Pre-Chiropractic (DC)
What future students usually study in college, how to get ready in high school, and what the career looks like today. Every fact below names its source.
You become: a Chiropractor (DC). Chiropractors assess, treat and care for patients by manipulating the spine and musculoskeletal system. [1]
Last checked:
What it is
Chiropractors must have a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited chiropractic college, and a D.C. degree usually takes 4 years to complete. [1]
Admission to D.C. programs requires at least 3 years of undergraduate education, although applicants commonly have a bachelor's degree. [1]
A D.C. program includes coursework in anatomy, physiology, biology and similar subjects. [1]
Courses to take before applying
Palmer College of Chiropractic is shown as one named example. Confirm each chiropractic college’s own requirements.
- Chiropractic programs generally require applicants to have completed coursework in sciences such as physics, chemistry and biology, as well as general education studies. [1]
- Applicants need a baccalaureate degree or 90 semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale, or 90 semester credits with a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 that include a minimum of 24 semester credits in life and physical science courses. [2]
- Palmer College's doctor of chiropractic program is professionally accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). [2]
- Palmer College strongly recommends 24 science credits, including chemistry and anatomy, for applicants who qualify through a baccalaureate degree or through 90 semester credits with a GPA of 3.0 or greater. [2]
Typical high school preparation
We did not find an official source that gives high school course advice for this profession, so none is listed. For the high school courses colleges ask for in general, see the College Preparation page.
Pre-Health Foundations: coming soon
The career today
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
The median annual wage for chiropractors was $79,200 in May 2025. [1]
Employment of chiropractors is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. [1]
The typical entry-level education is a doctoral or professional degree. [1]
Getting licensed
All states require chiropractors to be licensed, although requirements vary by state, and at a minimum, all require the completion of an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program and passing an exam. [1]
All states require practicing chiropractors to earn a specified number of hours of continuing education credits to maintain a chiropractic license. [1]
Exams on this path
Overview only. For dates, registration, rules and scoring, see each test maker's own site.
NBCE exams (licensure)
The NBCE is the international testing agency for the chiropractic profession. [3]
All states require chiropractors to be licensed, although requirements vary by state, and at a minimum, all require the completion of an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program and passing an exam. [1]
Exam names are trademarks of their owners. The NBCE is not affiliated with and does not endorse UpOnly Learning.
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
How long is chiropractic school?
Chiropractors must have a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited chiropractic college, and a D.C. degree usually takes 4 years to complete. [1]
Admission to D.C. programs requires at least 3 years of undergraduate education, although applicants commonly have a bachelor's degree. [1]
Your next step
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chiropractors. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/chiropractors.htm. OOH page last modified August 27, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- Palmer College of Chiropractic. Admissions Requirements. https://www.palmer.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/. no edition stated. Checked .
- National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (home page). https://www.nbce.org/. no edition stated (page metadata modified October 13, 2026). Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.