Education
"The Doctor of the future will give No Medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."
-Thomas Alva Edison
Have you ever wondered just how much education your chiropractor has? The facts may very well surprise you.
Today, at least eight years of highly specialized college training are required to graduate and earn licensure in the state of Tennessee, and chiropractic has gained recognition as a comprehensive, scientifically sound force among the healing arts. Only chiropractic concerns itself with the interrelationship of structure and body functions, and only chiropractic effectively utilizes natural, drugless, method of treatment - primarily spinal adjustments.
The Chiropractic Doctor must meet stringent educational requirements, including approximately 600 hours of externship, which qualify him for licensure in all states and Canadian provinces. In many states, the chiropractor must pass a basic science examination - the same examination that is given to medical students. The chiropractor must also pass a rigid chiropractic board examination. In addition, the state requires continuing educational seminars for annual license renewal.
Look at these typical basic educational requirements for medical school graduates as compared to those for Doctors of Chiropractic.
MEDICAL CHIROPRACTIC
Class Hours Class Hours
508 Anatomy 520
326 Physiology 420
401 Pathology 205
325 Chemistry 300
114 Bacteriology 130
324 Diagnosis 420
112 Neurology 320
148 X-Ray 217
144 Psychiatry 65
198 Obstetrics/Gynecology 65
156 Orthopedics 225
2,756 2,887
Total Hours
Other required subjects for the Doctor of Chiropractic: Adjusting, Manipulation, Kinesiology, Manual Muscle Testing
Other required subjects for the Doctor of Medicine: Pharmacology, Immunology, General Surgery
GRAND TOTAL CLASS HOURS (Including other Basic Subjects):
MEDICAL CHIROPRACTIC
Class Hours Class Hours
4,248 4,485
Total Hours
The above class hours were compiled following a review of the curriculum catalogues of 22 medical schools and 11 chiropractic colleges, and updated from the National Health Federation bulletin.
