Chiropractor Career Guide

What is a chiropractor?

Are you interested in alternative medicine and helping people ease their pain and discomfort? Chiropractors are experts in the spine and all the nerve and muscle systems. They work closely with patients to understand current issues and concerns and dive into their medical history to understand the whole picture.

A chiropractor career path is an excellent option for anyone interested in health and wellness who wants to work outside the traditional hospital/clinic space. The hours are more standard and less demanding, but the role is still about helping people manage their pain and improve their overall health.

Duties and responsibilities

If patients are in pain, chiropractors treat the pain and discomfort using non-invasive methods. Patients might receive a pain management plan that includes exercises, adjustments, and changes in their routines. Chiropractors may also recommend nutritional advice and other preventive care ideas to help them reach their goals.  

With their expertise in the spine, chiropractors do a lot of work with posture and spinal alignment. Minor adjustments can make a big difference in other parts of the body that are often not associated with the spine, but the muscles and nerves are all intertwined within the body. Chiropractors study how to manipulate the spine and joints and realign anything that is off and potentially causing issues.

Work environment

Chiropractors primarily work in smaller clinics and private practices. These offices are set up to manage patient care. A lot of the work is done while standing for the majority of the day and working with hands to make spinal adjustments and provide care.

Some chiropractor roles in hospitals, sports facilities, veterans institutions, and other unique setups might function differently. But the job duties are still similar.

Typical work hours

Most chiropractors keep relatively standard office hours of around 40 hours a week. Depending on the preferences of the chiropractor, there might be evening and weekend appointments, but most patients are seen during the usual Monday through Friday workweek.

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How to become a chiropractor

In order to become a chiropractor, you will need a combination of education, training, and experience. In this career guide section, we cover the steps you’ll need to take to achieve your goal:

Step 1: Earn your high school diploma

Finishing high school and earning your diploma or the equivalent is a requirement to enter an undergraduate program. Once you’ve done this step, you can start to apply to secondary schools.

Step 2: Complete undergraduate studies

Many chiropractic colleges require applicants to have their bachelor’s degree. A few only require 90 hours of undergraduate coursework, but it depends on the program, and your best chance is to graduate with a degree. Make sure to take a variety of coursework. Popular degree programs for aspiring chiropractors include exercise science, human biology, or health sciences.

Step 3: Obtain your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree

Once you’ve applied and been accepted at an accredited chiropractic college, you can begin your coursework to complete your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree. The work will include a mix of classroom and clinical learning. Over the course of four years, you’ll learn about anatomy, microbiology, radiology, functional kinesiology, principles, and philosophy of chiropractic care. 

You will also complete the following step while attending classes, so it’s important to stay on track with your studies and exam phases.

Step 4: Take the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners series of tests

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) test is split into four parts. There is a schedule that correlates with the completion of particular coursework. The chiropractic college can assist in coordinating your exam dates.

In the second year of school, you’ll take part one of the tests. It covers the six basic areas of science—general anatomy, spinal anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology, and microbiology. Each domain will have 50 multiple-choice questions. 

Part two will have a similar format and will happen during the third year of school. It covers six clinical areas of science—general diagnosis, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, principles of chiropractic, chiropractic practice, and associated clinical sciences. 

When you are around nine months from graduation, you’ll take part three of the exam. This tests clinical techniques and content, like case management. And finally, after you earn your degree, you’ll face the final part of the test. Part four is the hands-on portion, where you complete tasks while the examiner evaluates.

Step 5: Apply for a license to practice

Once you’ve passed your exams and received your degree, you’ll want to obtain your state license to become a practicing chiropractor. Each state differs a bit in its requirements. Some require background checks, proof of malpractice insurance, or personal references. Check with your state’s licensing board to find exactly what you need. Once you have your license, you must understand what you need to keep it valid and active.

Step 6: Gain experience

While some chiropractors open their own practice early on, it’s good to have some experience under your belt. Find a job as an associate working for an established clinic and start to build a loyal client list. It would give you a chance to learn from other doctors and chiropractors. There is also a market for independent contractors working in chiropractic offices or different settings, like in-home visits or large corporations. You’ll still be your own boss but have access to new clients and networking opportunities.

Step 7: Continue education

Once you are a practicing chiropractor, keeping up with your education is crucial. Some states require a certain amount of additional coursework each year, but it’s a good idea to stay on top of new technologies and developments even if you aren’t required to. Here are a few courses you can take to help review and expand your knowledge:

• Take the Chiropractic Course from Udemy and learn more about the specialties. The instructor covers some of his experiences as a chiropractor and his background in the role. 
• The University of Minnesota offers a course called Integrative Health and Medicine Specialization through Coursera. Learn about integrative therapies and their benefits and risks. 
• How to Do Chiropractic Adjustments: The Fundamentals is a course that reviews how to adjust the spine accurately and effectively. It offers a good refresher on the biomechanics of adjusting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. 
• Review the important functions of our anatomy with Anatomy: Musculoskeletal and Integumentary Systems from Coursera. Deep dive into how the integumentary system protects our body and how the musculoskeletal system helps the body move. 
• The Chiropractic Approach to Spinal Manipulation course from Udemy helps improve technique and spinal manipulation skills. Learn the how, what, and when to use these techniques.

