Doctors of chiropractic are educated as primary-contact health care providers, with an emphasis on
diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments
and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them. Educational requirements
for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The
typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical
undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics,
psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements
become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Doctors
of chiropractic are educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical diagnosis
including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more. In
total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory
and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized
by the U.S. Department of Education.
