You Have Your Chiropractic Degree—Now What?

Completing a chiropractic degree is the foundation towards being a licensed chiropractic physician. Once you have completed your chiropractic degree, you still need to undergo a few more steps before opening up your practice. Here is a list of steps to take after your chiropractic education.

Experience

After absorbing ideas, theories, and techniques, the new chiropractic graduate should aim to collect experience for a set period of time. Post-graduate experience is needed for graduates to participate in a licensure examination. All examining or licensing boards for chiropractic medicine require candidates to have 12 months of supervised clinical internship. Chiropractic graduates can obtain experience from chiropractic clinics, chiropractic wellness centers, or hospital departments.

Licensure Examination

Aside from completing a year of clinical experience, chiropractors should complete requirements pertaining to education to qualify for examination. Most state licensing boards direct examinees to have completed two to four years of undergraduate education related to chiropractic medicine. Afterwards, the potential examinee should have completed a four-year chiropractic program in an accredited college, leading to the degree, Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). The DC degree is required in all states.

The licensure examination for chiropractic doctors is given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). The exam covers four primary areas (NBCE Parts I-IV) and two elective areas.

Part I. The primary first test covers six basic science subjects: General anatomy, spinal anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology, and microbiology.

Part II. The second test comprises six clinical subjects: General diagnosis, neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, principles of chiropractic medicine, chiropractic practice, and associated clinical sciences.

Part III. The third test is composed of case history, physical examination, neuromusculoskeletal examination, roentgenologic examination, clinical laboratory and special studies examination, diagnosis or clinical impression, chiropractic techniques, supportive techniques and case management.

Part IV. Finally, the fourth test contains x-ray interpretation and diagnosis, chiropractic technique, and case management skills.

Passing the NBCE examinations grants the chiropractor a certificate of attainment. The practitioner then needs to meet individual state or international requirements. They may need to undergo state or provincial examination.

Post-Licensure Tests. There are two tests given by the NBCE after licensure exams. The first is the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic (SPEC). This is given to re-evaluate a chiropractor’s clinical competency and licensing eligibility. The second is the NBCE Ethics and Boundaries Examination (NBCE E&B). It evaluates the chiropractor’s ethical knowledge and issues like misconduct and sexual harassment.

Malpractice Insurance

Another requirement for granting a license to the chiropractor is obtaining malpractice insurance. This is needed to protect chiropractic patients and to maintain standards of care. Malpractice insurance for chiropractors can be obtained from insurance companies for health professionals.

Continuing Education

To maintain their license, chiropractors need to complete 12 to 50 hours of continuing education practices yearly. Continuing education can take the form of accredited forums, seminars, and workshops provided by professional organizations.

Postdoctoral Training

Licensed chiropractors can choose to expand their education for better opportunities. There are colleges who provide postdoctoral training in areas like chiropractic neurology, sports injuries, industrial consulting, radiology, and pediatrics. Completion of such degrees in these fields confers a diplomat status to the chiropractor.