Education

HOW WELL EDUCATED IS YOUR CHIROPRACTOR?

Doctors of Chiropractic Have Six or More Years of College

 

Doctors of Chiropractic complete 4 years of undergraduate school and 5 years of graduate school. They are required to pass National and State board examinations to obtain licensure. Once licensed, continuing post-graduate education is required for annual license renewal.

Basic Science Comparisons

CHIROPRACTIC HOURS* (minimum)

SUBJECT

MEDICAL HOURS* (minimum)

456

Anatomy/Embryology

215

243

Physiology

174

296

Pathology**

507

161

Chemistry

100

145

Microbiology

145

408

Diagnosis***

113

149

Neurology

171

271

X-ray

13

56

Psychology/Psychiatry

323

66

Obstetrics & Gynecology

284

168

Orthopedics

2

2,419

TOTAL HOURS

2,047

*The class hours for basic science comparisons were compiled and averaged following a review of curricula of 18 chiropractic colleges and 22 medical schools, based on the 1988-89 Association of American Medical Colleges Curriculum Directory (AAMC), Vickie Ahari, Editor, and the Chiropractic College Admissions and Curriculum Directory 1988-89, K. Magarian and K. McNamee, editors.
 
**Pathology includes Geriatrics and Pediatrics
***Includes EENT and Dermatology

 

Comparisons of the Overall Curriculum for Chiropractic and Medical schools

 

Chiropractic Schools

Medical Schools

 

Mean

Percentage

Mean

Percentage

Basic science hours

1416

29%

1200

26%

Clinical science hours

3406

71%

3467

74%

Chiropractic science hours

1975

41%

0

0

Clerkship hours

1405

29%

3467

74%

Total Contact Hours

4822

100%

4667

100%

 

  Source for above charts: Center for studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, D.C.       Personal Communication of 1995, unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, Phd.

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