Chiropractor

A chiropractor is a health care professional who focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions primarily involving the spine.  They use manual techniques to manipulate the spine and correct misalignments, addressing pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and hips.  Many practice a holistic approach to health care, addressing issues like nutrition as well.  Specialties include acupuncture, clinical nutrition, neurology, orthopedics, sports, radiology, rehabilitation, and more.

To qualify for chiropractic school admission, students must take the necessary prerequisites for each school. Though a bachelor's degree is not required for admission to most, if not all, chiropractic schools, some states require a bachelor's degree to practice as a chiropractor. A degree can also better prepare one for the transition to a rigorous chiropractic curriculum. Please visit the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, FCLB, for a list of states requiring a bachelor's degree.

Degrees and Coursework

What major should I select at UNT for a pre-chiropractic path?

Recommended majors for pre-chiropractic students at UNT:

  • Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Allied Health or General Tracks, College of Education
  • Bachelor of Arts in Biology, College of Science

For more information about each major, please visit the UNT Catalog and select 'majors, minors, certificates' that is found beneath the link to ‘Catalog Home'.

What courses do I need for chiropractic school?

Please refer to our Pre-Chiropractic Packet for a list of Texas chiropractic school prerequisites. To review prerequisites for chiropractic programs outside of Texas, please refer to each individual school's website.

Applying to Chiropractic School

What makes a competitive application to chiropractic school?

When applying to chiropractic schools students should create a strategic plan well in advance. Below you will find typical categories of a competitive application. Please contact our advisors in the UNT Office of Health Professions to further explore each competitive characteristic and to create your pre-dental plan. 

Recommendations for a Competitive Application:

  • Overall GPAs - 3.0+ (average admitted GPAs vary by school)
  • 24+ hours of science course work
  • Shadowing/Observation of chiropractor
  • Volunteering 
  • Various Extracurricular Activities, On or Off Campus

Core Competencies for Healthcare

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) came up with a set of skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics that they believe are essential for future physicians called the pre-med core competencies. Because of its relevance to all healthcare professions, many other health professional schools have embraced the core competencies as well.  Since many, if not most, health professional schools evaluate applicants based on these competencies, we recommend that students develop proficiency in them.  More information on the AAMC Core Competencies can be found here.

Using this handout, your pre-health advisor can help you evaluate your progress on becoming a competitive applicant to optometry school. 

How do I apply to chiropractic school?

Each chiropractic school provides their own application. Chiropractic schools do not use a general application service to gather an applicant's information. 

When should I apply to chiropractic school?

Admission requirements differ for each chiropractic school. Each student's timeline will be based on the required prerequisites, the chiropractic schools' admission deadlines, and if a bachelor's degree will be earned.  Each student’s journey is different and your UNT Health Professions Advisor is committed to helping create a plan and timeline that accommodates each student’s individual goals and circumstances.

Do chiropractic schools require an entrance exam?

Entrance exams are not required for admission to a chiropractic school in Texas. Individual schools outside of Texas may recommend the GRE, but the test is generally not required.

Additional Resources for Students

Are there any pre-health scholarships available to pre-chiropractic students?

Yes, pre-chiropractic students can apply for the following pre-health scholarships using the College of Science general scholarship application:

The Dr. Charles D. and Vernil Mitchell Endowed Scholarship
To be considered, a student must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in any degree-granting major in the College of Science and be a graduate of any high school in Dallas ISD. For more information, please contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu. 

What are some additional resources for pre-chiropractic students at UNT?

You can find a list of health-related student organizations at UNT here.  You can search for other student clubs and organizations on OrgSync.

If you are a current student, join our canvas course to receive important announcements and view resources related to your pre-optometry journey.

How can I get started with creating a pre-chiropractic plan?

If you are a current student at UNT, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with one of our pre-health advisors using the following link: https://unt.navigate.eab.com/. If you are a prospective student, interested in enrolling at UNT in the future, and have any questions about "pre-optometry" at UNT, please feel free to contact us at healthcareers@unt.edu.