Here’s a question many healthcare career-focused students ask: “How many years does it take to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree?” Indeed, it’s true that deciding to pursue a college degree involves an investment of time, energy, and resources. Knowing how long it may take to earn your degree and enter the chiropractic profession is part of the decision process.
Here’s the good news: Most students earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degree in as little as 3.5 years at Cleveland University-Kansas City’s College of Chiropractic.
Now that you know, here’s a more detailed look into a chiropractic college education. The secret is strong preparation…plus a deep-seated determination to succeed in an intense, comprehensive healthcare education.
Before starting a chiropractic degree program, think about the education you’ve already received. Which “student category” are you in?
How you prepare for earning a chiropractic degree depends on your answer to the previous set of questions.
If you’re in high school now or perhaps a recent high school graduate, you will need to work toward completing an undergraduate college degree and making sure you’re meeting the expected level of preliminary classes. The standards are high because chiropractic college is rigorous and fast-paced, like medical school.
If you’re a college student or a college graduate, your first step is to meet with a chiropractic college academic advisor. That’s the best way to see how much of your previous coursework will transfer to the accredited chiropractic degree program you wish to pursue.
If you’re in a health sciences field but you’re not feeling fulfilled, it’s not too late to use your people and science abilities to become a chiropractor. Many before you have done so.
Typically, chiropractic colleges expect at least 90 college hours, and some may require completing a bachelor’s (four-year) degree.
If you’re someone with a lot of personal drive and want to enter a chiropractic degree program as early as you can, it’s a good idea to research the different formal transfer agreements for the chiropractic program you have in mind. (These are commonly known as articulation agreements. These agreements can help ensure previous colleges courses will apply to the chiropractic degree requirements.)
Chiropractic programs are demanding, and rightfully so. Doctors of chiropractic have immense responsivities for helping others achieve the healthiest possible lives.
Patients expect doctors of chiropractic to be knowledgeable, experienced, and fully prepared to offer sound, individualized care for people of all ages. Your time in chiropractic college will prepare you to obtain a chiropractic license, which all U.S. States require.
To ensure you have the necessary knowledge and skills, you’ll take a number of skills/knowlege tests – known as the board exams – while you’re in school. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) administers these exams. Even better, chiropractic colleges post the NBCE scores on their websites, so reviewing those NBCE score results is a good indicator of faculty instruction.
Learn more about what it’s like earning a chiropractic degree by reading this blog.
As you consider the chiropractic programs available to you, it’s essential to take time to reflect on why you’re choosing to enter the chiropractic profession. For most students, it’s because they feel compelled to help others to live healthier lives and accomplish this without using prescription medicine.
If that’s you, “think three to a degree”– the Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas, a part of the Kansas City metro. Most CUKC students earn their chiropractic degree in less than 3.5 years. CUKC has been a leader in chiropractic education for nearly 100 years.
While many of our students have already earned their undergraduate degrees, others choose our B.S./D.C. degree program, earning their bachelor of science (B.S.) in Human Biology on the way to their Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.
In this program, the fourth year of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Human Biology and the first year of the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) program overlap. Students using this program can shorten their time in school by up to a year.
For a comprehensive look at becoming a chiropractor, contact a CUKC academic advisor to receive our FREE eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
