How does the education of a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) compare to that of a Medical Doctor (M.D.)?
Both modern Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.'s) and Medical Doctors (M.D.'s) undergo extensive education. After completing undergraduate degrees, these doctors continue on to graduate school to receive their professional training. Then, the doctors must pass rigorous national and state licensure examinations to practice in the state of their choice.
Ian Coulter, PhD, recently published the first peer-reviewed study that compared medical and chiropractic education (Coulter, et al., Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 1998 Sept; 4(5):64-75). He and his research team shocked the world when they announced their findings. They found that the typical chiropractic education consists of 4,850 classroom hours, while the typical medical education consists of only 4,150 classroom hours. Furthermore, they found that in almost all areas of training, Doctors of Chiropractic have more didactic training their medical counterparts (including Embryology, Neurology, Anatomy, Spinal Anatomy, Systems Physiology, Radiology, Nutrition, Rehabilitative Therapeutics, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Endocrinology, Pathology, Orthopaedics, Biomechanics, Pediatrics, Diagnosis, Gynecology, etc.). In fact, the only areas of study in which the medical curriculum was more involved than the chiropractic curriculum were Public Health and Pharmacology, although some chiropractic schools have since added additional classes in both areas.
This means that the modern Doctor of Chiropractic is very prepared to be your primary care provider.
Chiropractic offers safe, informed, and effective healthcare without the need of invasive drugs or surgeries and is unique in its focus on the total health of the patient.