Expert: Dr. Kevin D. Kanz - 4/20/2007

Question
QUESTION: Is it a branch of medicine? or some a name of association or place?
ANSWER: Thanks for asking William:

Chiropractic Health Care is a branch of the healing arts but not specifically medicine.  The Allied Health Care professions include both primary and secondary provider groups based on discipline.  Medicine, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Dentistry, Podiatry, Psychology & Optometry are amung those primary access health care disciplines.  The secondary health professions include nurses, physical therapist, dietitians, respiratory therapists etc..  These health professionals generally work under the direction or referral of a primary health care provider.

As allopathic medicine is a specific discipline with many branches, so is the chiropractic profession.  Chiropractic generally means "done by hand" (Greek), and specifically referrs to licensed and regulated Doctors of Chiropractic (DC).  This is a health care discipline that generally uses natural (non-surgical, non-drug) means to manage health problems.

Here is a good link for Q&A concerning the practice of chiropractic and how it's regulated in the US:

http://www.cce-usa.org/Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf

Hope this helps...
~Dr.K

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: does a Chiropractor(DC) need MBBS or MD or equavilant degree as a primary degree?
It is,to me, not heard of before


Answer
A Medical Degree (MBBS or MD) is not a requirement for admission to a chiropractic program, or for licesnure as a Doctor of Chiropractic. However, during my chiropractic program (1985), there were several MDs and DOs who had completed or were in the process of obtaining the chiropractic degree (DC) in addition to their medical training.
~K


William,
If practicing chiropractic in the United States, each individual state licensing act may have a different requirement.  Some states require a Bachalor's Degree (BS/BA) or equivalant in addition to the Chiropractic Degree (DC) before you are allowed to sit for licensing examination or before a license will be granted.  As noted in my previous link, most accredited chiropractic colleges require 90 semester hours of specific pre-professional sciences & humanities before being considered as a candidate for admission.  Most applicants to chiropractic colleges have either a bachelor's, masters or other advanced degree before  entering the program.  Some chiropractic colleges offer combined degree programs concurrent with chiropractic training (ie. Bachelor of Science in Anatomy, Master of Science in Anatomy & Physiology, etc.).  As with many medical schools in the US, the undergraduate degree is not always a requirement for pre-admission, but is of course considered as an advantage in the selection process.

Hope this answers your question.
~Dr.K