How to become a chiropractor

1. 1Complete at least 90 semester hours of college with science courses

   Time: 3-4 yearsCost: Varies by collegeSources 2, 3

   CCE standards require at least 90 semester hours of college before entering a D.C. program, normally with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; some programs admit students with a GPA of 2.75 to 2.99 if they have at least 24 semester hours of life and physical science. Many applicants finish a bachelor's degree in biology, kinesiology or exercise science. Take chemistry, biology, physics and anatomy, because the D.C. program builds on them right away.

2. 2Earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree

   Time: About 3½-4 yearsCost: About $134,984 tuition at Palmer (2026-27 rates)Sources 2, 3, 1

   Choose a program accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education, the accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for D.C. programs; state boards require an accredited degree. The first half of the program is heavy on anatomy, physiology, neurology, pathology and radiology. Later terms shift to diagnosis, adjustment techniques and supervised patient care in a teaching clinic. Many programs run year-round on trimesters, which shortens the calendar time.

3. 3Pass NBCE Parts I through IV

   Time: During the D.C. programCost: NBCE exam fees (see nbce.org)Sources 4, 5, 8

   The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners gives the exams state boards use. Part I covers six basic science areas and Part II six clinical science areas; Part III tests clinical competency in nine areas; Part IV is a hands-on practical exam with eight patient-encounter stations, given since 2026 at NBCE's centralized assessment center in Greeley, Colorado. Students usually take the parts in sequence before graduating. All 50 states accept or require Parts I-IV.

4. 4Get your state license

   Time: A few weeks to a few months after graduationCost: State application fee variesSources 1, 6

   Apply to the chiropractic board in the state where you will practice. Boards check your D.C. degree and NBCE scores, and many also require a background check and a jurisprudence exam on the state's chiropractic laws. Ask your board whether it also wants the optional NBCE Physiotherapy exam. Moving later means applying for a new state license, so check that state's rules early.

5. 5Start practice and keep up continuing education

   Time: OngoingSources 1, 2

   Many new chiropractors start as associates in an existing clinic, where they treat patients and learn billing, insurance and marketing before buying into or opening a practice. Every state requires continuing education hours to renew a license. Some chiropractors also complete postgraduate diplomate programs in areas such as orthopedics, sports, pediatrics or acupuncture, or a CCE-accredited residency.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Manual skill and strength

Adjustments require precise, controlled force delivered by hand, repeated with many patients a day.

Diagnostic judgment

Chiropractors must spot warning signs, such as a fracture or a nerve problem that needs a physician, on exams and x-rays before treating.

Clear explanation

Patients follow home exercise and posture advice only if they understand why it matters for their pain.

Business management

With so many chiropractors self-employed, billing, staffing, marketing and insurance rules decide whether a practice survives.

Physical stamina

The job means standing most of the day and positioning patients on tables, which is hard on the chiropractor's own back.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing.

Training cost

$135K–$237K

Before financial aid

Time

7-8 years

Typical path

Median pay

$79,200

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

4.8–8.4 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Uses Palmer College of Chiropractic's 2026-27 rates as an example. Low ($134,984) is D.C. tuition only: 7 trimesters x $14,303 = $100,121, plus the clinic terms at $10,727 + $10,727 + $13,409 = $34,863. High ($237,294) adds Palmer's per-trimester activity fee and estimated indirect costs (books, housing and food, transportation, personal expenses and loan fees), $10,231 x 10 trimesters = $102,310. Not included: prerequisite college, $894-per-credit charges for non-clinic courses taken in clinic terms, NBCE exam fees, travel to the Part IV exam and state license fees. For comparison, the median federal loan debt of chiropractic graduates is $191,354 (College Scorecard).

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Practice owner

  Most associates buy into an existing clinic or open their own after a few years of building a patient base and learning the business side.

• Chiropractic specialist (diplomate)

  Postgraduate diplomate programs and board exams in areas such as orthopedics, sports, pediatrics or radiology lead to specialist credentials.

• Chiropractic college faculty$82,250 median

  Experienced chiropractors, often with a diplomate credential, residency or a master's degree, teach in D.C. programs.