One of the largest alternative medical professions is Chiropractic care. For the student who is passionate about the fields of health and medicine, who wishes to enter a career-focused program, a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree will prepare you for several job opportunities, including solo or group Chiropractic practitioner, educator, researcher, administrator, whether with a fitness facility, sports team, hospital or in general practice.
Get more information on collegelearners regarding Chiropractic Schools in Georgia, best chiropractic schools in Georgia, accredited chiropractic schools in georgia, how to become a chiropractor in georgia, chiropractic colleges in georgia, what colleges have a chiropractic program, is there an entrance exam for chiropractic school & can you do chiropractic school online.
What Is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a medical practitioner who treats problems of the musculoskeletal and nervous system through external manipulation of the body. As a chiropractor, you might also consider the effect that hereditary, dietary and environmental factors might have on a patient’s health and then recommend changes in exercise, nutrition and rest habits to address them. Your specific duties include interviewing patients about their medical histories, evaluating the condition of a patient through analysis of x-rays and direct observation, diagnosing ailments according to chiropractic principles, performing adjustments to the spine and limbs, and referring patients to other practitioners.
What Does a Chiropractor Do?
Chiropractors are licensed medical specialists who use manipulation techniques to treat musculoskeletal and nervous system problems. After assessing a patient’s physical condition by familiarizing themselves with a patient’s medical history and discussing the patient’s concerns, they analyze the patient’s reflexes, posture and the condition of his or her spine, through a series of tests and possibly the use of x-rays. They then apply specific therapeutic techniques, which can include the application of heat or cold to the target area and skeletal manipulation. They also advise patients on lifestyle adjustments and may refer them to other healthcare practitioners.
The following chart provides an overview about this career.
Degree Required | Doctor of Chiropractic |
Licensing or Certification | All states require chiropractors to be licensed |
Key Responsibilities | Conduct patient examinations, take patient history, conduct medical and diagnostic tests, make diagnoses and perform neuromusculoskeletal and other therapy or treatments, make medical referrals, advise patients regarding lifestyle and other health issues |
Median Salary (2020) | $70,720* |
Job Growth (2020-2030) | 11%* |
chiropractic colleges in georgia
A Chiropractic school focuses on teaching you to diagnosis and treat mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Chiropractors believe that these imbalances affect general health via the nervous system, and while they have some similarities to primary care providers, they are recognized as a medical specialty, using manual manipulation, health and lifestyle counseling, and other skills to facilitate optimal wellness.
Students enrolled in Chiropractic Doctoral Degree programs in Georgia can expect a curriculum in basic sciences, chiropractic technique, chiropractic philosophy, business management, and will be evaluated to demonstrate clinical competency.
Ready to start your search for a Chiropractic education? You can perform a location search on GradSchools.com to find the best Chiropractic school for you. Just use the city, state, or country tabs to generate results.
Next you can filter your search by Masters or Chiropractic Doctoral Degree. For instance, you can earn a Master in Chiropractic Sciences or a Doctorate of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree.
Start looking into the right accredited Chiropractic Graduate Program in Georgia for you, and begin this rewarding academic and professional career path!
State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
---|---|---|
California | 3,480 | $70,130 |
Florida | 2,110 | $64,360 |
New York | 2,030 | $79,100 |
Texas | 1,940 | $65,450 |
Illinois | 1,510 | $70,720 |
Chiropractic Schools In Georgia
Program | Institution | Degree Awarded |
Doctor of Chiropractic | Life University | DC |
Sponsored Listings
- Marietta, GALife UniversityDoctor of ChiropracticChiropractic is a philosophy of health, a science of the nervous system and spine, and an art of helping people regain their health naturally.
List of all Chiropractic colleges in Georgia
chiropractic schools in alabama
To become a chiropractor in Alabama, you must complete two to four years of undergraduate education in addition to four years at an accredited chiropractic program. Though a bachelor’s in almost any field is acceptable, you may find yourself better prepared for chiropractic specialization if you focus on coursework in areas like biology, chemistry, and psychiatry.
Chiropractic school in Alabama will involve at least 4200 hours of combined classroom learning, laboratory work, and clinical practice. In most chiropractic programs, you’ll spend the first two years focusing on classroom learning and laboratory work, learning about subjects like anatomy, public healthy, and physiology. In the second two years, you’ll focus more on gaining clinical experience in areas like spinal adjustment, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and physiotherapy.
