Accredited chiropractic programs last 4 years and lead to a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Most Chiropractic programs require at least 3 years of undergraduate education, and an increasing number require a bachelor’s degree. In either case, your undergraduate studies must include a prescribed number of prerequisite courses, as defined by the field’s accrediting body, the Council on Chiropractic Education.

Admission Considerations

• Complete the equivalent of three academic years of undergraduate study (90 semester hours) at an accredited institution.
• The 90 hours will include a minimum of 24 semester hours in life and physical science courses. These science courses will provide an adequate background for success in the DCP, and at least half of these courses will have a substantive laboratory component.

The student’s undergraduate preparation also includes a well-rounded general education program in the humanities and social sciences, and other coursework deemed relevant by the DCP for students to successfully complete the DCP curriculum.

Academic Pre-Requisites:

PLEASE NOTE – The following courses should be taken for letter grades (not P/NP). AP scores may not be accepted for the courses listed below.

• ENGL 1A
• BIO 2.1, 2.2 & 2.3 and/or ANAT 1 & PHYSIO 1
• CHEM 3A/3AL, 3B, CHEM 8 or 12A/12B
• PHYS 20A, 20B
• PSYCH 1A
• HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
• Humanities typically include art history, literature, music, philosophy, religious studies, foreign language, & performing arts
• Social Sciences, which typically include anthropology, economics, geography, history, political sciences, psychology & sociology

Resources:

• The Council on Chiropractic Education publishes minimum requirements at www.cce-usa.org
• The Association of Chiropractic Colleges lists accredited chiropractic colleges on their webpage. Web sites for the individual colleges provide more detailed information about specific requirements.