Chiropractor: Job Responsibilities, Education & Career Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth rate for chiropractor jobs is expected to increase faster than the average of all professions. The low concentration of these professionals in alternative healthcare practices offers good job prospects to candidates aspiring to make a career in the field of chiropractic treatment. At the beginning of your career, the earning may be relatively low. However, earning will increase as you grow in experience and skills. To kick start a career in this field of alternative healthcare treatment, you need to be well informed about what a chiropractor does, their major job responsibilities, work environment, education and training required, career prospects and annual salary.

Job Responsibilities
Also referred to as the doctor of chiropractic or chiropractic physicians, chiropractors are responsible for treating patients with health problems related with the skeletal, muscular and the nervous system, particularly the spine. According to what chiropractors believe, the functions inside the body of an individual are impaired due to any kind of interruptions in the aforementioned systems of the body. As a result, the resistance power of the body gets affected. Doctors of chiropractic also believe that any kind of vertebral dysfunction leads to impairment in the nervous system and skeletal imbalance.

Chiropractic physicians adopt a holistic approach towards the well being of an individual's overall health. The treatment they offer is based on the belief that the body has a strong ability to recuperate. Therefore, the chiropractic treatments involve no surgical operations or drugs. These alternative health physicians recommend changes in the lifestyle to negate the imbalances occurring in the body's skeletal, nervous and muscular system. Relying on the inherent recuperative capabilities of the body, chiropractic physicians recommend changes in an individual's lifestyle including exercise, eating and sleeping habits.

For appropriate diagnosis and treatment of patients, chiropractors review a patient's past medical history and conduct multiple laboratory tests and medical examinations. Since chiropractors particularly focus on the spine and how it functions, x-rays and other diagnostic images play a crucial role in the entire diagnosis procedure. For the treatment, chiropractors also use a wide range of techniques including massage therapy, ultrasound, electric and heat therapy among others. At the same time, the alternative healthcare practitioners also recommend lifestyle changes including proper exercise, nutritional changes, stress management etc.

With growing experience and skills, chiropractors may also choose to specialize in areas like neurology, sports injuries, pediatrics, orthopedics, diagnostic imaging, internal disorders etc. Chiropractors can either practice alone or as part of a group. In large offices, there are chiropractic assistants to help senior doctors of chiropractic in their task.

Educational Qualification & Training Requirements
Since chiropractic treatment involves a wide range of techniques emphasizing on the structural and neurological aspects of the body, candidates need to be formally trained to become a chiropractor. Students aspiring to make a career in chiropractic should complete a four years academic study which includes two years of college work and two years focusing on practical or clinical studies which includes the study of chiropractic sciences. Before getting enrolled in a degree program, students must remember to check for the necessary accreditations. Licensure requirements may vary from one state to another. Majority of the state boards, however, recognize the four part test which is administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

Other Essential Chiropractic Skills Required
Besides possessing a chiropractic degree, candidates should also possess some other essential skills to have a successful career in this profession. Some of the most important skills required include excellent manual dexterity, capability to work independently, empathy, keen observation for detecting physical abnormalities and a keen desire to help people improve their lives.

Career Outlook
Job prospects for doctors of chiropractic are good. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a employment growth rate faster than the average of all other occupations, through to the year 20102. Employment opportunities grow also as more and more people are becoming health conscious and turn towards this holistic treatment system. The population growth in the number of elderly has increased the demand for chiropractors.

Annual Salary
According to the American Chiropractic Association, the average annual salary of a chiropractor is around $81,500 (year 2000). It should also be noted that self employed chiropractors earn more than those who are salaried. Most of these professionals earn between the range of $44,140 and $102,400 annually.