Chiropractors
Occupational Description
Chiropractic physicians diagnose and treat patients whose health
problems are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal
systems, especially the spine. Chiropractors believe interference
with these systems impairs normal functions and lowers resistance
to disease.
The chiropractic approach to healthcare is holistic, stressing
the patient's overall health and wellness. It recognizes that many
factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment,
and heredity. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, non-surgical
health treatments, and rely on the body's inherent recuperative
abilities. They also recommend lifestyle changes—in eating,
exercise, and sleeping habits, for example—to their patients.
When appropriate, chiropractors consult with and refer patients
to other health practitioners.
Today chiropractic medicine is the second largest primary health
care profession in the United States and the fastest growing health
care professions in the country. Nineteen accredited schools of chiropractic medicine exist, and doctors of chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Some chiropractors specialize in sports injuries, neurology, orthopedics,
pediatrics, nutrition, internal disorders, or diagnostic imaging.
Personal Skills & Characteristics
Chiropractic medicine requires keen observation to detect physical
abnormalities. Good hand dexterity is necessary to perform the spinal
adjustments and other manipulations. However, chiropractors do not
need unusual strength. Chiropractors should be able to work independently.
As in other health-related occupations, empathy, understanding,
and the desire to help others are good qualities for dealing effectively
with patients.
Physical Requirements
Certain physical qualifications have traditionally been required
in the chiropractic profession and in classroom, laboratory and
clinical activities. These qualifications include:
- An auditory sense sufficient to communicate with patients.
- A visual sense sufficient for reading radiographs and the identification
of histological, cytological, microbiological and pathological
structures through microscopy.
- Tactile perceptiveness as it relates to diagnosis and treatment
of human ailments.
- The ability to utilize manual dexterity in order to perform
within the laboratory settings of the basic, clinical and chiropractic
sciences.
- The physical strength and coordination to perform the common
chiropractic manipulative techniques.
- The physical strength and coordination of the extremities necessary
to apply chiropractic adjustive procedures common to the competent
practice of chiropractic.
Employment Information
Chiropractors work in offices. The average workweek is about 40
hours, although longer hours are not uncommon. Most chiropractors
are in solo practice, although some are in group practice or work
for other chiropractors. A small number teach, conduct research
at chiropractic institutions, or work in hospitals and clinics.
Many chiropractors are located in small communities. There are geographic
imbalances in the distribution of chiropractors, in part because
many establish practices close to chiropractic institutions.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of salaried chiropractors were $85,273 in 2009. The middle 50 percent earned between $68,791 and $103,218 a year.
Self-employed chiropractors usually earn more than salaried chiropractors.
In 2005, the mean salary for chiropractors was $104,363, according
to a survey conducted by Chiropractic Economics magazine.
In chiropractic, as in other types of independent practice, earnings
are relatively low in the beginning, and increase as the practice
grows. The characteristics and qualifications of the practitioner,
and geographic location also influence earnings. Self-employed chiropractors
must provide for their own health insurance and retirement.
Job Outlook
Job prospects are anticipated to be good for chiropractors. As consumer demand for alternative healthcare grows, the employment of chiropractors is expected to increase 14 percent between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. Chiropractors emphasize the importance of
healthy lifestyles. They do not prescribe drugs nor perform surgery.
As a result, chiropractic care is appealing to many health-conscious
Americans. Chiropractic treatment of back, neck, extremities, and
other joint damage has become more accepted as a result of recent
research and changing attitudes about alternative healthcare practices.
The rapidly expanding older population, with their increased likelihood
of mechanical and structural problems, also will increase demand.
In this occupation, replacement needs arise almost entirely from
retirements. Chiropractors usually remain in the occupation until
they retire; few transfer to other occupations.
Planning Ahead
Since most chiropractic programs have specific course requirements,
it is important to plan ahead to make sure all the necessary prerequisites
are completed. It is also important to start gaining some hands-on
clinical experiences with patients in health care settings or within
the field of chiropractic early in one's undergraduate education.
The Career Center has a team of pre-health counselors to help students
with a preparation and application timeline that fits their circumstances.
Appointments may be scheduled with a pre-health counselor by calling
734/764-7460 or stopping by the office at 3200 Student Activities
Building.
