Have you ever been curious as to how long your Phoenix AZ chiropractor went to school or how similar their route is to other healthcare fields? Knowing and understanding the background and various certificates that a chiropractor has obtained will help you significantly in the search for the right fit. Whenever you hear “doctor” you know that a lot of work and schooling has been put into getting that title. Despite the same title, each professional has a different path and unique journey through school to be able to practice in the field they are in.
Here at Pinnacle Chiropractic, our doctors have created this article to help you understand the educational path of a chiropractor which can help you understand your care.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHIROPRACTOR’S EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?
Similar to other professions the exact path to a degree can be different for each state. In most cases, a chiropractor must complete their undergraduate pre-medical education and receive a bachelor’s degree before applying to a graduate chiropractic school. Each of these graduate programs and colleges has been examined carefully in order to be approved by the Department of Education as a valid and credible educational institution.
Your chiropractor has spent more time than you can imagine at their particular academic university. It is demanded that a chiropractor spends a minimum of 4,200 hours in college before obtaining a diploma. Of these 4,200 hours, there is time allotted for the laboratory, classroom, and clinic in order to learn every aspect of chiropractic care along with the general healthcare profession.
In class, a chiropractor will specialize and spend time on subjects related to anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, biochemistry, pathology, orthopedic and neuromuscular evaluation, geriatric and pediatric care, microbiology, immunology, nutrition, radiology, philosophy, and research. This might sound like a lot, but each chiropractor must go through these topics and pass all the tests before being allowed to go into any clinical work. Upon completion of the schoolwork, a chiropractor-to-be will spend time in the clinic on campus. It is required the student be in the clinic with a clinic doctor for a minimum of 1,000 hours. This time is used for hands-on learning so that students can learn how to analyze, diagnose, and treat real-life patients in real-life scenarios.
During a chiropractor’s journey, they will be tested many different times with many different evaluation methods. Aside from tests within the college they attend, there are also exams from the national board that must be passed before practicing. In the United States, there are 4 national board exams that must be passed. They cover topics such as basic sciences, clinical sciences, diagnostic imaging, clinical competency, case management, and physiological therapeutics. Following the series of tests, each aspiring chiropractor must become certified and approved by the state’s licensing agency.
This is not the end of the road for the educational path of a chiropractor. Some states require a chiropractor to complete additional coursework as has been set by their states’ licenses. In Wisconsin for example, a chiropractor is required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of further education every two years after graduation.