A career as a chiropractor is looking more promising than ever, as people grow more interested in all types of health and fitness. Chiropractic care is also becoming more accessible and affordable, as more insurance policies cover these services, making the demand for chiropractors grow.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of chiropractors is projected to increase 10 percent between 2021 and 2031, a faster-than-average growth rate compared to other occupations.
Chiropractic treatment is natural, surgery-free, and not reliant on prescription drugs to treat patients’ pain and overall wellness.
This article will explain why the demand for chiropractic care continues to rise, the job outlook for chiropractors, and how you can become a chiropractor by earning a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
What is a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor manipulates or adjusts the spine and other skeletal joints to correct misalignments that can cause health problems in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, have a minimum of one year of supervised clinical-based patient care, and pass all licensing requirements to practice in their state of residence.
Responsibilities of chiropractors include:
- Performing physical examinations and evaluating a patient’s spine, posture, and reflexes
- Taking and analyzing patient x-rays
- Performing neuromusculoskeletal therapy and manipulation
- Counseling patients on nutrition, exercise, and healthcare
Chiropractors utilize a variety of therapies when treating their patients, such as water, heat, acupuncture, ultrasound, and massage.
Are Chiropractors in Demand?
Absolutely. People of all ages are increasingly interested in integrative or complementary healthcare to treat pain and improve their overall health and wellness.
And because of their personal, holistic, surgery-free, and drug-free approach, chiropractors are becoming increasingly popular.
Furthermore, as the average life span increases, so does the elderly population, who exhibit and experience more structural and mechanical difficulties with their bodies, creating even more demand for chiropractic care.
The Current Chiropractic Job Outlook
Most chiropractors work in a solo or group chiropractic setting and usually work full-time, though part-time work is also typical.
Chiropractors often work with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians and physical therapists, through referrals and complementary care.
Based on the 10 percent employment growth rate, the BLS projects an average of 2,100 job openings yearly and reported 53,200 current chiropractic jobs in 2021. These openings will occur due to the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.
The median annual wage for chiropractors was $75,000 in May 2021, and earnings are determined based on the number of years in practice, geographic area of practice, and hours worked.
How to Become a Chiropractor
As you can see, now is the time to become a chiropractor. Chiropractors are in high demand, and the current job outlook supports individuals starting on this career path. To begin, chiropractors must meet strict educational requirements to practice.
First, you must obtain a bachelor’s degree and ensure your education includes chemistry, psychology, physics, literature, and humanities courses.
Upon completion of your bachelor’s degree (or 90 credits), you can apply and enroll in a DC degree program.
Doctor of Chiropractic programs typically take four years to complete, and each school has specific requirements for its program. Do your research and check with your desired schools regarding their requirements.
Generally, DC programs will include coursework in:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biology
- Supervised Clinical Experience
- Business Management
- Billing
After completing all necessary coursework and graduating with your accredited DC degree, aspiring chiropractors must take and pass all four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exam.
All states require this exam, and many states also require applicants to pass a background check, take continuing education classes, and pass state-specific law exams.
Candidates should ensure they check with their state of residence’s board of chiropractic examiners or health department for more specific information on how to become licensed.
The DC Degree Program at University of Bridgeport (UB)
Our program at UB helps students make a meaningful difference in their community by using holistic, evidence-based methods to rehabilitate the human body and reduce patient discomfort.
Our program was the first university-based DC program in the U.S. Our expert faculty and experienced healthcare professionals have led chiropractic students through hands-on clinical experiences and meaningful careers for over thirty years.
We have an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and students are admitted in January and August with 18-week semesters, offering students the flexibility they need to fulfill all their responsibilities.
Program prerequisites include:
- A bachelor’s degree OR a minimum of 90 credits
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher within the 90 credits
- A minimum of 24 credits in the physical/life sciences with a C or better (half of which must contain labs)
- Recommended coursework in biology/anatomy and physiology, general and organic chemistry, and physics
The demand for chiropractic care and job outlook for chiropractors show no signs of slowing down. Start your journey toward this rewarding career through our free application for our DC program. Then, together, let’s start something great!