Step 8: Consider specialization and additional certifications

The American Board of Chiropractic Specialties (ABCS) oversees over twenty specialty boards and councils. You can grow your practice and expertise by adding specialties to your practice. Many chiropractors incorporate acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, as an additional treatment option. Nutrition is another specialty that can be beneficial to become certified in.

Each specialty comes with its own requirements. For example, nutrition chiropractors require 300 hours of online coursework and passing an additional exam. Sports chiropractors must hold an Athletic Trainer Certification, complete a further degree program, and pass exams. Once you’ve started your career, these can be added if you find an area in which you want to become more involved.

Step 9: Start your own practice

Chiropractors can start their own practice at any point in their career. Starting a business is not simple, so you must know about business planning, accounting, marketing, and managing people if you hire others. This can increase your earnings, assist more people, and practice your desired specialties.

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How much do chiropractors make?

There are many variables that go into determining how much a chiropractor makes, from company size to experience to education just to name a few.

Browse chiropractor salary data by market

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Types of chiropractors

There are really two different types of chiropractors when it comes to technique and methods. Another distinction that some people make between chiropractors is the terms “straight” and “mixers.” Most chiropractors fall into the “mixers” category today. It means they are open to different views and conventional medical techniques. They use exercise, massage, and heat and ice therapies. They see the importance of working side by side with medical doctors. “Straight” chiropractors are definitely in the minority today. This type of chiropractic care focuses on correcting vertebral subluxations completely. It’s the more traditional method but less common today.

Symptom-relief chiropractor

A symptom-relief chiropractor focuses primarily on relieving symptoms in patients. This can involve easing pain and decompressing joints. Patients visit them for a short treatment time until a specific injury or concern is fixed.

Wellness chiropractor

Wellness chiropractors focus on finding and correcting any misaligned vertebra in the spine. This helps improve the body’s overall wellness and provides lasting relief and posture improvements. These chiropractors also focus on nutrition and other aspects of health and wellness in their practice.

Specialty chiropractor

Other specialties within the practice include sports, pediatrics, radiology, and workplace specialties. There are also animal chiropractors that work in the veterinary field. Lastly, there are positions in academia that include instructors and researchers. 

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Top skills for chiropractors

To become a chiropractor, candidates must complete all of the education requirements. Working in the healthcare field, people must have all the necessary training. The requirements include undergraduate education and a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree. The national board exam is split into four parts that take place while you are going through your DC program. Once the exam is passed, the state license can be applied for.

To be a practicing chiropractor, it’s essential to be covered under malpractice insurance and comply with all regulations around patient care and confidentiality. The role requires empathy, compassion, and excellent communication skills. Working with patients often means explaining medical terminology in a way they can understand and process. 

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Career path

The career path for a chiropractor can take many courses. The future will depend on each individual’s goals and interests. If you start as an associate in a practice or a freelance chiropractor, you can work towards creating your own practice. Once you open your own practice, you can choose which services you want to offer. 

Experienced chiropractors can also go on to education and research within the field. Teach at a chiropractor school or work on development and advancements with a university.

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Similar job titles

• Athletic Trainer
• Massage Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Physical Therapy Assistant

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Position trends and outlook

Due to the aging population and the need for noninvasive, drug-free treatments for musculoskeletal conditions, the chiropractic industry is expected to experience growth in demand. Increasingly, chiropractors are regarded as integral members of healthcare teams, working together with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care to patients. It is expected that this trend will continue, with more and more medical facilities integrating chiropractic services into their care plans.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to an increase in the use of telehealth in chiropractic services to allow patients to receive care remotely. It appears that this trend will continue, making chiropractic offices more accessible to patients and allowing them to provide them with new services.

Employment projections for chiropractors

Chiropractor positions are predicted to grow by 10% by 2031, faster than other jobs and occupations. More and more patients are seeking alternative medicine and less invasive treatments for their ailments. 

It’s also becoming more common for hospitals to have chiropractors on staff to work alongside orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. Many institutions serving veterans are adding chiropractors, sports teams, corporate offices, and clinics.

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Chiropractor career tips

Soft skills and traits for chiropractors

Learn how to run and manage your business to start your own practice. Take business planning and accounting courses to help you expand your knowledge on the critical topics for operating a business. Check out software programs, like ChiroTouch, to help manage the business. Also, make sure you perfect your bedside manner when working with patients.

Commonly required skills and qualifications

Take good care of your hands. Chiropractors rely on their hands to do the work, so you must stretch and work out the muscles in your hand. Experience some treatments yourself. Make appointments to try out some of the services you are considering offering in your practice, whether it’s massage, heat therapy, or new tools, so you know what your patients can expect. Being in every patient’s situation is impossible, but having some personal references is good.

Study X-rays and practice interpreting these tests and other diagnostic tests. The more experience you have in reading these, the better you’ll be able to spot things with your own patients in the future.

Develop a professional network

Get involved with your community. Anyone that works to help people can offer resources to low-income or in-need people within their own town or neighborhood. Giving back is great, enabling you to build some name recognition in the area. Join at least one professional network to meet other chiropractors and share knowledge.

• Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
• Chiropractic Research Alliance
• International Chiropractors Association
• American Chiropractic Association

Be aware of referral relationships with personal injury lawyers. There can be some healthy relationships, but some lawyers do not have excellent reputations and tend to work the system in a less desirable way. If you plan to enter into these relationships, do your research.

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FAQs