The short version is just a quick answer. The rest of this guide walks through each step, what it costs, what chiropractors earn, and the questions worth asking before you commit.Â
What does a chiropractor actually do?
Chiropractors diagnose and treat conditions of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, most often back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Treatment usually combines spinal and joint adjustments with soft tissue work, therapeutic exercise, and guidance on movement, posture, and lifestyle. Chiropractors don’t prescribe medication or perform surgery, so they focus on conservative care and refer out when a patient needs something beyond their scope.Â
Most chiropractors work solo or in group practices. Others work alongside physical therapists, medical doctors, and athletic trainers in multidisciplinary clinics, sports settings, and Veterans Affairs facilities. Increasingly, the profession is moving toward that collaborative, evidence-based model, which is how Parker trains its students.Â
What qualities make a good chiropractor?
What qualities make a good chiropractor?Â
Beyond an interest in anatomy and the sciences, the chiropractors who do well tend to have:Â
- Sharp observation: reading posture, movement, and diagnostic images accuratelyÂ
- Clear communication: explaining a diagnosis and treatment plan in plain languageÂ
- Manual skill and coordination: adjustments are precise, physical workÂ
- Critical thinking: knowing what’s in scope and when to referÂ
- Empathy and people skills: most patients come in hurtingÂ
- Business sense: most chiropractors run or help run a practiceÂ
What undergraduate coursework do you need?
You don’t need a specific major, and you don’t necessarily need a finished bachelor’s degree. Under the Council on Chiropractic Education’s January 2025 standards, Parker accepts applicants who meet any one of these:Â
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institutionÂ
- At least 90 credit hours with a 3.0 GPA or higherÂ
- At least 90 credit hours with a 2.75 GPA or higher, including 24 credit hours in life and physical sciencesÂ
That said, a strong science foundation makes the first year of chiropractic school much easier. Biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology all show up again, fast and in more depth. If you’re still in undergrad, those are the courses to prioritize.Â
One caution: some states require a bachelor’s degree for licensure, even if your chiropractic program didn’t require one for admission. If you’re applying with 90 hours, check the licensing rules for the state where you want to practice before you decide to skip finishing your bachelor’s.Â
How long is chiropractic school?
The Doctor of Chiropractic is a professional doctorate. At Parker, it runs 10 trimesters, and because trimesters run year-round, that works out to about three and a third years.Â
Parker offers two ways to start. The first, “traditional” route includes spending all ten trimesters on the Dallas campus, with hands-on training starting early. The second route involves students taking their first full year online, completing non-adjustment coursework like physiology and biochemistry. In trimester 4, students then move to Dallas for hands-on adjustment and clinical training.
Either way, you finish with the same degree, and the clinical training happens in person.Â
What do you study in chiropractic school?
The early trimesters are heavy on basic sciences: anatomy (including work in a cadaver lab), physiology, biochemistry, neuroscience, and pathology. From there, coursework shifts toward clinical skills, including physical and differential diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, chiropractic technique, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy.Â
Parker also builds business training into the curriculum. Students learn how to set up a practice, manage finances, read performance numbers, and plan for patient acquisition. Since most chiropractors eventually run or help run a practice, that part matters more than many students expect going in.Â
What does the clinic phase actually involve?
The clinic phase is where classroom knowledge turns into patient care. At Parker, students must pass NBCE Part I before registering for the first internship in Trimester 8, and from that point, they treat real patients under the supervision of licensed chiropractors.Â
Clinical experience at Parker extends beyond the campus clinic, including partnerships with private practices and work with the Veterans Affairs health system.Â
The clinic phase is also the most demanding stretch of the program, and it’s fair to go in with specific questions. Ask any school you’re considering:Â
- How do patients come into the student clinic, and what’s the student’s role in that?Â
- What are the patient care requirements to graduate?Â
- How many students does each supervising doctor oversee?Â
- What off-campus internship settings are available, and how are placements assigned?Â
Good programs answer those directly. If a school can’t, that tells you something.Â
Which board exams do you need to pass?
Every state requires some or all of the NBCE exams. There are five:Â
- Part I: Basic sciencesÂ
- Part II: Clinical sciencesÂ
- Part III: Clinical competency (written)Â
- Part IV: Practical exam covering imaging interpretation, technique, and case managementÂ
- Physiotherapy (PHT): Required in some states, including TexasÂ
You don’t wait until graduation to start. At Parker, students on the standard schedule are eligible to take every part before they graduate:Â
| Exam | When You’re Eligible at Parker |
|---|---|
| Part I | Trimester 5, after completing Trimesters 1 to 4 |
| Part II | After completing Trimesters 1 to 7 |
| Part III | Trimesters 8 to 10, after passing Part I |
| Part IV | Trimesters 9 to 10, after passing Part I |
| Physiotherapy | After completing Parker’s physiotherapy course sequence |
To graduate, students must pass or be currently registered for Parts II through IV. Parker is also an official computer-based testing site for the National Boards, so many students test on campus.Â
How do you get licensed?
