Most colleges have additional requirements. A minimum of four academic years of study at an accredited chiropractic college, including practice in a teaching clinic, is required for the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. The curriculum that must be completed should not be less than 4,400 hours. Courses must be presented in the proper sequence to provide sufficient depth to adequately prepare the student for professional practice. Courses offered in chiropractic colleges include human anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pathology, public health, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, geriatrics, dermatology, psychology, dietetics, orthopedics, physical therapy, first aid, spinal analysis, principles and practice of chiropractic, adjustive technique, and other appropriate subjects.
Clinical practice is the major feature in the educational preparation of the chiropractic physician.
Clinical experience helps students achieve competency. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners regulates the practice of chiropractic and grants licenses to Chiropractors who meet educational requirements and pass the state board examination. The board also requires practitioners to complete annual postgraduate study for license renewal. Currently, the State of California requires that candidates complete at least two years of pre-chiropractic education plus 4,400 hours of course work in a recognized chiropractic school or have a valid license from another state. Chiropractic requires keen observation to detect physical abnormalities and considerable hand dexterity, but not unusual strength or endurance.