Those interested in becoming a chiropractor may wonder how many years it takes to get a chiropractor license.

The length of time it takes depends on your chosen career path and the program you choose to participate in.

However, this article fully answers the question “How many years does it take to get a chiropractor license?”.

About A Chiropractor

A chiropractor is a medical professional who treats neuromuscular issues in patients by manipulating their spines. 

Most people go to chiropractors for assistance with allergies, digestive troubles, and other ailments in addition to using them to manage their back or joint discomfort.

Chiropractors are unable to issue prescriptions for drugs, and the majority refrain from advising over-the-counter remedies because they think that physical therapy can effectively treat the majority of symptoms.  

Chiropractors can request testing like X-rays, but they are not medical professionals. 

Duties of a chiropractor include:

• Talking about symptoms with patients in meetings
• Assessing posture and spine for any problems
• Creating an office therapy program
• Suggesting to patients different diets, stretches, and exercise routines
• Using methods like acupuncture or massage treatment
• Sending patients to doctors when they require more care

How Many Years Does It Take To Get A Chiropractor License?

You have to complete an undergraduate degree of 3-4 years and the Doctor of Chiropractic program, before earning a chiropractic license. 

Students who have completed the chiropractic program must pass a four-part licensing exam. 

This exam administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners evaluates the student’s knowledge and abilities from the chiropractic program.

Chiropractors who pass the exam do not need to sit for it again, but they do need to finish continuing education programs to keep their chiropractic licenses. 

These classes are designed to keep chiropractors’ skills and knowledge up to date and requirements, such as passing a jurisprudence exam or background checks, may vary by state.  

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How Long Does It Take To Get A Chiropractor License?

1.Get A College Degree

A degree in biology, exercise science, kinesiology, or a related field might demonstrate to admissions officers that you have a strong background in science when you enroll in a chiropractor program.

Make sure you finish all the required courses by checking the chiropractic schools’ entrance requirements. 

You might be able to transfer some of your course credits to your new major if you have a degree in an unrelated discipline. 

Several chiropractic schools accept students who have completed the required courses but have not yet earned their degrees. 

• Undergraduate

90 credits, or three to four years of undergraduate study required before becoming a chiropractor, must be in a major with a focus on chiropractic studies. 

Additionally, these credit hours must be earned at a facility that has received accreditation from a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or a foreign agency with equivalent status. 

You’ll also need to achieve a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for those credits that you have completed.

• Graduate

The 90 hours of undergraduate coursework must be finished before pursuing a chiropractic degree. 

Although there are some variations, depending on the specialty and institution, most accredited programs can be finished in over 3 years or 10 trimesters. 

These trimesters include practical training and clinical opportunities to prepare students for success.

• Certifications

You must possess a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and certification obtained by passing the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ four-part exam to practice, regardless of the state in which you do so. 

Fortunately, while enrolled in chiropractic school, you can take this exam whenever you like.  

2. Attend A Chiropractic School

A Doctor of Chiropractic degree requires three to four years to complete for most students. 

To broaden your understanding of the human body, you’ll spend more than 4,500 hours in an intensive classroom and clinical training. 

The first two years of most programs are spent in labs and classrooms, and the next two years are spent working in clinics. 

You will examine cadavers in a lab, read textbooks, listen to lectures, and read about the microscopic functioning of human bodies.

You’ll also learn how to assess a patient, treat symptoms, seek out a problem’s root, and adjust patients’ backs and necks with chiropractic adjustments. 

Additionally, you’ll attend classes in nutrition and radiography and learn how to read blood tests.  

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3. Obtain A License

You must pass the tests administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, or NBCE, to start working as a chiropractor. 

During your second year of chiropractic school, you will take Part I, which consists of questions in general anatomy and physiology, spinal anatomy, pathology, chemistry, microbiology, and related topics.

Part II, which includes chiropractic practice, general diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis, and other specific topics, is the course you’ll take in your third year.

Six to nine months after graduating, you are eligible to take Part III and Part IV. 

Case management, clinical examinations, and chiropractic procedures are all covered in Part III while part IV evaluates more sophisticated chiropractic and case management methods.

You can apply for a license in your state after passing these national exams but most states want documentation of your National Board of Chiropractic Examiners scores and confirmation that you graduated from a chiropractic college. 

You may also be required to take a supplementary test about your chiropractic knowledge and the state laws you’ll abide by in some states. 

Electronic fingerprints, evidence of malpractice insurance, a list of references, a personal interview, payment of a licensing fee, and annual continuing education requirements might also be required of you.

4. Consider A Specialty

Occupational health, acupuncture, radiology, clinical nutrition, neurology, developmental disorders, pediatrics, forensics, and sports medicine are just a few of the many chiropractic specialties that can be certified. 

Most specializations need about 300–400 hours of additional training, and they can help you stand out to patients and your fellow medical professionals.

You might need to take extra courses in a specialization like rehabilitation, sports and human performance, pain management, orthopedics, workplace ergonomics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and more. 

Some chiropractic specialty courses may not require any additional time and may fit straight into the institution’s curriculum.

5. Find And Start A Job As A Chiropractor

You can open and manage your own business, join forces with another chiropractor’s office as a partner, or work for a bigger chiropractic clinic. 

You can also find someone willing to work with a new chiropractor, so you’ll need to look into the practices of chiropractors in your neighborhood for at least a few months. 

Most employers may want contracts or non-compete agreements, so you may be prohibited from working with any other practice for several years after signing an agreement.

Although opening a new office might take longer than working with another chiropractor, there is no contract to sign. 

But you’ll need to make financial investments when you launch your own company for things like office space, personnel, medical supplies, and other expenses.  

Jobs Similar To Chiropractors

There are various careers you can pursue for the same period it takes to get a chiropractor license.

They include:

• Physical therapist
• Podiatrist
• Athletic trainer
• Medical assistant
• Nurse practitioner
• Medical massage therapist
• Naturopathic physician
• Exercise physiologist
• Acupuncturist
• Respiratory Therapist

Conclusion

Although it takes a long time to pursue your career goal of being a chiropractor and getting your license, it pays you greatly.  

After graduating, you have various options to choose from including starting your practice or working for an established one. 

Searching for a job may not add one year to your path to becoming a chiropractor, because most graduates do secure a position 6 months after graduation.