Q. Dear Dr Harvey,
Could you please tell me how much education is required to become a chiropractor? Is it more or less than it takes to become a medical doctor? Also, are you considered a real doctor?

A. These are excellent questions. I hope I can clear up some of the misconceptions about a chiropractor's education.

First of all, in order to be accepted into a chiropractic college, you must go to an undergraduate school to take a number of prerequisite courses. The prerequisites to enter chiropractic college are very similar to those required to get into medical
or dental school. A minimum of two years of undergraduate work with credits in biology, chemistry, anatomy, and other "pre-med" subjects are required, although most chiropractors have four years of undergraduate education.

Once in chiropractic college, the first two years are very similar to medical school. Actually, chiropractors receive more hours in subjects like anatomy and physiology than do medical doctors.

The second two years of our four years in chiropractic college are specialized in the chiropractic field. While medical doctors study drugs and surgery, chiropractors study the various techniques of adjusting the spine, diagnosis, case management, nutrition, and X-ray analysis, to name a few areas. The average chiropractic college requires over 4,000 hours of study over four years, just as much as medical doctors get.

A graduate must then pass a very rigorous state exam to get licensed. This test consists of approximately 20 written questions and a multi-part oral exam. Once the exams are passed and the license received, the chiropractor must return to school every year for additional training, as required by the state.

Once they receive their licenses, many chiropractors continue their education with postgraduate courses. Personally, I have over 1,000 of postgraduate education specializing in sports injuries, treatment of auto- and work-related injuries, case management, and advanced adjustment techniques.

As to the last question-- are chiropractors considered real doctors? Yes we are! If your definition of a real doctor is someone who helps educate patients on ways to improve
their health and that of their families using a non-invasive, low-risk, holistic approach. Thus chiropractic should be your first choice when you seek health care, as it is now for millions of patients.

©1999 Dr. Harvey / New Life Chiropractic Clinic