Question
Hi my name is ashley and im a senior in highschool, I have always been interested in the body.. and im just curious of how many years it takes to get your Ph D. in being a chiropractor.. I'm thinking maybe 8 yrs?

Answer
Ashley,

Thank you for your question and I hope that I can help.

Today's Doctor of Chiropractic will take about 8 years of college education to obtain.  I did it in 7 years, but I kind of took the fast track through undergraduate school.  

First, you have to go to a college or university studying pre-med type classes.  You will most likely have to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree prior to entry to chiropractic college. To my knowledge, all of the chiropractic colleges are private schools and are expensive.  I suggest to do a web search on the chiropractic schools to get more information.  I went to Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas, just outside Houston.  I got a very good education and the facility has upgraded and is very nice at this time.

Chiropractic is a tough field to work in.  It is very gratifying, but can also be a lot of work to build a successful practice.  It is expensive to get into, but if you have a calling for it, then I feel you would be great.  

I recommend checking out the websites regarding various healthcare or science fields such as chiropractic, allopathic medicine, nursing, massage therapy, physical and occupational therapy, etc..   Give yourself as much information as you can to be able to make the best choice.  Do not be drawn to what looks glamorous or you think you might be able to make a lot of money at.  You need to choose a career that will fulfill your hopes, dreams and passions.  You need to be able to wake up in the morning and be excited about going to work.  

I have to admit that after 14 years of being a chiropractor, I love working with people, but there are many days that I wish I would have become a baseball coach.

In regards to financial gain, you can definitely make a good living in the healthcare industry, however, the ceiling for how much you can make in a given year is coming down.  The insurance industry continues to dictate what you can charge and what you can make.  Those figures have been reduced every year that I have been in practice.  Now I have to work more and see more patients than I did 5 years ago to make the same amount of money.  That is frustrating.  

You need to discuss all of these aspects of a career with your parents or counselors or an adult that you look up to.  I also recommend calling several local chiropractors, family doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists, etc., and ask them if you can come to their office for a few hours or a full day and see what they do, how they do it, and ask a lot of questions about their job and how they feel about it.  

I wish I would have had the opportunity to do that as a teenager.  You have your whole life ahead of you, but the decisions you make now will affect you in the future.

I really do enjoy being a chiropractor and I have learned a lot and I have helped a lot of people lead a healthier lifestyle.  It is very rewarding and fun.  

I wish you the best with your education and your future!

God Bless,

Dr. Boss