What are the qualifications to become a Doctor of Chiropractic?
To practice chiropractic care in the United States, a practitioner must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from a college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Admission to a chiropractic college requires a minimum of 90 semester hour credits (approximately 3 years) of undergraduate study, mostly in the sciences. Chiropractic training is a 4-year academic program that includes both classroom work and direct experience caring for patients. Coursework typically includes instruction in the biomedical sciences, as well as in public health and research methods. Both medical and chiropractic education require four years of study with chiropractic education requiring 4822 class hours compared to 4667 hours for medical education. For the most part, textbooks, course requirements and objectives are equivalent for the same courses in chiropractic and medical education.
