Career Opportunities and Work Life

Skills You'll Need

Salary Ranges

The Classroom Experience

Certificate & Degree Options

Chiropractic is an increasingly attractive profession. As holistic approaches to healthcare become more popular in our society, more people are seeking treatment for various spine-related ailments from chiropractors. The chiropractic approach to healthcare stresses the patient's overall health and well being without the use of drugs or surgery. Some chiropractors specialize in sports injuries, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, nutrition or internal disorders.

Working Conditions
Most chiropractors are self-employed in private practice. In smaller offices, the doctor handles much of the administrative work. In larger practices, those duties are often delegated to an office manager. The average workweek is about 40 hours, although longer hours are not uncommon. Self-employed practitioners set their own hours. They may work some weekend and evening hours to better accommodate patients' needs.

Employment Outlook
Chiropractors are in demand. This is in part because many health-conscious Americans prefer the chiropractic approach since chiropractors do not prescribe drugs. It is also a result of an aging population that is facing an increased likelihood of experiencing skeletal misalignments.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting a national increase of 23 percent employment for chiropractors by the year 2010. There is a demand for chiropractors in all parts of the country, so if you pursue this field, you will be able to establish yourself as a professional, either solo or in a group, in almost any region.