Essential Information
Students studying to be chiropractors enroll in Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree programs that take around four years of complete. This is a professional degree program that students typically enter after graduation from a bachelor's degree program. However, some schools offer combined bachelor's and doctoral programs that take seven years.
A D.C. program usually includes basic courses in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, medical terminology and pathophysiology taken at the beginning of the program. Students are then introduced to spinal musculoskeletal care and to spinal form and function. They begin learning to work with patients, provide a diagnosis and use adjustive techniques for treatment. Students get clinical practice doing these tasks through labs and internships. After earning their D.C. degree, graduates must pursue state licensure as a chiropractor. This often involves taking state-specific exams in law in addition to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam.
Here are some concepts commonly examined in chiropractor courses:
- Spinal dysfunction
- Vertebral subluxation complex
- Motion-spatial/fixation concept
- Manipulation procedures
- Biomechanics
- Bone pathology
- Imaging techniques
List of Courses
Beginning Chiropractor Course
The history, evolution and philosophy of chiropractors are part of this class. Students learn the definition and principles of spinal musculoskeletal care, including primary care, acute care, rehabilitative care and physical therapy. Coursework explores professional standards and ethics, doctor-patient communication and developing collegial relationships with other medical professionals in order to coordinate patient care.
Spinal Form and Function
Aspiring chiropractors in this required course learn the parts of the spine, focusing on bones and nerves, how they work and what they do. Coursework may include pediatric care as well. Upon completion of this chiropractor course, students are well-versed in general bone, joint and ligament health and familiar with the occipital, cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral areas of the spine. This course typically includes cadaver dissection in a lab setting.
Diagnosis for Chiropractors
This is one of the first courses that chiropractors take to learn how to work with patients. In this required class, students practice using medical tools like stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. Instructors teach students to take a patient's vital signs, perform a physical exam on a patient and record a patient's medical history. Students learn to synthesize observed and reported information to arrive at a diagnosis for the patient. A lab component is also required.
Adjustive Technique for Chiropractors
A class on adjustive techniques is another required chiropractic course that includes classroom lectures and lab work. Students receive instruction in manual treatment techniques to alleviate patients' symptoms stemming from acute and chronic conditions. Coursework includes learning when to use or avoid palpation techniques and specialized techniques for specific spinal regions. Hands-on work includes performing adjustive techniques on people as they sit, stand or lay down.
Clinical Practice for Chiropractors
The clinical component of a chiropractor's training gives students the opportunity to practice learned theories and techniques in real world settings. Student chiropractors practice on fellow students and patients under instructor supervision. They may work in a school-run student clinic or off-site under the supervision of a working chiropractor.
Chiropractic Practice Management
Prospective chiropractors may also take a business course on how to run a chiropractic office toward the end of their degree program. The focus of the class is the main principles of operating and managing a practice, such as developing business plans, office management, marketing, business ethics, law and policy development.
