11/21/2025
The Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree is a professional doctoral degree that requires rigorous graduate-level education and state licensure to practice. It is a doctorate-level degree, comparable to an M.D. or D.O., focusing on the diagnosis, care, and prevention of disorders of the spine and nervous system.
Education requirements: Earning a D.C. degree requires about four years of study after completing a bachelor's degree (which often includes specific prerequisite coursework). The programs include a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience.
Professional scope: Chiropractors are considered primary healthcare professionals, focused on musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders, and use non-invasive methods like manual adjustments, without prescribing medication or performing surgery.
Licensing: To practice, graduates must pass a multi-part national board examination and obtain a state license.
Accreditation: The degree must be earned from a chiropractic college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).