Many online chiropractic schools offer the courses necessary to renew your license and keep up-to-date on the most recent developments in chiropractic treatment. Alabama requires 18 hours of continuing education courses for annual license renewal, one-third of which can be completed through distance learning, including online, programs.
chiropractic schools 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.
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
step to become a Chiropractor
Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma
You can begin preparing for your future chiropractic studies with high school courses in physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics. Courses in English and social studies can help you develop your communication and research skills. You will also need a high school diploma or G.E.D. to enroll in an undergraduate program.
Step 2: Earn an Undergraduate Degree
An undergraduate degree may either be a 2-year associate’s degree or a 4-year bachelor’s degree. However, to qualify for a chiropractic doctoral program you need 90 or more undergraduate credits in general education and must also complete courses in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics and biology. Because associate’s degree programs are usually only 60 credit hours, many aspiring chiropractors opt for a bachelor’s degree in biology or another relevant subject.
Bachelor’s degree programs in biology provide you with a broad introduction to the science of living things. Courses address such topics as evolution, genetics, botany and zoology. Some programs may have a pre-med concentration or offer specializations in biotechnology, microbiology or molecular biology.
Step 3: Earn a Doctorate
While some schools may offer a 5-year program and others offer 3+3 programs that combine a bachelor’s degree with a doctorate, most Doctor of Chiropractic degree programs last four years. You need at least 4,200 hours of clinical, lab and classroom study to earn such a degree. The first half of a 4-year program emphasizes courses in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, microbiology and public health. In the second half you devote more time to lab work and clinical experiences in spinal adjustments and manipulations. Other areas of study include physical diagnosis, nutrition, orthopedics and neurology.
Step 4: Obtain a License
You need a license in all U.S. states and the District of Columbia to practice as a chiropractor. To be eligible for licensure you have to complete at least two years of postsecondary education and four years of chiropractic training at an accredited school. More states are starting to require a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Licensure typically entails passing the 4-part exam offered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE), although some states combine parts of it with their own supplementary exam.
Each of the NBCE’s first three parts consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. Part one tests your knowledge in six areas, including physiology, spinal anatomy and general anatomy. Your knowledge of chiropractic principles, diagnostic imaging and neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis are the subjects of part two. Part three covers nine areas, including physical examination, clinical lab studies and chiropractic technique. The fourth part is a practical exam covering case management, technique and x-ray interpretation. A license is only valid in the state where you earn it, except in states that have reciprocity agreements.
Step 5: Establish a Practice
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 34,760 chiropractors were practicing medicine in 2020. Most had a solo practice. You could also join a group practice or seek employment at a college, a hospital or a chiropractic research institution. The employment of chiropractors is projected to increase 11% to about 57,000 from 2020-2030. Growth will be driven by increased interest in non-invasive medical treatments and by the expanding population of elderly patients. As of May 2020 the median annual salary was $70,720.
What Are some Related Alternative Careers?
Occupational therapists help people who are recovering from an accident, traumatic episode or surgery, suffer from developmental disabilities or are disabled in some other way regain or develop the skills necessary in everyday life. They assess the patient’s condition and develop and apply a plan of therapeutic treatment as determined by the specific situation. They may recommend special equipment as necessary and exercises aimed at the improvement of the patient’s condition. They keep records of the patient’s treatments and progress and share this information with other healthcare providers as appropriate.
Though they are not doctors and may be qualified with only a postsecondary non-degree award, massage therapists are similar to chiropractors in that they use touch and manipulation of soft tissue as a therapeutic technique. Such treatment is used to ease or alleviate pain or stress, improve circulation, help heal injuries, promote relaxation and generally improve overall wellness of the patient. Regulation, licensure and certification are determined by state.
how to become a chiropractor in georgia
There are specific requirements for becoming a chiropractor in Georgia; these requirements include:
- Opt for an undergraduate degree that provides for prerequisite classes for a chiropractor like chemistry courses(Biochemistry, Organic chemistry, and Nutrition); physics courses(Biomechanics, Physics, Statistics); and biology courses(Zoology, Micro-biology, Immunology).
- After an undergraduate degree, one has to opt for a four-year doctor of chiropractic from an accredited school in the USA.
- After completing the education to become a chiropractor, an aspiring individual would also have to sit for an exam from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which helps them attain licensure to work as a chiropractor officially.
- Once this process completes, individuals have to decide what work they prefer, such as an income position at a medical facility, opening their private practice, or joining a small practice.
