The numbers are staggering. Statistically, eight of 10 adults during their lifetime will find themselves facing pain or loss of range of motion because of musculoskeletal conditions So, if you’re thinking about a career where you can help a lot of people reduce pain and discomfort, and stay active longer in safe and effective ways, think seriously about earning a doctor of chiropractic degree.
The Chiropractic Profession: Optimizing and Preserving Health
Over the years, there have been inaccurate labels placed on chiropractors, so it’s best to get back to the fundamental description of what chiropractors do. It’s this: chiropractors devote themselves to optimizing and preserving health through a variety of non-pharmaceutical methods. Like others in the healthcare profession, doctors of chiropractic first will review a patient’s medical history and complete a comprehensive physical assessment before determining a treatment plan. After that, a chiropractor’s recommendations can include:
Patients Want Coordinated Care. Chiropractors are Already There
Those earning a doctor of chiropractic degree are joining a profession that’s on the front lines of today’s multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to patient health.
The publication Spinal Health noted that chiropractors would refer patients to other practitioners or emergency care when the medical conditions call for them.When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic services may support the overall treatment plan by relieving the musculoskeletal pain associated with those conditions.
The 2019 article “U.S. Health Care Continues Move Toward Multidisciplinary Medicine” in Chiropractic Economics phrases it this way: “There is an obvious need in the United States to improve the evaluation and management of patients with chronic pain, and chiropractic services can be an integral part of the solution.”
Dr. Jon Petrick, who earned his doctor of chiropractic degree in 1999, says he appreciates the collaborative nature of the chiropractic profession. “I work with orthopedic surgeons and cardiovascular doctors and different types of M.D.s and specialists. So, for me, it’s the teamwork. There’s never been a better time than right now to be a chiropractic physician.”
3.3 Years to the Doctor of Chiropractic Degree
Most chiropractic colleges use a trimester system (three semesters per year), allowing most doctor of chiropractic degree students to complete chiropractic college in 3.3 years.The chiropractic curriculum compares in many ways to medical school, including training in anatomy and physiology, and the hours devoted to basic sciences and clinical sciences. Before graduating, chiropractic students complete two years of hands-on clinical experience, progressing from the student clinic to the status of chiropractic interns in a clinic that serves the public.
Typically, a doctor of chiropractic degree student either has a bachelor’s degree or has accumulated at least 90 college hours. It takes extensive preparation to get in, though. A chiropractic college will expect a 3.0 cumulative college GPA, and proven experience in handling classes such as chemistry with lab components, biology or human biology, anatomy, and physiology.
How Chiropractic Fits What You Want
Becoming a chiropractor will place you on track for a satisfying – and challenging – people-first career as a healthcare professional. The career outlook for chiropractors is for 4% growth from 2019 through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than half of all chiropractors are solo or group practitioners, so they have greater control of their time.
That freedom lets doctors of chiropractic spend more time with their patients and focus on healthcare initiatives in the communities they serve. Hungry for more information? You’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions in this FAQ blog.
3.3 Years to Your Doctor of Chiropractic Degree
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university located in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of the Kansas City metro. Most students earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) in 3.3 years through a year-round, trimester schedule. Points of distinction for the CUKC chiropractic degree include:
Here are two ways to learn more about earning a doctor of chiropractic degree. One, get connected with an admissions advisor here, and two, click here for a free eBook: Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession.
