A minimum of two year undergraduate courses are required upon applying to a chiropractic college.  Typically, people applying to chiropractic school have studied four years of undergraduate courses.  Classes include biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and physiology.  Once the individual is accepted into a chiropractic school, they will start clinicals and take courses that provide hands on experience.  Students of chiropractic take classes dealing with health sciences, similar to medical doctors.  Typically, students will spend at least one year in clinical based classes studying and caring for patients.  Over the course of education, a student will spend about 4,200 hours at clinicals and in the classroom and laboratory.  During the course of chiropractic education, students will study adjustment techniques, practices of chiropractic, physiologic therapeutics, and biomechanics. 

Educational Standards

        Education standards have been developed by the Council of Chiropractic (CCE).  Admissions and chiropractic licensing board requirements are influenced by the CCE.  Chiropractors are required to be licensed in all 50 states and in over 30 countries outside of the U.S.  The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) requires that all candidates applying for a chiropractic license take a three part exam.  Part one of the exam covers basic sciences and is taken after the student completes their first year of chiropractic education.  Part two covers clinical sciences and is given to students in their senior year of chiropractic college.  Part three requires students to pass a written clinical exam and must be completed eight months prior to graduation.  In order to take part three, students must pass parts one and two of the exam.