A chiropractor also needs to have several skills specific to this field to drive a successful and efficient career as a chiropractor in Georgia. These skills include interpersonal skills, collaborative ways, business acumen, physical strength, manual dexterity, stamina, and management skills.
what colleges have a chiropractic program
With an estimated 53,400 new jobs over the next few years, chiropractic is one of the fastest-growing medical fields. And it’s one of the most high-paying. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, chiropractors earn an average of $70,720 a year. With these statistics, it’s no wonder that so many students want to study chiropractic medicine.
But where is the best place to start? Unlike other medical subfields, students have many options when choosing a chiropractic school. Making things more complicated, the large majority of the schools are private and unaffiliated with larger and better-known colleges, which means that most future chiropractors can’t rely on alumni connections or name recognition when making their choice.
Today, we’ve identified ten of the best chiropractic schools in the U.S. and ranked them for you here. Each of these schools will give students an excellent education, but they all have their differing approaches. Some value hands-on experience and put students into clinics to start working with patients as soon as possible. Others take a more academic approach, requiring a bachelor’s degree and publishing scholarly journals.
New York Chiropractic College (Seneca Falls, NY)
Thanks to affiliations with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and Veterans Hospitals across the nation, New York Chiropractic College has some of the most successful alumni in the field. Olympic weightlifter turned doctor of chiropractic medicine Karyn Marshall and Ballet Arizona resident chiropractor Paul Frame both entered the field after studying at NYCC.
Despite these successes, NYCC continues to expand and grow. Just last year, the school entered a partnership with the city’s Bridge to Life Center, helping addicts on their way to recovery. Students can also gain experience while working in one of three clinics in cities throughout the state.
Those looking to pursue research agendas can participate in one of many programs NYCC conducts related to chronic lower back pain. The school also hosts the first chiropractic biomechanical research laboratory in the nation.
D’youville College School of Health Professions (Buffalo, NY)
As part of the private college D’youville College, the School of Health Professions is the nation’s first chiropractic program in a liberal arts setting. As part of the top-ranked private school in Western New York, DC’s School of Health Professions trains its practitioners to be not only excellent chiropractors but well-rounded people.
The school is aided in that mission by a recent $100,000 grant from the NIH for humanities-based healthcare. To this end, students studying chiropractic medicine not only learn about the technical elements of their field but also treatments for the whole person.
This approach has not lessened the effect of their technical training. Over the past four years, 88% of the school’s graduates passed all parts of the NBCE Exams within six months of articulation.
Cleveland University – Kansas City (Overland Park, KS)
Dating back to 1922, Cleveland University – Kansas City can trace its origins to the first families of chiropractic, Drs. C.S. and Ruth Cleveland. Under the leadership of their grandson Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III, the school continues that tradition by innovating in the field.
CUKC’s most important innovation may be its emphasis on hands-on experience early in the program. Students begin working with patients in the first trimester and quickly move on to serving in the university Chiropractic Health Center, the Veterans Administration Hospital, or the Kansas City CARE Clinic. Thousands of patients visit these clinics each year, giving students plenty of experience in developing their craft.
Another innovation comes in the form of CUKC’s Masters of Health Education and Promotion program. Students can complete this degree completely online, allowing them to continue their education while still meeting their work and family obligations.
National University of Health Sciences (Lombard, IL)
One of the most academically rigorous schools on this list, the National University of Health Sciences publishes three scientific journals in the field of chiropractic medicine: the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, the Journal of Chiropractic Humanities, and the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. The office research publication of the American Chiropractic Association, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, is the only indexed biomedical journal in the field.
NUHS extends that academic rigor to its student body, requiring a bachelor’s degree to complete its chiropractic program. This requirement leads to a higher success rate on required board and licensure tests. In addition to these bonafides, NUHS offers partnerships with the Cook County Hospital System, in which students get hands-on training working with a wide variety of patients and needs.
As these details show, NUHS leads the field in training academically gifted and technically prepared chiropractors.
University of Western States (Portland, OR)
Founded in 1904, the University of Western States was the first school to bring chiropractic care to the southwest. In its over 100-year history, UWS has trained some of the nation’s most successful chiropractors, including Dr. Montserrat Andreys, founder of HEART Health Care for Artists, and Dr. Rebecca Bell, team chiropractor for the Portland Thorns FC and the Portland Timber FC.
The success these and other students have found attests to the power of the school’s motto, “For the good of the patient.” In every aspect of their curriculum, UWS advocate for integrated healthcare, which attends to the needs of the whole patient.
