More than 30 million people annually visit a chiropractor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chiropractic job outlook is expected to grow 12% between 2016-2026. If you are looking for a rewarding job of helping patients through chiropractic care, attending a chiropractic university may be the right choice for you. Below is a list of the Top 10 Chiropractic Schools in the US, in no specific order.
Best Chiropractic Schools In North Carolina
Chiropractic school in North Carolina takes about four years to complete after a Bachelor’s or similar degree has already been attained. While the total amount of university time will often end up somewhere between eight and nine years, a career in North Carolina’s secure, well paid and growing chiropractic sector is well worth the preparation. North Carolina has a reputation for the provision of robust, diverse health care options. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Charlotte, North Carolina is the fifth highest employment location for chiropractors nationwide.
With only sixteen chiropractic programs accredited by the Council for Chiropractic Education being offered in the United States, acquiring sufficient education and proper licensing to work as a chiropractor in North Carolina takes perseverance. When it comes to fulfilling necessary prerequisites of chiropractic school; however, the state offers everything necessary to succeed.
North Carolina boasts seventy accredited four year schools, a number that exceeds the national average by nearly 50% according to the National Center for Education Statistics. With online options available and the vast majority of theses schools offering programs in health with special focuses on anatomy, pathology, public health and other fields conducive to a complete chiropractic education, students will find North Carolina is a great place to begin their career.
top chiropractic schools in the world
#1 Sherman Chiropractic College
Phone Number: 800-849-8771
Spartanburg, SC
https://www.sherman.edu
Tuition: Yearly tuition is $33,116
Sherman Chiropractic College opened it’s doors in 1973 and is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. To be eligible for admission to this chiropractic college, you must have completed 90 semester hours with a minimum GPA or 3.0. 24 of those credits must be in life and physical science and 15 of those credits must be in humanities, social and behavioral sciences. The Doctor of Chiropractic program can be completed in 12 quarters. Examples of courses you will be taking are human anatomy & physiology, spinal anatomy, neuroanatomy, nutrition, x-ray analysis, subluxation theories, etc. There is a student clinic on campus, which was renovated in 2015.
#2 Life University
Phone number: 800-543-3202
Marietta, GA
https://www.life.edu/
Tuition: Approximately $26,475 per year
Life Chiropractic College was founded in 1975 and is home to the world’s largest single-campus chiropractic program. It is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). The Doctor of Chiropractic program is a 14-quarter program and usually takes around 4 years to complete. To be accepted to this program, you must have completed 90 semester credits and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Courses for Doctor of Chiropractic program are divided into the following academic areas: Division of Basic Sciences, Division of Chiropractic Sciences, Division of Clinical Sciences, and Division of Clinics. Students will have access to the William M. Harris Center for Clinical Education.
#3 Logan University
Phone number: 637-533-9210
Chesterfield, MO
http://www.logan.edu/
Tuition: $11,265 per trimester
Logan University opened it’s doors in 1935. To become eligible for Logan University’s Doctor of Chiropractic program, you must have a bachelor’s degree or you must complete 90 semester hours and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. They have different opportunities for everyone. Along with tuition, factor in other costs such as your doctors bag, books and supplies, you must purchase an iPad, transportation, and housing & personal allowance. In your first year, you’ll spend 40% of your time in hands-on clinical skills course. Year two, you will spend 90% of your time in clinical hands-on skill courses. And in your final year, you will spend 100% of your time treating patients and learning management skills. A cool added bonus of Logan University, at the end of the third trimester, the student with the highest GPA will receive a scholarship that covers the rest of their education. There is a clinic on campus called the Montgomery Health Center, which is where students will use hands-on clinical training after their 7th semester. Students may also participate in rotations at local health care centers that are partnered with Logan University.
#4 University of Western States
Phone number: 503-256-3180
Portland, OR
https://www.uws.edu/
Tuition: Total tuition is around $120,132.
The University of Western States is the second-oldest chiropractic school in the world, opening it’s doors in 1904. The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and their Doctor of Chiropractic program is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. Their doctor of chiropractic program that takes 3-4 years to complete. To be eligible for this program, you must have completed 90 credits of undergraduate coursework and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Courses such as gross anatomy, histology, human development, fundamental pathology, nutrition, etc, are all examples of what you will expect to learn about during your time here. There is a clinic and a clinical internship available to students.
#5 University of Bridgeport
Phone number: 800-392-3582
Bridgeport, CT
http://www.bridgeport.edu/
Full-Time Tuition (14 Credits): $14,100
The University of Bridgeport was founded in 1927 and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and also by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education. The program is a full time, 4-year program. There are no offers to accelerate the program. Students will take courses such as cell and tissue microscopic anatomy & physiology, neuroscience, fundamentals of pathology, Orthopedics & Neurology, Clinical psychology, and more. There is a campus clinic where students can work with the public to gain more knowledge and experience.
