Saturday, February 25, 2012

How To Become A Chiropractor

By Adriana Noton


Problems arising from a person's musculoskeletal system are treated by a chiropractor. Doctors of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, also called chiropractors, practice the belief that when a person's spinal joint is not aligned properly it can create nervous system problems which can result in a person experiencing poor health. Chiropractic physicians offer healthcare without operating or medicating their patients.

A chiropractic physician will begin their treatment of a patient by taking the patient's history, conducting various examinations including physical, neurological and orthopedic. He/she may also perform lab tests and/or x-rays on the patient. After assessing the patient's health status and determining what problems the patient is suffering from, the chiropractor will develop a plan of therapy for the patient.

A patient's course of treatment may utilize many different methods of therapy such as heat, water, light, electricity or massage. Different forms of support items such as using braces, tape and inserts for shoes may also be required. Because chiropractors are not allowed to write prescriptions or operate, a patient's therapy does not involve medications or surgical procedures.

Completing 2 to 4 years of undergraduate study and a 4 year chiropractic college program is required to practice as a chiropractic physician. One should complete 90 hours of study in the following courses biology, psychology and English to be admitted to an accredited program of chiropractic study. The 90 hours of courses should result in a bachelors degree.

16 chiropractic college programs have received accreditation in the US. These programs are a combination of 4,200 hours of study in classrooms, laboratories and clinics. Upon graduating from the program one will be awarded a degree for a Doctor of Chiropractic. By continuing their education after earning a degree, one can focus on a certain aspect within chiropractic medicine which includes injuries obtained from sports, bone health and chiropractic treatment for children.

Chiropractors need to have select attributes and know how in their profession. One should possess being perceptive, handiness, relating to others and their feelings and the need to provide others with help. Chiropractic physicians that work for themselves should also be able to organize and manage their business.

An individual can be self-employed or join a practice consisting of other chiropractors and/or other doctors. Some may operate at nights and on the weekends but mainly the operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9 to 5. A few chiropractic physicians may be practicing in hospitals, educating in schools or performing research methods. 40% of chiropractic doctors work for themselves. A license is required to practice in this profession and one is generally only able to work in the state in which they were granted the license.

The outlook for this profession is good with an increased growth due to the demand for alternative healthcare and the rise in the older population. An individual in this field can expect to earn in the range of $45,000 to $96,000. Many individuals in this profession are located in small communities due to the fact that there are only a small number of educational institutes for the career and many choose to practice near these institutes.




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