To become a chiropractic associate, you need to meet educational and licensing requirements, including studying a chiropractic curriculum for four to five years and completing a minimum one-year clinical program. After obtaining a license, you must join an established chiropractor’s practice to gain hands-on experience and learn business practices. A pre-employment agreement is necessary to avoid legal issues when building your own clientele.
To become a chiropractor associate, you must meet the educational and licensing requirements of a chiropractor. When you start your chiropractic career, you usually work alongside an experienced chiropractic physician as his or her employee. This experience allows you to learn how to treat patients and how to run a business.
A chiropractic associate usually studies pre-med at graduation and takes physical and social science courses. Then you must study a chiropractic curriculum for four to five years at an accredited chiropractic college. To become a Chiropractic Associate, you typically study the science behind healing and treating patients. Courses in rehabilitation, anatomy, physiology, nutrition and public health are sometimes more intense than those given by doctors or physiotherapists.
Chiropractic students dedicate much of their training to evaluating and caring for patients. Due to the precision required in learning the adjustment techniques of chiropractic care, chiropractic associates are often required to undertake intensive clinical training. Additionally, a minimum one-year clinical program involving actual patient care, including at least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience, is often required to become a chiropractic associate.
After earning your degree, you may need to obtain a license to practice chiropractic. You must apply for a license in the local or regional area where you intend to become a Chiropractic Associate. Obtaining this license will likely require you to pass an exam. In the United States, you will likely need to take the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners test and other tests depending on the state. It is likely that you will only be able to practice in the region where you are licensed, although some areas may allow you to practice without additional testing as long as you meet that area’s requirements.
Once licensed, you must join the practice of an established chiropractor. The experienced chiropractic doctor usually becomes your mentor. As a chiropractic associate, you must learn to incorporate the skills you practiced in school with the realities of caring for patients. You must also gain hands-on experience interacting with clients and providing the best and most appropriate treatment for patients. In addition, a chiropractic associate learns the business practices necessary in running a chiropractic facility.
While you should share a professional relationship with your mentor, situations may arise as you build your own clientele. To avoid legal ramifications, you must sign a pre-employment agreement that details the job responsibilities. Also addressing compensation and conduct, this agreement allows you to legally open a practice and take your own clientele with you without compensating your mentor.
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