Health Careers
Chiropractor
Professional Activities
Chiropractors are concerned with the healthy functioning of the entire body, and focus on the spinal column as a source of many illnesses. Diagnosis of a patient’s health problem is done through patient interviews, physical examinations, x-ray examinations, and laboratory tests. The patient is then either treated or referred to another health care provider for further assessment.
Chiropractic treatment consists primarily of adjusting and manipulating the body, especially the spinal column. Some chiropractors supplement adjustment with therapies involving water, light, heat, diet, exercise, and rest. Chiropractors do not use prescription drugs or surgery.
Most chiropractors are self-employed and have a general practice. Some specialize in chiropractic roentgenology (x-rays) or chiropractic orthopedics (the prevention of skeletal deformities). Other chiropractors teach or engage in professional research.
Few chiropractors can establish a full time practice in rural Alaska. Those who do are located in urban areas or regional centers and travel to outlying communities on a scheduled basis.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school with a strong background in science, math, and English.
- Completion of a four-year college degree program, with coursework in biology and the sciences.
- Completion of a four-year chiropractic program. The student spends the first two years in the study of sciences, and the final two years in clinical study.
- Successful completion of a state licensing examination.
- Must pass National Board of Chiropractic Examinations (4 parts)
Academic Programs
There are no chiropractic programs in Alaska. The closest program is in Portland, OR:
Western States Chiropractic College
2900 NE 132nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97230
Phone: (503) 256-3180
Toll free: (800) 641-5641
Fax: (503) 251-5723
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.wschiro.edu
For a list of other chiropractic schools in the United States, visit: http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/chiropractic.html
Contacts
State Contact:
Alaska Chiropractic Society
550 East Tudor Road
PO Box 111507
Anchorage, AK 99511
Phone: (907) 222-2123
Fax: (907) 561-2067
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://alaskachiropracticsociety.com/
National Contact:
The American Chiropractic Association
1701 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 276-8800
Fax: (703) 243-2593
Email: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web site: http://www.acatoday.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on September 28, 2009
