The education received by chiropractors is extremely thorough
and demanding. Aspiring doctors of chiropractic receive extensive
teachings in the structure and functioning of the human body,
the disease processes, and how health is achieved and maintained.
There is an emphasis placed on the management of spinal disorders
and their role in the overall health and wellness of the individual.
The Undergraduate Education
Similar to the requirements of medical schools, prior to entering
chiropractic college students must first complete 4 years of
premed undergraduate studies. During this time there is an emphasis
on basic sciences including organic chemistry, general chemistry,
physics, biology, and psychology.
The Chiropractic Education
Upon successful completion of the undergraduate studies, those
students who are accepted to a chiropractic college enter a
4-5 year academic program, which is similar in content to medical
school.
Course work includes an in-depth study of anatomy, physiology,
pathology, neurology, radiology, biomechanics, spinal adjustive
techniques, including a variety of other health-related areas.
The primary focus of the chiropractic education is to teach
the student how to recognize and effectively treat a wide variety
of soft tissue disorders in order to reduce pain and discomfort,
allow for effective and proper healing, restore normal body
biomechanics and improve overall health.
Moreover, students receive thorough training aimed at identifying
those conditions which are beyond the chiropractor’s scope
of practice and which require outside medical referral.
During the academic program, students must successfully complete
4 national board examinations which are required for licensure.
In addition, students must spend several hundred hours of internship
in which they treat patients suffering from true health ailments
while under professional supervision.
This ensures that the graduating doctors of chiropractic will
have all the necessary education, skills and clinical experience
to provide exceptionally safe and effective chiropractic health
care.
Licensure
Upon graduation and the passing of all national board exams,
students undergo state board examination for the state which
they wish to practice in. In fact, Florida is one of the few
states that has a completely separate board examination which
makes it one of the more difficult states to be granted licensure.
Continuing Education
Once licensed, most states require the doctor of chiropractic
to attend annual seminars in order to maintain a high level
of competency and keep technical skills sharp and as current
as possible. Failure to do so will result in the revocation
of the doctor’s license.
