Requirements

Standard Path

Consistent with its goal to be a renowned and selective Doctor of Chiropractic degree program, Parker University seeks to admit those students whose prerequisite coursework, co-curricular and service activities, as well as life and professional experience, have prepared them to successfully complete the program and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of the public and the profession.

While completion of a bachelor’s degree is not a requirement for admission, some states require a bachelor’s degree as a condition of licensure. Parker University offers a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy which eligible students can complete concurrently with the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Prospective students should familiarize themselves with the licensure requirements of the states in which they intend to practice by visiting www.fclb.org.

In accordance with the requirements of the Council on Chiropractic Education, the minimum standards for admission to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program include the following:

1. 90 hours of undergraduate-level coursework with a minimum 3.0 GPA from an accredited institution recognized by the US Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency that meets the requirements for transfer of credit to Parker University. Students requesting admission to the hybrid track must have a 3.4 GPA in the 90 hours. All courses toward the 90 hours must be earned with a grade of C- or better.
2. 24 semester hours of life and physical sciences (within the 90 hours), at least half of these courses must have a substantive laboratory component.
   • Parker requires at least one course in each of the following as part of these 24 hours.
     • Human Anatomy or Human Anatomy & Physiology
     • Chemistry (General, Organic, Biochemistry)
   • The remainder of the 24-hour requirement may be satisfied by a combination of courses in the life and physical sciences. Courses in the following subject areas may help prepare students to succeed in the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program.
     •  Biomechanics
     • Kinesiology
     • Physics
     • Zoology
     • Human Biology
     • Cell Biology
     • Physiology
     • Microbiology
3. Courses in the humanities and social sciences (within the 90 hours) provide a well-rounded general education background.
   • Parker recommends courses in one or more of the following subjects be used to satisfy this prerequisite.
     • English Composition
     • Psychology
     • Communications
     • Social Sciences
     • Business
4. Applicants may, at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, be required to appear for an interview or pre-admittance examination.

If at any time it is discovered that a student failed to meet entrance requirements at the time of matriculation, they will be required to come into compliance on a timetable established by the University or will be withdrawn from the University.  

Alternative Admissions Track Plan

Students who do not meet the minimum standards for admission to the Doctor of Chiropractic program but have at least a 2.75 GPA for 90 hours of acceptable undergraduate coursework may be eligible for an Alternative Admissions Track Plan (AATP). International students for whom the course-by-course equivalency evaluation does not clearly match the requirements of the Council on Chiropractic Education (no distinction of graduate from undergraduate-level coursework or substantive laboratory component) may be eligible for an Alternative Admissions Track Plan (AATP). Doctor of Chiropractic applicants pursuing AATP Admissions must submit a Personal Statement. The Personal Statement should be submitted once it has been determined that the student falls short of minimum standards for admission.  The students file will then be presented to the Admissions Committee to determine if admissions will be granted. Such applicants should contact the Office of Admissions for further information. Students admitted to AATP will be provided with individualized academic plans that may include, but are not limited to, any one or more of the following: reduced course loads, required tutoring, assigned mentors, and regular progress monitoring. AATP students will be required to take the Chiropractic College Aptitude Test (CCAT).

International Students for Doctors of Chiropractic Program

All admission requirements must be satisfied before Parker University can grant admission or approval to issue an I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Non-Immigrant Status) to any international student intending to study in the United States on a non-immigrant F-1 student visa. International students should also contact their local American consulate office to determine if they must meet any other requirements. International Admissions Policies are applicable to international students only and do not apply to Green Card holders.

• Submit an online application for admission.
• Submit all previously attended institutions official transcripts to Parker University. It is the student’s responsibility to request that official transcripts be sent from all prior institutions where credits were earned. Official transcripts must be mailed directly to Parker University. A transcript stamped “Issued to Student” or hand-carried into the Office of Admissions may not be considered official transcript.
• It is the students’ responsibility to contact a reputable foreign evaluation agency that is a member of NACES to request a course-by-course equivalency evaluation be prepared for a transcript from an institution outside of the U.S. The evaluation must be mailed directly to Parker University, Office of the Registrar, 2540 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229 or secure PDF files may be sent to AskRegistrar@parker.edu.
• Submit an original letter of support from a financial sponsor pledging to provide funding to pursue educational goals in the United States to the Records and Registration Coordinator. No photocopies or facsimiles accepted. The letter must be written on the financial sponsor’s personal or business stationary, signed by the sponsor. The student may sponsor themselves.
• Submit an original letter of financial ability, documenting sponsor’s capability to financially support the student (This is often called the “bank letter”) to the Records and Registration Coordinator. This letter must be written and signed by an officer or official of the sponsor’s financial institution on the institution’s letterhead and bear a current date. No photocopies or facsimiles accepted. The letter must state the financial sponsor has the appropriate amount of funds available for the student’s financial support. Please note that this amount is dependent upon the program in which the student is enrolled; check with an international advisor before submitting.
• Submit the completed educational experience form to the Records and Registration Coordinator. List all colleges and universities previously attended.
• Submit a completed financial information form to the Records and Registration Coordinator. List all expected financial aid that the student is planning to use from their country or any other sources to finance their education at Parker University. If dependents are accompanying the student, list them on the financial information form; otherwise, they will not be able to enter the United States.
• Students must furnish proof of health insurance.

