There are 17 chiropractic colleges in the United States and Canada and they can vary widely in curriculum, due in part to what each state allows chiropractors to do. Huber said Oregon is one of the most liberal in allowing chiropractors to perform a variety of tasks, while Washington is the most restrictive. In Oregon, they can do things like deliver babies, sign death certificates and treat osteoporosis. Future chiropractors will also be expected to pass four exams by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners before they apply for a license. At that point, they apply for licenses in the states where they want to practice.
Tuition can be pricey.
Upon completion of college after four years, a student will receive a doctor of chiropractic degree. Chiropractors have struggled with negative opinions about their profession by some medical doctors. In fact, only after a lawsuit by a chiropractor was settled in 1990 did the American Medical Association allow its members to refer patients to chiropractors, Huber said. With muscular-skeletal problems, we don't think we need an M.D. to tell us when we're needed. A chiropractor's goal is to bring the body back into balance.