Once you have your DC and your board scores, you apply for a license through the chiropractic board in your state. Requirements vary, so the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards directory is the best place to check a specific state.Â
In Texas, you’ll need:Â
- A DC degree from a CCE-accredited programÂ
- Passing scores on the required NBCE exams, including PhysiotherapyÂ
- A passing score of at least 75% on the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners jurisprudence exam, which covers state law and board rulesÂ
After you’re licensed, you’ll keep that license active through continuing education and regular renewal.Â
How much does chiropractic school cost?
At Parker, full-time DC tuition for the 2026 to 2027 academic year is $14,130 per trimester, plus $1,000 in student fees. Across 10 trimesters at current rates, that’s about $150,000 in tuition and fees. Books, equipment, housing, transportation, and board exam fees are additional, and those vary a lot depending on where and how you live. Parker’s tuition page breaks down the full estimated cost of attendance by trimester.Â
Federal student lending for graduate and professional programs changed on July 1, 2026. Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers, and chiropractic is one of the fields the Department of Education classifies as a professional degree, which carries higher federal borrowing limits than other graduate programs. Those rules have faced legal challenges, so talk with Parker’s Financial Aid office about the limits that apply to you right now.Â
What do chiropractors earn, especially starting out?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for chiropractors was $79,200 in May 2025. The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned under about $43,500, and the top 10% earned more than about $146,000.Â
Two things are worth knowing about those numbers:Â
- New graduates usually start toward the lower end. Many begin as associates in an established practice, and income tends to grow as they build a patient base or move into ownership.Â
- The BLS wage data doesn’t include self-employed chiropractors. Since a large share of the profession owns a practice, the federal figures don’t capture the full earning picture for practice owners, in either direction.
Is the job outlook for chiropractors good?
Yes. The BLS projects employment of chiropractors to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average across all occupations, with about 2,600 openings a year. There were roughly 61,700 chiropractor jobs in 2025.Â
Demand is tied to an aging population, ongoing interest in non-drug approaches to pain, and growing integration of chiropractors into multidisciplinary and hospital-based care.Â
Is a DC degree worth the cost?
It can be, but it depends on how much you borrow relative to what you’ll realistically earn, and on how you plan to practice. Â
A few things change the math:Â
- How much you borrow for living expenses. Housing, transportation, and lifestyle costs are something you, in part, control, and they add up over 10 trimesters.Â
- Your practice plan. Associates and practice owners have very different earning curves. Business training during school matters here.Â
- Added credentials. Through Parker’s Stack Your Skills program, DC students can start an online master’s degree as early as their sixth trimester with a 100% tuition scholarship for the master’s (admission requirements apply, and the master’s must be finished within two years of DC graduation). That’s a second credential without second tuition.Â
- Outcomes at the school you choose. Graduation rates, board pass rates, and licensure all affect whether the investment pays off.Â
The honest answer is that it’s a significant investment for a career with solid demand and a wide income range. Go in with real numbers, not just a median salary.Â
Is Parker University a reputable chiropractic school?
Parker’s Doctor of Chiropractic program is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education, the agency that accredits DC programs in the U.S. The CCE standards and accreditation are important for every school you’re considering.Â
Questions People Are Asking
Can you become a chiropractor without a bachelor’s degree? Yes, in terms of admission. Parker accepts applicants with at least 90 credit hours who meet GPA and science requirements. Check your target state’s licensing rules, though, since some states require a bachelor’s degree to get licensed.Â
Do chiropractors go to medical school? No. Chiropractors earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, which is a separate professional doctorate with its own accreditation and board exams. We break down the differences in Thinking About Becoming a Chiropractor? Read This First.Â
Can chiropractors prescribe medication? In Texas and almost every other state, no. Chiropractic care focuses on non-drug, non-surgical treatment.Â
How long does it take to become a chiropractor? The DC program at Parker is 10 trimesters, about three and a third years of year-round study. With undergraduate coursework, the full path usually takes six and a half to eight years.Â
Can I start chiropractic school online? Partly. Parker’s DC Blended track lets you complete early, non-adjustment courses online before moving to Dallas for hands-on adjustment and clinical training. Clinical training is always in person.Â
When do chiropractic students take board exams? During school. At Parker, students become eligible for NBCE Part I in Trimester 5, and students on the standard schedule can take every part before graduation.Â
Can I earn a master’s degree while in chiropractic school? Yes. Through Stack Your Skills, Parker DC students can begin an online master’s as early as their sixth trimester with a 100% tuition scholarship for the master’s degree, provided they meet admission requirements.Â
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re serious about chiropractic, the best next move is a conversation with someone who can answer questions about your own background, timeline, and budget. Request information, schedule a visit, or start your application today.Â
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Updated October 30, 2026
