by Updated on | $ Licensing: $100-$300 | $ $ Graduate Degree: $70,000-$105,000+ |
The task of the Chiropractic doctors is to diagnose and then treat health problems in the musculoskeletal system of the body.
They make adjustments to the spine, neck and other parts of the body of the patient, to relieve a variety of pains from back pain to headaches.
To practice, chiropractors undergo extensive coursework in physiology and anatomy.
First, they attain clinical experience treating patients before they go to the licensing exam, meet the state requirements and practice chiropractic care.
Typical Costs
A graduate degree tuition from a chiropractic college costs $70,000-$105,000.
The chiropractic colleges are in general private and rarely state-funded.
For example, the 12-trimester program and the Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College, in Kansas City or Los Angeles, costs $91,500.
At the same time, The Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, S.C., requests $6,445 per quarter for 14 quarters total, making a total of $90,230.
The education requirements for chiropractic college admission include a four-year undergraduate degree in pre-medicine and up to five years of graduate coursework at a chiropractic college, plus a year of clinical experience.
This means that the education requirements are similar to the studies of medical doctors, including advanced coursework in anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and public health.
The undergraduate college degree starts from $5,000 on the average per year at a state college to $20,000 per year at a private college.
The tuition at the University of Rochester in New York costs $28,000 per year, including an additional $2,200 in mandatory fees for all full-time students.
The licensing requirements for chiropractors vary by state. However, the initial license, as a rule, costs $100-$300.
The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners is offering links to the chiropractic licensing agency of each state.
In California, for example, an application costs $100, the initial license costs $100, and the renewal fee costs $250 annually.
At the same time in Iowa, the license fee is $270, and the bi-annual renewal fee is $120.
What Is Included
Chiropractic education includes topics on the NBCE licensing exam, such as general and spinal anatomy, physiology and chemistry, pathology, and microbiology.
Students have to learn general diagnostic techniques, including usage of imaging equipment and need to obtain clinical and classroom experience.
Additional Costs
Chiropractic college cost includes besides living expense, books, and fees of approx. $15,000-$25,000 per year.
For example, Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA, includes an annual sum for books and equipment for $1,575 per year, while the living expenses such as room, board, and transportation cost annually $18,285.
The extra costs at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT, include annually $13,000-$16,000 for room and board and $75-$150 per class for books, or total per year $1,350-$2,700.
Most states require chiropractors to cover yearly continuing education courses to renew a license.
Planet Chiropractic, for example, lists seminars that cost $200-$400 for a weekend conference.
The University of Western States offers a two-hour course for $50.
There are specific rules for each state chiropractic board on what qualifies as continuing education requirements.
Discounts
Some colleges and other organizations offer chiropractic scholarships to students that meet a set of criteria.
For example, The Sherman College of Chiropractic awards scholarships of $300 to $500 per semester to qualifying students.
At the same time, the American Chiropractic Association secures scholarships of $1,000-$2,500 each year.
Shopping for Chiropractor School
- The American Chiropractic Association provides a list of chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.
- The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners offers additional information on the licensing test for chiropractors, including optional sections in physiotherapy and acupuncture.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains education and licensure requirements as well as the job outlook for chiropractors.
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