With the increasing number of people who need cost-effective healthcare options, choosing to attend a chiropractic college is something to investigate. Those wanting to help people live a healthier life sometimes ask the question, “How long is chiropractic school?” A “3.3 years” answer to that question is one of several reasons to be excited about the chiropractic profession.
You should congratulate yourself in thinking about a profession dedicated to helping people. Med and nursing schools are well-known career pathways, yet there are at least three reasons to look into a chiropractic college.
How Long is Chiropractic School? 3.3 Years to a D.C. Degree
Deciding to pursue a degree involves an investment of time, energy, and resources. Knowing how long it could take you to earn your degree and enter the profession is key to your success.
Because most chiropractic colleges use a tri-semester system (three semesters per year), most students can complete chiropractic college in 3.3 years after admission. (Note: there’s a minimum of 90 college hours required for admission to a chiropractic college, although many students earn their bachelor’s degree first.)
However, some high-achieving high school graduates may want to consider a combined degree option that should reduce the total time for completing an undergraduate degree and the chiropractic degree.
Such combined programs are known as concurrent degree plans. Those who qualify can earn their bachelor of science degree (B.S.) in biology (or human biology) as they progress toward the doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) degree.
Preparing for Chiropractic College
Another way to look at the answer to “How long is chiropractic school” depends on where you are:
If you’re in high school or are a recent high school graduate, the answer to “How long is chiropractic school” means completing an undergraduate (typically four-year) college degree and then entering a chiropractic degree program. As noted, acceptance into a concurrent degree program also may reduce time in school.
If you’re a college student now or a college graduate, you’ll need to see how much of your coursework will transfer to an accredited chiropractic program. You might be surprised how close you are to being ready.
Interestingly, some people come to a chiropractic career after starting careers in other fields. They choose to attend a chiropractic college because they’ve experienced the benefits of chiropractic treatments first-hand, or realize that a healing profession fits their talents and interests better.
After “How Long is Chiropractic School,” What Else Should You Know?
Getting a D.C. degree from a chiropractic college aligns well with the future of healthcare – chiropractors have a non-pharmaceutical approach to patient care that most patients appreciate.
Recent evidence-based research is validating chiropractic care. Since 2012, at least four major medical journals came out with articles discussing the benefits of chiropractic treatments: the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Spine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
In 2017, the American College of Physicians (ACP) issued clinical recommendations for first choosing conservative, noninvasive treatments, including spinal adjustments.
The College of Chiropractic at Cleveland University-Kansas City
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kan., a suburb of the Kansas City metro. Founded in 1922, our College of Chiropractic continues to be a pioneer in chiropractic education.
CUKC is the first U.S. chiropractic college to have two Force Sensing Table Technology (FSTT) units in the adjusting laboratory on campus. FSTT™ improves students’ mastery of effective adjustment techniques by displaying and recording the amount of adjusting force.
Students interested in earning their Doctor of Chiropractic degree at CUKC often choose to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology through the concurrent B.S./D.C. program.
Interested in the details of a chiropractic college education and the details behind “How long is chiropractic school? Click on the button below for the FREE ebook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
