Chiropractors
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Chiropractors assess, diagnose and treat disorders that cause spine, muscle and joint pain. They use hands-on care to adjust the spinal column and prescribe exercises to increase patients’ mobility, reduce their chronic pain and help them recover from injuries.
Job Titles
Duties
Chiropractors:
- Record patients’ health histories and perform physical exams
- Use medical imaging, such as X-rays, and do other tests as needed
- Identify nervous system- and muscle-related disorders, also called neuromuscular-skeletal disorders
- Treat patients with manual adjustments, soft tissue therapy and electrical stimulation
- Advise patients about helpful exercises and stretches
- Provide posture, lifestyle and nutrition information
- Refer patients to other health-care professionals including medical doctors, physiotherapists and massage therapists
Some chiropractors specialize in radiology, sport science or clinical sciences.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,365% Employed Full Time
35%Chiropractors are usually self-employed. They work in private practice, group practice with other chiropractors or in clinics that offer a mix of health-care services.
Most chiropractors work regular office hours. Some also see patients on weekends.
The work can be physically demanding. Chiropractors work with their arms and hands, and they stand for long periods of time. They may be exposed to potentially harmful radiation from X-rays, infrared and ultraviolet light.
Self-employed chiropractors must spend part of their time managing their business, which may include booking appointments, doing accounting and managing office staff.
Career Pathways
New chiropractors often join the practice of an established chiropractor. Others join clinics that offer a mix of health-care services.
After gaining experience, some will open their own practice, either independently or in partnership with others.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Chiropractors must complete:
- Approximately three years of undergraduate studies
- A four-year program at a school accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education
- Written and practical exams through the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board
In order to practise in B.C., chiropractors must also be licensed by the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia. This process includes an exam. Once licensed, they must meet minimum continuing education standards every two years.
Workers coming to B.C.
Chiropractors who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.
Workers who trained outside of Canada
Chiropractors who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,365Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 65 | 4.8% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 1.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 795 | 58.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 225 | 16.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 235 | 17.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
600Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 1.1% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 330 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 100 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 110 | 2.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 590 |
| Construction | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Chiropractors help reduce patients’ pain, increase their function and improve their quality of life. Helping people provides chiropractors with a great deal of job satisfaction.
As part of treatment, chiropractors often give advice around nutrition and lifestyle. By being attentive to each patient’s unique physical, psychological and social circumstances, they can provide the most effective care.
Resources
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British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA)www.bcchiro.com/bcca
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Canadian Chiropractic Associationwww.chiropractic.ca
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Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board (CCEB)cceb.ca
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College of Chiropractors of British Columbia (CCBC)www.chirobc.com
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Council on Chiropractic Educationwww.cce-usa.org
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a chiropractor is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a chiropractor is like.
