some students may only need three years of preparation.

Enroll in Chiropractic School

The average time it takes somebody to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic, or D.C., degree is three and a half to four years. This involves 4,500 hours spent in class learning about the human body as well as clinical training.

Licensing

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) administers a series of examinations that you must pass to practice chiropractic care. You will take Part I during your second year, which tests your knowledge in general subjects like anatomy, pathology, microbiology, and chemistry.

During your third year, you will take Part II of the course, which covers topics such as chiropractic practice, imaging, and general diagnosis.

The final two parts of the board certification process, Part III and IV can be completed anywhere from six to nine months after graduation. During these sections, you will cover topics such as clinical exams. Part IV dives deeper into more complex case management and technique tests.

Once you've passed the national test, you can apply for a state license. The majority of states require verification of graduation from an accredited chiropractic college as well as your National Board of Chiropractic Examiners scores. Depending on the state, you might have to take another examination testing your chiropractic abilities and knowledge of relevant state laws.

Choosing a Specialty

If you want to further your chiropractic career, there are plenty of certification options available. Some examples include acupuncture, sports science, radiology, and neurology. Specializations usually require 300-400 hours of additional training.