How to Be a Chiropractor in Ontario and Canada
Once considered an unconventional approach outside the realm of conventional medicine, chiropractic medicine is gaining increasing recognition within mainstream healthcare. It involves the study and practice of enhancing the well-being of the nervous system and spinal cord, with chiropractors diagnosing and treating various neuromuscular disorders. Their aim is to alleviate pain and enhance mobility and functionality through manual adjustments and manipulation of the spine and joints, believing that this contributes to overall patient health.
Chiropractic Schools
In Canada, chiropractic education is offered at two institutions: the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) in Toronto, offering instruction in English, and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), offering instruction in French. These schools are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education of Canada. Admission into these programs is highly competitive, with requirements including a cumulative grade point average falling within a specified range and completion of prerequisite coursework.
The CMCC program spans four years of full-time study, including a 12-month internship, and offers graduate studies in specialized fields such as sports, clinical, and rehabilitation sciences, as well as radiology. Additionally, a one-year continuing education program in acupuncture is available. The UQTR program is a five-year program that begins after completing CEGEP and also requires a minimum of 4200 hours of full-time study, divided into two phases.
The first phase, lasting two years, primarily consists of classroom-based learning covering subjects such as biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, anatomy, neurology, toxicology, and pharmacology. The second phase, spanning three trimesters, is focused on clinical training, encompassing physical examination, diagnosis, and specialized areas like pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics, orthopedics, and rheumatology. This phase emphasizes hands-on experience, diagnostic skills, patient education, and communication.
Students at CMCC undergo a 12-month internship in the college’s clinics, where they continue to refine their skills under faculty supervision, including specialties like radiology and clinical laboratory assessments. Upon graduation, students earn the title Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine and must obtain licensure by passing the licensing exam administered by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board. Each province in Canada has its own licensing requirements, including ethics and legislation exams, criminal background checks, and interviews.
Licensed chiropractors are required to maintain their licensure through ongoing education and training. They also have opportunities to specialize further in areas such as sports science, orthopedics, clinical sciences, radiology, and occupational and physical rehabilitation.
Preparing From High School
Becoming a chiropractor involves a rigorous educational journey comparable to that of a medical doctor, as chiropractors are trained as primary-contact healthcare professionals. Aspiring high school students should aim for excellence, particularly in science subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and, if available, human anatomy. Subsequently, prospective chiropractors must complete three years of undergraduate study at a university, focusing on sciences while also incorporating additional coursework in psychology, humanities, and mathematics.
When seeking admission to the CMCC, it’s crucial to understand that while prerequisite courses are not mandatory, it’s recommended that applicants have completed specific coursework. Although not obligatory, it’s advisable that candidates have undertaken one full course with labs in organic chemistry and biology, along with one half-course in introductory psychology, and at least one and a half courses in humanities and/or social sciences.
For the UQTR Chiropractic College as of 2024, the program is limited to 47 places. A maximum of 5 places are reserved for French-speaking students residing outside Quebec. To successfully complete your studies, a good command of the French language is necessary. For more information regarding admission requirements into this program please visit their website here.
For further information, interested individuals can visit the websites of relevant organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Chiropractic, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, the UQTR Chiropractic College (Quebec), and the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.
Sources
http://www.chirofed.ca/english/becoming.html
http://www.degrees.ca/chiropractor/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic_in_Canada
https://www.cco.on.ca/prospective-members/becoming-a-member/registration-requirements/
https://www.cmcc.ca/admissions/ https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/what-a-chiropractor
