It’s fantastic that you’re enrolled (or have been accepted) into chiropractic college. Research findings and public sentiment continue to validate the benefits of chiropractic care. These days, many patients like having a doctor of chiropractic on their multidisciplinary healthcare team or the ability to go to a medical clinic that consults with chiropractors regarding musculoskeletal problems.
The Public Loves What You’re Learning to Do
The increasing use of chiropractic treatments isn’t happening by accident. The growing use of chiropractic care is due to emerging research, a move toward integrative care, and a still-serious prescription opioid crisis.
Doing “conservative care options first” is an approach to healthcare options endorsed by the American College of Physicians and by recommendations published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
So, yes, your choice to attend chiropractic college has a lot of wisdom to it. The next questions to answer are, “How do I maximize that experience? How do I learn as much as possible about the profession, so I’m ready after I graduate?”
One great answer is to join any number of chiropractic associations, interest groups, and student organizations.
Here are five reasons to make a concentrated effort to get involved.
1. It widens your perspective.
“Joining in” opens your world to new chiropractic issues, topics, and trends. Perhaps there’s a student club investigating a technique you aren’t that familiar with, but patients in the real world find helpful.
2. There are opportunities to prove leadership abilities.
Getting involved helps you grow personally. Plus, if you’ll be looking for an associate position after graduation, employers who are looking to add staff love to see experiences where students led others and added to their knowledge on their own.
3. You’ll expand your personal and professional network.
Memberships in student clubs and student versions of professional organizations will expose you to new friendships and networking groups. This will make you a better-informed student and open more doors for you after graduating from chiropractic college.
4. You’ll know how to market yourself.
Memberships in associations often add valuable perspectives about the profession. Imagine collecting a notebook full of “best business practices” that will assist you in growing your chiropractic practice or finding out a specific geographic region that has a big need for more chiropractors.
5. You’ll be inspired.
Chiropractic college is challenging. Getting through more than 4,200 clock hours of instruction, lab experiences, and clinical practice in 3.3 years can wear down just about anyone. From time to time, you’ll need motivation from your peers to keep you doing your best.
Being in a community of people with similar interests and having trusted classmates you can turn to is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy school-life balance.
Starting Points for Chiropractic College Success
One place to see many options available to you is the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) website. This organization conducts the exams leading to licensure as a Doctor of Chiropractic. On the NBCE website, there’s a list of state licensing boards.
There’s also much about the profession on the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) website, from crucial facts to research findings. ACA is the largest chiropractic professional association.
Universities that promote a well-rounded chiropractic life will support chapters of SACA – the Student American Chiropractic Association and SICA, the student-focused arm of the International Chiropractic Association. Both organizations offer leadership opportunities and essential information regarding the chiropractic profession.
Many student chapters bring in guest speakers on varying topics, from customer service tips to choosing a geographic location for a chiropractic business.
Another excellent option is to know about state associations. That gives you access to local issues and information. On the ACA website, you’ll find this link to all U.S. state associations.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit university specializing in chiropractic and health sciences degrees. Since our founding in 1922, more than 11,000 U.S. chiropractors have earned the Doctor of Chiropractic degree at CUKC.
The 34-acre campus is in Overland Park, Kan., a prominent Kansas City suburb. In 2021, Niche gave Overland Park an A+ score among all cities in the U.S.
Students can earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degree in a variety of ways:
Do you have a few friends who should know more about the CUKC College of Chiropractic? They can find answers by talking to an admissions advisor and getting a free eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