#6 Palmer College of Chiropractic
Davenport, IA 800-722-2586
Port Orange, FL 866-585-9677
San Jose, CA 866-303-7939
http://www.palmer.edu/
Tuition: $16,129-$19,428 per term (Prices are based off which campus you attend)
Palmer College of Chiropractic opened it’s first campus in 1897, making it the founding college of chiropractic. Palmer College of Chiropractic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education. To be eligible for the Doctorate of Chiropractic program at Palmer College, you must have a minimum of 90 prerequisite hours and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students can expect to learn chiropractic history, diagnostic studies, case management, record keeping, ethics & integrity, business management, etc. Along with coursework, Palmer has students partake in hands-on clinical training from the beginning and also has preceptorship and internship programs available.
#7 Southern California University of Health Sciences
Phone number: 562-947-8755
Whittier, CA
http://www.scuhs.edu/
Tuition: $10,000-$12,000 per term
Southern California University of Health Sciences first opened their doors in 1911. They are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education and they are also approved by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. As for your curriculum, your first year will focus on the fundamentals. Year two will be building on the knowledge from year one and understanding the clinical presentation of health and disease in a patient. Year three, you will put everything you’ve learned into supervised clinical work.
#8 New York Chiropractic College
Phone number: 800-234-6922
Seneca Falls, NY
https://www.nycc.edu/
Tuition: $125,810 for the entire program
New York Chiropractic College was founded in 1919, meaning it’s been open for 100 years now! It is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. You will take courses such as neuroscience, gross anatomy, basic human nutrition, extremities radiology, bone & joint imaging, etc. Along with course work and clinical work, students have the option to work side by side with faculty members to conduct research studies. They also have internships for students. You will complete 10 trimesters to prepare you to become a DC. By your seventh semester, you will be able to begin your clinical training.
#9 Texas Chiropractic College
Phone number: 281-487-1170
Pasadena, TX
http://www.txchiro.edu/
Tuition: $10,115 per semester
Texas Chiropractic College was founded in 1908. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and their Doctor of Chiropractic program is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. Their Doctor of Chiropractic program is 10 trimesters long. Students will take courses such as spinal anatomy, medical terminology, spinal biomechanics, human neuroanatomy, dermatology, etc. Along with coursework, there is a clinical center on the campus called the Moody Health Center, which has an urgent care, a rehabilitation center, and a chiropractic center.
#10 National University of Health Sciences
Lombard, IL 1-800-826-6285
Seminole, FL 1-800-826-6285
http://www.nuhs.edu/
Tuition: $12,450 per trimester
National University of Health Sciences first opened their doors in 1906 and they are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. Students can expect to complete this program in as little as 10 trimesters. Your first year, you will focus on anatomy & physiology. In your second year, you will begin learning how to treat and diagnose different conditions. You will also begin learning business knowledge. In your third year, you will begin clinical opportunities. Along with coursework and clinical work, students can participate in research studies along with faculty members.
best chiropractic schools in europe
Chiropractors in Europe training at ECCE-accredited chiropractic institutions undergo a minimum of 5 years education to Masters degree level or equivalent. The first three years of education are similar in content to that of medical students, with emphasis on core basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. At the University of Southern Denmark and the University of Zurich, chiropractic students study alongside their medical counterparts.
There are just over 3000 students studying chiropractic in Europe at nine educational centres that fulfil the accreditation criteria.
- AECC University College (Bournemouth, UK)
- Welsh Institute of Chiropractic (University of South Wales)
- McTimoney College of Chiropractic (BPP University)
- University of Southern Denmark
- University of Zurich
- Institute Francaise Europeen de Chiropraxie (Paris)
- Institute Francaise Europeen de Chiropraxie (Toulouse)
- Madrid College of Chiropractic (RCA Maria Cristina University)
- Barcelona College of Chiropractic (University Pompeu Fabre)
Chiropractors undertake thousands of hours of undergraduate study to qualify as healthcare professionals specialised in spinal care. To excel in spinal healthcare warrants extensive knowledge of chiropractic techniques such as spinal manipulation, rehabilitation exercises and myofascial treatments. Alongside this, chiropractors are well trained in clinical biomechanics, orthopaedics, neurology, physiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, medical diagnosis, radiology and advanced diagnostic imaging.
Before graduation, undergraduate chiropractors spend a minimum of one year working in outpatient clinics, either on campus or elsewhere. They also spend time observing other health professionals in hospitals and other healthcare environments.
