The professional pathway to becoming a chiropractor involves earning a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, which is a requirement for practice in the United States. Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, using non-invasive techniques. Their practice focuses on the relationship between the structure of the body, primarily the spine, and its function as it affects the nervous system and overall health. Understanding the doctoral degree requirement is the first step in understanding the rigorous academic journey and subsequent licensing process required to enter this field.
The Required Degree and Professional Title
The required professional degree is the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), a post-baccalaureate degree that qualifies the recipient to be addressed as “Doctor.” This designation is a professional doctorate, similar to a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), signifying completion of a comprehensive, graduate-level education program. The D.C. title indicates a high level of academic training in a specific healthcare discipline, distinct from a Ph.D., which is a research doctorate.
While both a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Medical Doctor are licensed healthcare providers who examine and diagnose patients, their scope of practice and training differ significantly. The D.C. curriculum is intensely focused on musculoskeletal health, manual techniques, and non-drug treatment modalities. Chiropractors serve as primary contact providers for neuromusculoskeletal conditions, making the doctoral degree a necessary credential to uphold this level of responsibility and trust in the healthcare system.
Educational Prerequisites for Admission
Before applying to a Doctor of Chiropractic program, candidates must complete a specific set of undergraduate requirements. Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 90 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university. While a bachelor’s degree is preferred by many institutions, the 90-credit minimum ensures a foundational level of higher education.
A significant portion of this preliminary coursework must be concentrated in the life and physical sciences, totaling 24 or more semester hours with laboratory components. Common prerequisite courses include general biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and physics. This rigorous science background is necessary to prepare the student for the advanced, in-depth study of the human body that forms the core of the D.C. curriculum.
The Doctor of Chiropractic Program Structure
The D.C. program is an intensive, graduate-level course of study that typically spans four academic years, structured into 10 trimesters of year-round study. The total instructional time for a student to receive their diploma averages a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical education. This time commitment is comparable in total hours to other professional medical degrees, though the focus and distribution of hours differ.
The curriculum is divided into three distinct phases, beginning with the foundational sciences in the early trimesters. Students immerse themselves in subjects like gross anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, and microbiology, providing an understanding of the body’s structure and function. The subsequent phase transitions into the clinical sciences, focusing on diagnosis, diagnostic imaging (radiology), neurology, and the principles and practice of chiropractic techniques.
The final phase involves extensive hands-on training and clinical experience, where students learn to apply diagnostic and manipulative skills. This training includes practical instruction in soft-tissue techniques, physical diagnosis, and case management. Students are required to participate in a supervised clinical internship, often lasting up to two years, where they manage patient cases under the guidance of licensed doctors of chiropractic within the college’s teaching clinics.
Licensing and Board Certification
Graduation from an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program is a prerequisite for licensure, but it does not grant the right to practice. This requires successfully navigating the board certification process. All fifty U.S. states and several territories require candidates to pass a series of standardized examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). These examinations assess academic knowledge and clinical competency before a doctor can legally treat patients.
The NBCE testing process involves four main parts taken throughout the professional program. Part I covers the basic sciences, Part II addresses the clinical sciences and diagnostic imaging, and Part III focuses on clinical competency and case management. Part IV is the practical examination, which assesses hands-on skills such as physical examination procedures and adjusting techniques.
In addition to the four main parts, most states require candidates to pass the NBCE Physiotherapy exam, an elective test covering passive and active adjunctive procedures. The final step is obtaining a license from the specific state where the doctor intends to practice. This often involves passing a state-specific jurisprudence examination, which tests knowledge of the state’s laws, rules, and regulations governing the scope of chiropractic practice.