Chiropractor

You'll need to complete a 4-year degree or postgraduate master's course recognised by the General Chiropractic Council.

This involves 3 years of full-time study and 1 year working under supervision.

You may be able to take an Access to Science course if you do not have the degree entry requirements.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 3 A levels or equivalent

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You'll need to get paid or unpaid experience of working with a chiropractor before applying for a course.

You'll also find it useful to get experience of working in a health or care role. You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator or manager at your local NHS trust for more advice.

Registration

• you'll need to be registered with the General Chiropractic Council before you can work as a chiropractor

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a chiropractor from the General Chiropractic Council and the British Chiropractic Association.

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• customer service skills
• leadership skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

In your day-to-day duties you may:

• use your hands to treat disorders of bones, muscles and joints
• manipulate the spine
• treat neck, back and shoulder pain
• treat sciatica and leg problems
• help clients with sports injuries, poor posture and joint and muscle pain
• make sure your client's condition is suitable for treatment
• discuss their symptoms and health problems in detail
• carry out examinations, sometimes using x-rays or blood tests
• design a programme of treatment for each individual client
• give advice on lifestyle, diet and exercise to support recovery

You could work in a therapy clinic.