Contact For Health Chiropractic Center, P.C.

Chiropractic Education

The following is a description of the current requirements to become a licensed doctor of chiropractic (DC).
These particular educational requirements are in place at
Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
For further information, contact the Admissions Department at 1-800-PCC-ALUM or visit the school web site -- http://www.palmer.edu

Click here to see a list of classes that Dr. Dan and Dr. Jim took.

Purpose

The purpose of the Doctor of Chiropractic program at Palmer is to educate and prepare students to become Doctors of Chiropractic qualified to serve as primary contact health care providers and to serve humanity through patient care and community education.
All applications for admission are welcomed by Palmer College of Chiropractic. The Admissions Department is available for consultation with high school students, college students or others who wish to consider a career in chiropractic health care. A visit to the Palmer campus is strongly recommended as part of the planning process.

Selection Of Candidates

Candidates are selected based on several factors, which may include grade point average (GPA), total number of credits completed, prerequisite GPA, letters of recommendation and the personal profile/essays. Personal interviews may be conducted. We request that you apply one year in advance.

Program Requirements

The chiropractic program is so arranged that a student may choose to complete the curriculum in three and one-third consecutive years. The curriculum contains a minimum of 4,620 classroom hours of instruction, which must be completed within eight calendar years. Students transferring from other chiropractic colleges must complete a minimum of five trimesters at Palmer College.

Licensure Requirements

Due to the various licensure requirements in each of the 50 states, as well as other countries internationally, it is strongly recommended that applicants contact the respective Boards of Examiners regarding pre-chiropractic educational requirements in states and countries where they may consider practicing after graduation. The prerequisites for admission to the Palmer Doctor of Chiropractic degree program are established in compliance with the standards, rules and guidelines for the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Neither acceptance for admission into the program nor the subsequent earning of a Doctor of Chiropractic degree guarantees that a state or foreign country will grant a graduate a license to practice chiropractic. Each state and foreign country, through its legislative and administrative process, defines the standards of competency and scope of practice of chiropractic within its jurisdiction. Such standards may include, but are not limited to, the pre-chiropractic and chiropractic education of the applicant for licensure. State board licensure reports and international licensing information are available in the Department of Institutional Planning and Research.

Prerequisite Education

The Palmer College of Chiropractic prerequisites for admission to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program are in compliance with the standards, rules and guidelines of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).

The intensive Palmer curriculum demands a thorough undergraduate preparation. In the admission procedure, each candidate is evaluated on academic performance, science courses performance and the total number of hours of college credit completed. All applicants must furnish proof of having acquired a minimum of 90 semester hours or equivalent of college credit leading toward a baccalaureate degree at an institution or institutions accredited at the college level by an accrediting body that has been listed as nationally recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. All entering students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the required prerequisite courses. In situations in which one or more courses have been repeated with equivalent courses at the same institution, the higher grade(s) regardless of sequencing may be used for grade point average computation and the other grade(s) may be disregarded.

Beginning in the Fall of 2003, all matriculants will need to have earned a minimum of 90 semester credit hours, to include at least 30 semester hours in upper division credits. In addition, all matriculants must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the required prerequisite courses and the required 90 semester hours, which includes the prerequisites courses and the 30 semester hours in upper division credits.
If your grade point GPA falls below the present CCE minimum, feel free to contact the Admissions Department. We may be able to help you meet the matriculation requirements. Call us at 1-800-722-3648 if you have any questions about requirements.
For most students it will be necessary to complete 8-10 hours in each of the sciences to fulfill the minimum academic year requirement. The applicant should have completed courses in the sciences selected from the pre-chiropractic or pre-medical curricula recommended by your undergraduate instition(s).

Please note: Individual state licensing boards may require additional education prior to entering a chiropractic college. It is imperative that you confirm all information with the licensing board of the state, province or country in which you desire to be licensed. Licensure telephone numbers are available by calling 1-800-722-3648 and asking for the Institutional Planning and Research Department.

The required credits must be earned with a grade of 2.0/4.0 or better. Undergraduate credit earned at an accredited college or university must be applicable toward a baccalaureate degree. Inquires regarding the acceptability of specific prerequisite courses satisfying Palmer requirements are welcome. Please include a photocopy of your college's course offerings and course descriptions with your questions. This will enable us to assist you in selecting the proper courses.

Prerequisite courses must be completed before matriculation at Palmer College. No applicant is eligible to matriculate with less than a 2.50 overall GPA and fewer than 90 total semester hours (135 quarter hours) completed. Call 1-800-722-3648 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST if you have any questions about requirements.

An educational institution may contact the Admissions Department for assistance and advice concerning its particular scholastic curriculum, as well as the introduction of a pre-chiropractic program at its institution.

These were the requirements in place when Dr. Jim and Dr. Dan attended Palmer.  In an effort to continuously update the curriculum to offer the best chiropractic education possible, Palmer changes courses as needed:

Pre-Requisites:

     Required courses:

The Palmer College Curriculum (Doctorate program):

     *Clinic requirements necessary for graduation include 200 outpatient treatments, 50 student treatments, 50 observations minimum.  Several clinical competency measures are assessed during each patient treatment.

Other Requirements:

Other Academic Programs:

     The above requirements are in reference to the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree.  Palmer College also offers a Bachelor of Science degree which can be earned along with the D.C. degree.  This requires the completion of extra courses.  The Chiropractic Technologist (C.T.) degree is offered utilizing a one-year, three trimester program.  A C.T. can conduct chiropractic exams, manage an office, and take X-rays in most states.  A Master of Science degree program and several residency programs are also available at the college.

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Last modified: 11/12/2007
First uploaded: December 28, 1996