Are Chiropractors Real Doctors?! // Frequently Asked Questions

“Are you a real doctor?” It’s a question we see ALL THE TIME. And honestly, it doesn’t offend us! Rather, it shows us how much (or little) the world really knows about who chiropractors are and what we can do!

The short answer: YES! Just not the usual white coat donning ones!
Although usually when people see the word “doctor” they only think of a Medical Doctor, an MD - there are a plethora of other doctorate degrees. The word “DOCTOR” means “TEACHER.” So if we think about it that way, it makes a lot more sense in that you can obtain a doctorate in so many different avenues other than the medical field.

That being said, within the medical field a chiropractor primarily addresses neuromusculoskeletal complaints such as low back pain or headaches with a non-invasive and non-prescription solution. Comparatively, an MD has a higher likelihood of choosing the latter path. [DISCLAIMER: an MD doesn’t ALWAYS prescribe drugs or warrants a surgical route! They just choose the best option that they see fit for you within their scope of practice and knowledge base!

• Chiropractors are considered Primary Contact Health Care Providers just like:

  • Nurse Practitioners

  • Your Family Practice Provider

  • Pediatricians

  • Gynecologists

  • Osteopaths

    By being a Primary Provider that means that you don’t need a referral to see us!

So that’s a little history, but what’s the process of becoming a chiropractor? I heard you can get your license from a strip mall booth in a half hour?
In order to hold a Doctor of Chiropractic Title in Minnesota, one must have completed not only their Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited Undergraduate University, but also a 4 year program from an accredited Chiropractic College. This process is much like an MD’s where they first attend undergraduate college and then go on to graduate school for another 4 years. As a matter of fact, if you break down the course hours, the curriculum is VERY similar as well.

In total, chiropractic colleges demand 4200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience prior to graduation. This process is quite rigorous. For example, we had trimesters with 28-32 credit hours which is 10-12 more credit hours than a typical undergraduate semester.

On top of all that, one must then complete and pass a set of 4 different Boards Exams and a Jurisprudence exam before practicing Chiropractic.

WHEW! That’s a lot eh?

The bottom line is; just like any other specialty provider, we can assess, diagnose, and provide treatment. As doctors of chiropractic compared to your ‘classic doctor’ or MD, this usually falls in the neuromusculoskeletal category.