Typical duties include:

• Assess a patient's medical condition by reviewing their medical history, listening to the patient's concerns, and performing a physical examination
• Analyze the patient's posture, spine, and reflexes
• Conduct tests, including evaluating a patient's posture and taking x rays
• Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy, which involves adjusting a patient's spinal column and other joints by hand
• Give additional treatments, such as applying heat or cold to a patient's injured areas

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Prerequisites: Association of Chiropractic Colleges Academic Requirements

Entrance Exam: Depends on program

Degree: Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree—a postgraduate professional degree

Years of Study: Typically 4 years to complete

Chiropractic education consists of classroom work in anatomy, physiology, biology, and similar subjects. Chiropractic students also get supervised clinical experience, in which they train in spinal assessment, spinal adjustment techniques, and diagnosis. These programs provide additional training in specialty areas, such as orthopedics and pediatrics, and classes are taken at chiropractic colleges.

More Information

• Accredited Doctor of Chiropractic Programs/Institutions
• American Chiropractic Association
• The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)
• Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)