Chiropractic Schooling VS. Medical School

How does chiropractic school compare to medical school? It might be more similar than you’d think!

Chiropractors and Medical Doctors (MDs) both have to begin their careers with an undergraduate degree. Many schools require a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field, but some schools will accept a specific number of science credits as a prerequisite along with an unrelated bachelor’s degree.

Once enrolled in graduate school, both chiropractors and MDs have to undergo extensive coursework in basic sciences and clinical training. Some examples of subjects covered include biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, pathology, neurology, and radiology.

After completion of basic science courses, both professions must move on to clinical training in which they learn hands-on clinical care and experience learning through internships or rotations at different health offices and organizations.

Before practicing, both professionals must take and pass their mandated examinations to prove their competence and apply for licensure.

One key difference between the two educational pathways is that while MDs move on from basic sciences to focus on pharmaceuticals, surgery, and how to accurately prescribe medications, chiropractors instead focus on hands-on adjusting techniques and in-depth study of the musculoskeletal system (bones and muscles).