Prechiropractic Information

• Helpful Links
• Chiropractic FAQs
• Career Description
• Admission Requirements
• Prerequisite classes
• Application Process
• Chiropractic Schools
• Specific School Information

Helpful Links

• The Association of Chiropractic Colleges
• The American Chiropractic Association
• Canadian Chiropractic Association

Chiropractic FAQs

What is chiropractic medicine?

• Chiropractic care is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the inherent power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. Chiropractic doctors diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems.

What is the workweek like?

• Most chiropractors work 40 hours/week in well-lighted, comfortable settings. They almost always set their own hours, which usually range from 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., although some may work evening and weekend hours to accommodate their patients.

What is the average salary?

• The average salary of chiropractors is around $90,000/year.

What are the admission requirements?

• Combination of science and non-science classes.
• Average GPA about 3.15.
• Shadowing experience.
• Well-rounded students.

What should I major in?

• Whatever you'd like to! No particular major is required; do something you like and that you can do well in and then make sure you complete the required chiropractic school classes in addition to the major you choose.

How long is the schooling to become a chiropractor?

• Almost all chiropractic programs are four years. A few may be completed in three.

Career Description

Chiropractic care is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the inherent power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. It focuses on the relationship between the body's structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. When appropriate, Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine work in cooperation with the patient's other healthcare practitioners.

Chiropractic doctors diagnose and treat patients whose health problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems. Chiropractors believe that interference with these systems can impair normal functioning, cause pain, and lower resistance to disease. They are most well-known for the hands-on technique they practice to adjust imbalances in the patient's skeletal system, particularly in the spine.

The chiropractic approach to health care is holistic, stressing the patient's overall health and wellness. It recognizes that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity.

Chiropractor earnings vary from state to state, averaging around $90,000/year. The average workweek is 40 hours, although longer hours are not uncommon. Solo practitioners set their own hours, but may work evenings or weekends in order to accommodate their patients.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in pursuing a career in chiropractics may choose any major while at BYU, as long as they also complete the prerequisite courses for admittance to chiropractic school. Technically a student must complete at least three years of undergraduate education for admittance; however, the federal chiropractic licensing boards require a bachelor's degree in order to practice in many states. It is, therefore, highly recommended that a bachelor's degree be obtained before continuation to chiropractic school. Accredited chiropractic medicine programs last four years and lead to a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.

There is no standardized test (such as the MCAT or DAT) required for admittance to chiropractic school. Most schools report that a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required; however, current entering classes have average GPAs of around 3.15.

Prerequisite Classes

Application Process

There is no standardized application process (as of yet) for chiropractic medicine. Each school must be applied to individually. All schools have a website (see school information) with downloadable applications. Each application usually costs around $50. Be sure to include all elements of each application, as they may vary slightly from school to school.

Revised August 2008