Chiropractic Licensure and Education

Standards for chiropractic education are established and monitored by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting agency for chiropractic education, the CCE sets the standards for the curriculum, faculty, facilities, treatment and research.

Sixty credits or more of undergraduate college must be completed prior to admission to a chiropractic college. Two colleges currently require 75 units, and one college requires 90 units, with successful completion of courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, English/communication and the humanities. Currently, six state licensing boards require a bachelor's degree in addition to the doctor of chiropractic degree for licensure, and that number is continually on the rise.

A graduate chiropractic program consists of four academic years of professional education equaling about 5,000 hours of study.

The practice of chiropractic is licensed and regulated in all states and in over 30 countries worldwide. State licensing boards regulate licensure, and protect the public health, safety and welfare.

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) administers the national board examinations that are necessary to practice as a chiropractor. These exams cover several sections:

Part I covers the basic sciences and is taken after the first year of chiropractic college education.

Part II covers clinical sciences and is administered when students are in their senior year of chiropractic college.

Part III is a written clinical competency examination that requires a student to have passed parts I and II and be within eight months of graduation (or already graduated).

Part IV is an oral practical examination that tests the candidate's ability to perform as a doctor. Some state boards will administer this testing as part of licensing.