Education

Chiropractors go through extensive education and training before they are able to diagnose and treat patients.

To begin, students will go through at least three years of an undergraduate degree. It is not mandatory that they complete the degree, but most chiropractic schools would prefer that students do so.

Next, students will fill out a 12 page questionnaire regarding the student’s own beliefs, their knowledge of the profession, and why they have decided to get into the profession. It will also ask a series of ethical questions for students to solve. For example, students will be given different scenarios, and must determine the best course of action.

Successful canadidates will have an interview. In this interview, additional scenarios will be presented for the student to solve.

If the student meets expectations during the interview, they will begin their chiropractic education. In Canada this process will take 4 years, and in the U.S it will take 3-3.5 years.

Throughout their years in chiropractic training, students will learn a variety of topics including chiropractic principles, ethics, research and statistics, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, radiology, orthopedics, diagnosis, and emergency care.

When the 3 years of training is complete, the student will participate in a year long internship, and will be required to complete a minimum number of actual treatments.

Students will then need to write both a Provincial Licensing Exam (involving actual hands-on tests), and a National Board Exam (written). It is necessary to complete a separate provincial exam for each province or state the student plans to practice in.

If the student completes all of these requirements, they are licensed as a chiropractor.