Careers Employment
How Do You Become a Chiropractor?
To become a chiropractor, it will take at least eight years of school plus internship. You will also have to undergo a strenuous hectic professional education just like any other doctor would have to go through. When you go to college to become a chiropractor, you will focus on the maintenance of three main systems of the body, which are the muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems.
The basic requirements are getting a two year undergraduate degree in a field related to being a chiropractor or a four year bachelor degree. Once you have either of those it is time to enroll in a degree program at an accredited chiropractic college, which is another four to five years of schooling. You will also have to do an internship at some outpatient clinic that is ran and owned by the chiropractic college you went to.
Some of the classes you would take in a chiropractic college include:
- Orthopedics-joints and bones
- General chiropractic analysis
- Anatomy
- Neurology–nervous system
- Biochemistry
- Radiology
- Disease–pathology
- The function of the body–physiology
- Lab and physical diagnosis
During the first two years, in the training phase, you will learn basic medicine, biology, and science. After those two years you will be taught techniques for massaging, joint adjustments, detecting pressure points, and palpation. You will have to also take a national and state licensing exam in the state you will be practicing.
One of the exams you have to take is called a Board certification given by the National Board of Chiropractor Examiners. The purpose of this exam is to maintain and create the national standards for chiropractic care. The other test is called a Licensure given by state where you are going to practice.
In some states it is mandatory to pass a practical exam. In most states you will have to complete a set number each year of continuing education hours to keep their license and maintain a high standard of practice.
Once you become a NC chiropractor you can expect to earn approximately sixty-eight thousand dollars a year and as you gain more experience you can up to one hundred fifty thousand dollars a year. Next to dental medicine, it is the third largest branch of medicine.
A chiropractor can treat patients of all ages who have body pain. The job prospect of being in this field is very good for years to come, especially with people living longer. Becoming a chiropractor can mean a good income and job security.