English is the official language of instruction at Parker University. All prospective students must demonstrate English language competency prior to admission. The applicant may be subject to an interview by the Admissions Committee and/or Vice Provost/Dean.

• Submit official ETS/TOEFL or IELTS scores (Test of English as a Foreign Language) for students whose primary language is not English. Students must obtain the following minimum ETS/TOEFL scores: Paper-Based Test (PBT) – 550; Internet-Based Test (IBT) – Total score of 79 or above with the following recommended scores per category: Reading: 15-21; Writing: 17-23; Speaking: 18-25; Listening: 15-21. Contact ETS/TOEFL at PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ, 08541-6151, USA. Phone: 800-257-9547. Students that take the IELTS must obtain a minimum score of 8. Contact IELTS at http://www.ielts.org/default.aspx. All scores must be submitted directly to Parker University from ETS/TOEFL or IELTS office to be considered official.
• The English proficiency exam requirement may be waived by one of the following:
• High School Diploma obtained in the United States.
• Bachelor’s degree obtained in the United States or equivalent instructed in the English language.

International students that are eligible for admission will also be subject to citizenship status of state licensing boards and employers in the U.S.

Technical and Physical Qualifications for Admission to the College of Chiropractic

Parker University College of Chiropractic will consider for admission those applicants who, with or without accommodations, possess the academic, technical and physical qualifications required for successful completion of the Doctor of Chiropractic degree and for the safe and ethical practice of chiropractic. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Parker University does not discriminate against, and makes accommodations* for individuals with disabilities.

Applicants should realistically consider whether or not they possess the capacity to learn and perform tasks in the areas represented in the technical and physical qualifications, with or without accommodations. If accommodations are needed in order to meet the College’s technical qualifications, the chair of the Admissions Committee will arrange a consultation with the ADA Coordinator , as well as academic leadership within the Doctor of Chiropractic program, to determine whether and how accommodations may be provided without compromising either the student’s acquisition or performance of the functions of a Doctor of Chiropractic or patient care.

Students with disabilities must complete the same scholastic requirements as all other students, including that all students must complete the entire Doctor of Chiropractic curriculum in order to graduate. The College reserves the right to reject requests for accommodations that would fundamentally alter the nature of the Doctor of Chiropractic program, lower the academic standards, cause an undue burden on the College, or endanger the health or safety of other students, clinic patients, or any other member of the College community.

The final determination of whether or not an individual meets the technical and physical qualifications is made by the College.

Parker University College of Chiropractic has established the following technical and physical qualifications for admission to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program.

• Observation: The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences. Vision must be sufficient to identify histology, cytology, microbiology and pathology of structures through the use of a microscope. The candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately, and to read all forms of diagnostic imaging.
• Communication: The candidate must be able to speak, to hear and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the health care team in both oral and written form.
• Motor Coordination/Function: The candidate must possess sufficient motor function to elicit patient information through palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. Additionally, as the practice of chiropractic generally involves the delivery of manual care, the candidate must possess the strength, coordination and ability to stand and use the torso and all limbs in the performance of common chiropractic techniques.
• Intellectual Abilities: Doctors are required to think critically and solve problems. Thus, candidates for admission must be skilled in measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. In addition, candidates should possess the capacity to visualize and comprehend the three-dimensional and spatial relationships of structures.
• Social and Behavioral Attributes: Candidates must have the emotional health to engage in the academic and clinical program, exercise good judgment, and complete all responsibilities required for the diagnosis and care of patients, including the development of mature, effective and sensitive relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively with stress. They must be adaptable to changing environments, and capable of functioning in the face of the uncertainties inherent in clinical decision-making and care. Empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are personal qualities that candidates should possess.

* For purposes of this policy, the term “accommodations” includes reasonable modifications to policies,
practices, and procedures, provision of auxiliary aids and services, and removal of architectural barriers where such removal is readily achievable. All obligations of the College under this policy will be interpreted in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.