I have always wondered what it took to become a chiropractor. Seriously, were they just guys who couldn\'t hack it in med school or were they people who really wanted to become chiropractors? Was there some governing body that regulated the field or was it a mail in course that any do-do could apply for?

Then one day my doctor told me to go see a chiropractor. Saying I was skeptical would be the understatement of the year. I didn\'t even trust my trusted physician\'s recommendation. I had to do my own research before I would trust myself with what I thought were snake oil salesmen. But I was badly injured so I did some serious research and here is what I found.

Prior to Chiropractic College:
A potential candidate must attend 90 hours of undergraduate study. Then they can be accepted into chiropractic school. 90 hours of undergraduate study is the equivalent to 3 years in college which is more than an associate\'s degree. Most people seeking admittance to Chiropractic College will apply already having a bachelor\'s degree. Plus, many Chiropractic Colleges have pre-chiropractic classes.

Chiropractic College:
After completing the undergraduate program, chiropractic students must apply to and attend a chiropractic college. While requirements vary by states, classes include anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition, public health, and other sciences. This is followed by in-service training where they learn the chiropractic principle from hands on experience.

Programs require a minimum combination of 4,200 hours of classroom training and clinical experience. While the first couple of years focus on the sciences such as physiology and anatomy with classroom training, the last few years generally focus on spinal adjustment and manipulation.

It is in the last few years that students get hands on experience through clinical practice and training. They learn how to diagnose and treat patients under supervised conditions. During this time licensed and experienced chiropractors impart their knowledge by example in real world situations.

Once all coursework is complete along with all the required clinical experience, chiropractic students graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic. The Council on Chiropractic Education is the governing body and accredits the chiropractic schools. In 2009, the Council of Chiropractic Education website listed 17 different colleges as accredited.

Licensure:
After graduation, graduates are eligible to apply to the state licensing board. Each state has different standards but they all check to make sure the candidate has gone through the appropriate schools. It then checks to ensure all the necessary training is complete. Even if the candidate has met all the requirements set by the state for training and education, the student still must pass a test administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. It is only after successfully passing the test that a student can get a license to practice.

Maintaining Licensure:
A chiropractic license is not permanent. It must be renewed. All states except New Jersey require chiropractors to maintain a certain amount of continuing education classes. This is to ensure proper training and to make sure the chiropractor keeps up to date with all the latest health news.