One of the best examples of this commitment is the Student Alliance for Integrative Medicine (SAIM). Comprised of student-governed organizations in health schools across the state, SAIM gives students leadership in collaborating with professionals in different fields of study. As a result, they have a richer sense of their patient’s needs, allowing them to become better practitioners.
Sherman College of Chiropractic (Spartanburg, SC)
Where most of the schools on this list subscribe to mixed chiropractic diagnoses, the Sherman College of Chiropractic supports the time-honored straight vertebral subluxation-based focus. Using this approach, SCC has trained more than 3000 chiropractors worldwide.
Although SCC uses an older technique, the school is in no way stuck in the past. Each year, SCC hosts seminars and workshops to advance chiropractic research. By participating in the Lyceum conference or the International Research and Philosophy Symposium, students gain access to cutting-edge chiropractic developments while building their skills.
Those pursuing a doctor of chiropractic degree can grow their knowledge in SCC’s Center for Scholarly Activity, allowing them to participate in research studies right away. Through the center, students can partner with working doctors to test new theories and blaze new paths in the field of chiropractic medicine, meeting the needs of a new generation.
Parker University (Dallas, TX)
Parker University, one of Texas’s premier doctor of chiropractic programs, runs on a 10-trimester program that blends research with clinical practice. Although PU values academic excellence, it also takes into consideration hands-on experience and community service. That’s why the school offers a program that lets students work toward completing minimum requirements for admission within their doctor of chiropractic program.
That emphasis on practicality is reflected in PU’s training. Students become familiar with all four of the most common chiropractic techniques: Diversified, Thompson, Gonstead, and Activator. But PU also gives students training in business fundamentals, preparing them to start their own clinics when they graduate. With seminars in marketing and business planning, PU ensures that its alumni will succeed in both the practice of chiropractic and in running a chiropractic practice.
Logan University (Chesterfield, MO)
From an initial class of seven students in 1935, Logan University has blossomed into one of the nation’s largest chiropractic schools. As it grows, LU has taken on the characteristics of a liberal arts college, which is unusual for a special focus school. Thanks to its agreements with 52 colleges across the country, LU offers admission to its doctor of chiropractic program to those who have not yet finished their bachelor’s degree. As they complete their degree at LU, they build on their liberal arts education while specializing in chiropractic.
LU also enjoys partnerships with athletic departments at Harris-Stowe State University, Lindenwood University, University of Missouri, and Southern Illinois University, allowing students to gain real experience working on athletes. But that’s not where the similarities between LU and liberal arts colleges end, as the school has intermural athletic teams in basketball and tennis, as well as four Greek chapters.
For those who want the specialization of a chiropractic school and the benefits of a liberal arts college, Logan University is the way to go.
Life University (Marietta, GA)
Like the other schools on this list, Life University features highly qualified faculty, an accredited chiropractic program, and a history of successful alumni. But it also has one thing the others do not: a great rugby team. Over the past decade, the Life University Running Eagles have regularly made quarter and semifinals and have even taken the championship two years in a row.
For those who prefer to limit their joint cracking to patients on their bed, LU has plenty to love. With a 110-acre campus, complete with over five miles of walking trails, LU is the world’s largest single-campus chiropractic college. Faculty and students regularly present at the annual Association of Chiropractic Colleges conference. In the Sid E. Williams Center for Chiropractic Research, students and faculty work to advance brain-body neuroplasticity research through clinical tests and theoretical exploration.
Whether you seek excellence on the field or in the lab, Life University has the resources to train well-rounded chiropractors.
University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, CT)
The body is an integrated unit. The body has intrinsic self-regulating and healing mechanisms. Structure and function are interrelated. The neuromusculoskeletal system can affect, and be affected by, the functioning of other body systems.
These four statements capture the driving philosophy of the University of Bridgeport’s doctor of chiropractic program. Students learn to see symptoms not as simple stand-alone problems to be illuminated, but as part of a larger system that deserves holistic care. With an evidence-based curriculum that merges scientific study and hands-on learning, UB trains students to care for the entire body.
They can achieve this larger focus thanks to their smaller class sizes, which offer a 1:8 faculty-to-student ratio. Students also have the opportunity to earn a concurrent master’s degree in human nutrition or acupuncture.
Between their focus on students and the expansive training they offer, it’s easy to see why the University of Bridgeport is among the best in the world for chiropractic colleges.