Monday, December 10, 2012

What You Can Expect From A Chiropractic Career

By Rebecca Shiffle


Chiropractic is an alternative treatment that is focused on manipulating the spine and neuromusculoskeletal system in general. Some people regard this as a form of physical therapy. Chiropractic treatment is applied to patients who suffered injuries or physical trauma involving bone fractures. In recent years though, people with musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and fibromyalgia) complaining about frequent muscle and joint pains also find chiropractic an effective relief.

Chiropractic comes from two Greek words chiro, which means hand and praktikos, which means "done by hand." A person who performs the treatment is known as a chiropractor or doctor of chiropractic. Because the profession is deemed promising, many are aspiring to become one. Below are some of their common motivations:

* The profession is interesting

* It gives them the opportunity to serve people

* Employment security

* Job security

The demand for healthcare workers will rise in less than a decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This promises a steady flow of opportunities to those who want to become part of the workforce. Frustrated medical students who once aspired to become doctors see chiropractic as an easier way to obtain an MD status. The requirements are easier and the campus time is shorter, too, compared to medicine. If you want to become one, you should take note of what you need to accomplish.

What To Do To Become A Chiropractor

One of the things that an aspiring chiropractor should look for to complete the requirements is the school's credentials. That being said, accreditation is very valuable because this will make you confident that the school offers up-to-date coursework, training, and high-quality learning. Accreditation also increases your chances of accessing bigger career opportunities.

On standard, as student is required to complete at least 90 credit hours in college, which sums up to four years. However, additional programs might be required depending on your chosen area of specialty. There are also two year courses available but if you are thinking big, obtaining a bachelor's degree would be preferable.

A typical chiropractic course comprises of two years of education on basic sciences and two years of training on clinical sciences. Successful completion of the coursework is followed by at least one year of internship. Once the course is completed, an individual must take a four-part licensure exam administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Other tests may be required by a specific state but the national exam is widely recognized. As usual, a continuing medical education or CME is required.

Annual Salaries of Chiropractors

Licensed chiropractors with less than one year of employment experience can only expect an annual salary range of $38,000-$60,000 and a little more if they have two to five years.

Those with five years or more of employment experience can earn up to $130,000 more per annum. Some doctors of chiropractic continue as in-house chiropractors to increase their salaries while other go freelance or set up their own clinics and become self-employed. In this case, the salary range becomes $130,000 to $177,000 a year. Depending on the performance of the clinic, the earnings can be more.

Chiropractors are definitely the most valuable sectors in the medical community. People dealing with old age, particularly the baby boomers, need some spinal work to improve their health. There is no doubt that chiropractors can look forward to a challenging yet bright future.




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