Chiropractors graduating with Masters degrees must complete an advanced level thesis. By learning research skills, students are encouraged to engage in further study and lifelong learning.
Quality Assurance
The European Council on Chiropractic Education (www.cce-europe.com) The ECCE is an international autonomous organisation established by the chiropractic profession in Europe to accredit and re-accredit institutions providing undergraduate chiropractic education and training. The principal goal of the ECCE is to assure the quality of chiropractic undergraduate education and training against a set of educational Standards.
The Standards are intended for use by chiropractic institutions, both in the public university and private sectors, predominately (but not exclusively) in Europe, as part of institutional self-evaluation, by the ECCE for external review of institutions and by international committees and bodies involved in the recognition and accreditation of chiropractic institutions worldwide.
Once an institution has demonstrated that it is in substantial compliance with the Standards and has graduated its first cohort of students, the institution is accredited for up to five years. Prior to full accreditation an institution may apply for candidate (for accredited) status; the maximum period an institution can hold candidate status is five years.
The ECCE is a founding member of the Councils on Chiropractic Education International (CCEI) together with the US, Canadian and Australasian Councils on Chiropractic Education (CCEs). It is the only external quality assurance agency for chiropractic education and training in Europe that is a member of CCEI and recognised by the chiropractic profession and other CCEs world-wide, and that adheres to the CCEI International Chiropractic Accreditation Standards.
The ECCE is a member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and adheres to the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).
European Academy of Chiropractic
The European Academy of Chiropractic (EAC) is the sub-committee of the ECU concerned with the promotion and facilitation of continuing professional development (CPD), including Graduate Education Programmes (GEP). It was established in 2007 with the express aim of improving access to lifelong learning for chiropractors in all ECU member national associations.
The EAC is led by the chair, Igor Dijkers, supported by an Executive Team whose role it is to direct the EAC and ensure that its aims and objectives are satisfied.
The EAC promotes an effective transition between chiropractic graduates and professional chiropractors by formulating a structured Graduate Education Programme. By working with established stakeholders, the aim of the EAC GEP programme is to ensure that all national chiropractic associations have the basic framework they can build on to offer a structured learning programme for new graduates entering the chiropractic profession.
The EAC also accredits CPD activities by awarding points for attendance. Its aim is to ensure that all chiropractors within the ECU complete a minimum of 30 hours of CPD activity each year. This may be in the form of structured learning, i.e. attending conferences and seminars, or online learning via different platforms such as GEN-C . One point is awarded for each hour of approved learning.
With its partners Chiropractic Australia, Royal College of Chiropractors and the Chiropractic Knowledge Hub the EAC co-owns the online, open access journal Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. This high-quality, peer-reviewed journal is the second-largest journal of its type in the world and features research articles, commentaries and debate articles.
For those with interests in particular areas of chiropractic practice, the EAC has developed a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These help chiropractors to share knowledge with chiropractors who have common interests and to share best practice in chiropractic specialities. There are 5 SIGs: Clinical, Sports, Paediatrics, Neurology and Research.
From 1 January 2015, all chiropractors who are members of ECU national associations are automatically members of the EAC. This means that there is no longer an additional fee for membership specific to the EAC. For those who practice/reside in a country where the National Association is not a member nation of the ECU they may apply to the ECU to become an individual member.
Members of the EAC may apply to become Fellows of the Academy. Fellowships are awarded by the EAC Court of Electors upon consideration of applications sent to the Registrar. Fellows must display evidence of advanced professional learning to Masters level or equivalent.
chiropractic school requirements
A practicing chiropractor in the U.S. must have a Doctor of Chiropractic, or D.C., degree and needs a license to practice in any state where he or she sees patients. A D.C. program typically lasts four years, and to qualify for admission students must complete at least three years of undergraduate education with at least 90 semester hours – and in some cases a bachelor’s degree, depending on the school where they apply.
According to an overview of the academic admissions requirements for various U.S. chiropractic schools on the Association of Chiropractic Colleges website, prospective students need to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of life and physical science coursework, and at least half of their science classes must have included a substantive lab.
Aspiring chiropractors also should take humanities and social science courses, and they must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, the association states.
In some cases, individuals who complete chiropractic school continue their education via postdoctoral training programs such as residencies or fellowships. They can seek a variety of chiropractic specialty and subspecialty certificates and may pursue advanced training in a variety of chiropractic specialties ranging from radiology and rehabilitation to neurology and nutrition.[
Chiropractic careers require more education than massage therapist jobs, which typically require completion of a massage therapy program of 500 hours or longer, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Aspiring massage therapists only need a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify for admission to a massage therapy program.
Generally speaking, massage therapists focus on soft tissues and muscles, whereas chiropractors frequently make adjustments to the spine, which requires extreme precision.