Becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic
Post-Secondary Requirements:
Chiropractic education in Canada is under the auspices of The Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Educational Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB). This body requires that before entering a chiropractic course of study, you must have successfully completed a minimum of three years of study in any discipline at a Canadian university or its equivalent. It is strongly recommended that you complete one full course with labs in organic chemistry and biology, a half course in introductory psychology, and at least one-and-a-half courses in humanities or other social sciences.
Chiropractic Course of Study:
As a Chiropractic student, you will be educated as a primary-contact health care practitioner, with emphasis on neuro-musculo-skeletal diagnosis and treatment. This education concentrates on three areas of learning:
- Basic training in the biological and health sciences including anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical diagnosis and radiological interpretation;
- Training in the chiropractic discipline, including theoretical studies, practice, diagnosis and application; and
- Extensive clinical training.
Choosing A School - Canada Or Elsewhere?
CFCREAB accredited chiropractic schools require a minimum of four to five academic years of study, totaling no less than 4500 hours.
Canada has two chiropractic education facilities:
- Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto
- University of Quebec a Trois Rivieres (UQTR) in Trois Rivieres
Each year students vie for 160 places at CMCC, where the curriculum consists of three nine-month periods and one twelve-month period of study to be completed in four years. To be considered as a candidate for CMCC, you should have an undergraduate degree and at least a "B" average.
At UQTR, there is room for an entering class of 45. Besides holding a diploma of collegial studies and having completed college level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics, for admission to UQTR you must be fluent in French and English.
As there are only these two chiropractic colleges in Canada, many Canadian students attend colleges in the United States or overseas. If you graduate as a chiropractor in the U.S. or overseas and intend to practice in Canada, you must write the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board Examinations and a provincial licensing exam prior to being granted a license to practice in Canada, the same as a graduate from either of the Canadian schools.
Additional education information
Information on Becoming a Chiropractor can be found on the web site of the CFCREAB at www.chirofed.ca
Additional examination information
Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board web site: www.cceb.ca