The Tribune

By Dr Susan Donald

Many times I have patients ask me about the educational requirements to become chiropractor.

Is it more or less than it takes to become a medical doctor? Are you considered a real doctor? These are very good questions because there’s a great deal of misconception regarding a chiropractor’s education.

In order to be accepted into a chiropractic college you must go to an undergraduate school to take a number of prerequisite courses.

The prerequisites are very similar to those required to get into medical or dental school. A minimum of two years of undergraduate work with credits in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and other pre-med subjects are required, although most chiropractors have four years of undergraduate education.

Once in chiropractic college, the first two years are very similar to medical school. In fact, chiropractors receive more hours in subjects like anatomy and physiology than medical doctors do.

The second two years of the four years are specialised in the chiropractic field. While medical doctors study drugs and surgery, chiropractors study the various techniques of adjusting the spine, diagnosis, case management, nutrition and X-ray analysis. The average chiropractic college requires over 4,000 hours of study over four years, just as much a medical doctor gets.

A graduate must pass the rigorous national board to receive their licence to practice. Once they receive their license the chiropractor must take 12 hours minimum of additional training each year. Many chiropractors continue their education with postgraduate courses such as sports injuries, treatment of auto and work related injuries, soft tissue therapies, advance degrees in X-ray radiology and neurology and advanced adjustment techniques.

As to the other question – are chiropractor considered real doctors? Yes, upon graduation we receive is a degree of doctor of chiropractic, so therefore we are a real doctor.

A real doctor is a teacher, someone who helps educated patients on ways to improve their health and that of their families. Doctors of chiropractic teach non-invasive, low risk, holistic approach. So if you are seeking health and wellness care your first choice should be chiropractic.