Chiropractic Physician Training

The major focus of chiropractic is concerned with how the musculoskeletal and nervous systems interact with each other, as well as with the various other systems of the body (i.e., reproductive, digestive, endocrine, lymphatic/immunity, respiratory, urinary, and cardiovascular).

Keeping the body free from nerve interference has a direct positive benefit to all these body systems. As a result, chiropractors are intensively trained in these various systems, as well as in human anatomy and physiology, neurology, biomechanics, and disease pathologies.

The Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) is a four-year program, the first two years of which are very similar to medical doctor (M.D.) programs. Chiropractors must pass four national board exams in order to practice, as well as a national board exam in physiotherapy if they would like to do rehab.

In addition to chiropractic adjustment technique classes, elective classes, and a two-year internship, the typical chiropractic program consists of the following coursework (no particular order):

  • Embryology

  • Histology

  • Osteology

  • Biochemistry I & II

  • Anatomy & Physiology

  • Public Health

  • Spinal Anatomy

  • Muscle/Skeletal Gross Anatomy

  • Visceral Gross Anatomy

  • Head and Neck Gross Anatomy

  • Motion Palpation I & II

  • Spinal Biomechanics

  • Neurophysiology

  • Chiropractic History & Philosophy

  • PNS (Peripheral Nervous System)

  • Neurodiagnosis

  • Muscle, Gait, Posture analyses

  • Wellness

  • Subluxation Theories

  • Genital-Urinary Diagnosis

  • Gastrointestinal Diagnosis

  • Emergency Clinical Assessment

  • Toxicology I &II

  • Instrumentation I & II

  • Ob/Gyn

  • Chiropractic Principles

  • Bacteriology & Virology

  • Physiology

  • Visceral Physiology

  • Nutrition

  • Radiology (I-XII)

  • X-Ray Physics

  • Visceral Diagnosis

  • Parasitology & Mycology

  • Research (I-IV)

  • CNS (Central Nervous System)

  • Orthopedic Diagnosis

  • Immunology

  • Disease Pathology I and II

  • Endocrinology

  • Geriatrics

  • Clinical Psychology

  • Soft Tissue Analysis

  • Pediatric Diagnosis/adjusting

  • Integrated Diagnosis

  • Professional Ethics

  • Jurisprudence

  • Advanced Imaging

  • Exercise Physiology

Bar chart showing total educational hours in six categories: DC, DO, DPT, MD, ND, RMT, and LMT. Each category has red bars for academic hours and blue bars for clinic hours, with numerical values displayed for each.
A chart displaying educational hours across various medical specialties, including anatomy, physiology, diagnostic imaging, orthopaedics, soft tissue, rehab, osseous, manipulation, nutrition, pharmacology, electrotherapeutic, surgical, and additional categories, with hours for different medical roles.