Chiropractic care is one of the fastest-growing fields within the healthcare industry, and it’s easy to see why. If you’re considering a chiropractic career, our guide includes the key things you should know, from education requirements to earning potential.
You Don’t Need an MD
While a chiropractor requires schooling and education, the requirements are much less rigorous than a typical physician. A standard chiropractic education program is three to three-and-a-half years long, and most require a bachelor’s or another four-year degree for entrance.
Instead of going through four years of medical school and another four years or so of a residency program in a specialty, chiropractic students can start working almost immediately after graduation. The quick entry into the workforce after schooling is why many choose a chiropractic career.
Lucrative Potential Earnings
Once chiropractic students earn their Doctor of Chiropractic degrees, they can enter a career with lucrative potential earnings. In recent decades, chiropractors have become more common in healthcare, and their salaries have also risen.
The median salary for a chiropractor today is over $150,000, and there’s still plenty of room for growth after that. So, chiropractors can earn their degree quickly and start working at an impressive salary to pay off student loans and other debt instead of letting it hang over them for years.
Start Your Own Practice
One thing you should know about a chiropractic career is that it allows you to be your own boss. After earning their degree and getting certified, most chiropractors spend their first year or two working in an existing practice to save up so they can eventually leave and start their own practice.
Around three out of every four chiropractors working today own their own practice. It means more responsibility and management for chiropractors and the rare opportunity to be your own boss while working in healthcare.
Pro Tip
Medical malpractice insurance is essential for any healthcare worker, from chiropractors to nurses.
It’s a Growing Industry
There’s no better time than now to join the chiropractic field, as it continues to grow yearly. The growth of chiropractic treatment is partly due to the aging population in the US, with more baby boomers entering retirement age and even the Gen X generation approaching retirement.
Chiropractic care is also much more common in mainstream healthcare as more doctors are open to recommending chiropractors to patients with chronic spinal and back pain. Joining the chiropractic field offers immense opportunities as more patients and physicians embrace this care.
If you’re looking for a career that doesn’t require endless schooling, has promising earning potential, and lets you be your own boss, consider becoming a chiropractor!