Educational Requirements
Applicants are required to have at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate
study leading toward a bachelor's degree, including courses in English,
the social sciences or humanities, organic and inorganic chemistry,
biology, physics, and psychology.
For general chiropractic requirement questions contact a pre-health academic advisor in LSA.
For school specific questions, contact
the schools directly.
Preparation Beyond The Classroom
One way to gain practical experience in a chiropractor's office
is to contact a local chiropractor and ask about any possible volunteer
opportunities. Most chiropractors are eager to explain their profession
to anyone who is interested. Many allow students to work as an assistant
file clerk to gain a better understanding of the responsibilities
of a chiropractor.
Check out the Internet for bulletin boards or forums related to
chiropractic and other areas of health care. Volunteer at a hospital
or nursing home to gain experience working with those in need of
medical care. Consider making an appointment for a chiropractic
examination so you can experience what it is like. Connect with
U of M alumni for informational interviewing, networking, or job
shadowing. Visit Alumni Networks at http://alumni.umich.edu/networking-tools
Outreach programs also offer practical experience. Some chiropractic
colleges offer introduction programs for high school students in
their area. During visitations, students may have the opportunity
to attend a dissection seminar or see demonstrations of chiropractic
and acupuncture therapies. Persons interested in visitation programs
should contact the chiropractic college in their vicinity and speak
to the director of admissions. Not all chiropractic colleges, however,
offer this program.
Application Process Overview
Students applying to chiropractic programs are strongly encouraged
to initiate their application process one year prior to when they
plan to begin their academic program.
Admission committees for chiropractic programs review credentials
such as academic qualifications, transcripts, grade point average,
personal statement, letters of reference, a personal interview and
chiropractic volunteer work, or shadowing experiences. Keep in mind
that these are general admissions criteria and admissions requirements
can vary from school to school. For more information on requirements
for admission to a specific chiropractic program, contact the office
of admissions at each individual institution.
Standardized Tests
There is no primary admissions test for entrance into chiropractic
programs. For more information on requirements for admission to
a specific chiropractic program, contact the office of admissions
at each individual institution.
Reference Letters
Many chiropractic programs will require two to three letters of
reference. A letter of reference from a licensed doctor of chiropractic
is usually required. Programs may also accept a letter from another
licensed health care provider. Additional letters may be written
by academic references.
The Career Center's Reference Letter Service (RLS) offers University
of Michigan students and alumni/ae the opportunity to have letters
of reference on file to use in support of their employment and continuing
education efforts. Open
a reference letter file with the RLS.
Personal Statement Information
Applicants to chiropractic programs are often asked to write a personal
essay explaining their motivation for choosing the chiropractic
profession. If you need assistance getting started on your personal
statement or would welcome feedback on your draft, please schedule an
advising appointment by calling 734/764-7460.
Interviews
Interviews assess applicants' knowledge of the scope of the chiropractic
profession. Gather interview tips through available literature and
interview programs sponsored by The Career Center. Schedule a videotaped
mock interview at The Career Center, 3200 SAB (734/764-7460) to
gain practice and confidence.
Admissions Update
Chiropractic certification requires four years of study at a Chiropractic college. Over the last 3-4 years, there have been approximately 10,000 students attending chiropractic institutions in the United States, which produces some 2,500 new practitioners each year.
Historically over 80% of the chiropractic profession has been male. However, according to a 2005 study by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, women have been growing in numbers in the profession. Diversity is being actively promoted at the colleges.
Resources To Learn More
Links to Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do
not constitute an endorsement. General information on chiropractic
as a career is available from:
American Chiropractic Association (ACA), 1701 Clarendon Blvd.,
Arlington, VA 22209.
http://www.acatoday.org/
International Chiropractors Association (ICA), 1110 North Glebe
Rd., Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22201.
http://www.chiropractic.org
World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), 2950 N. Dobson Rd., Suite 1,
Chandler, AZ 85224-1802.
http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org
Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), 8049 N. 85th Way, Scottsdale,
AZ 85258.
http://www.cce-usa.org
Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), 4424 Montgomery Ave., Suite 102, Bethesda, MD.
http://www.chirocolleges.org
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