How to Become a Chiropractor in India

How to Become a Chiropractor in India | Eligibility, Educational Qualification, Skillset, Job Profiles, Salary Offered

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A chiropractor is a physician who uses non-invasive techniques to eliminate the pain and ailments in the lower back and mid-back, along with headaches and pain in joints. A chiropractor has extensive knowledge about the neuro-musculoskeletal system of a person and can effectively treat any problems arising from it. The need for a chiropractor in India has grown exponentially due to a change in the lifestyle of people.

An inactive regime combined with a harsh work culture has given birth to a lot of ailments related to our spinal cord. In our fast-paced world, the treatment of spinal cord injuries requires more physical therapies rather than invasive medications. This is why there has been a growth in demand for trained Chiropractors in India.

Role of a Chiropractor

The role of a chiropractor is rather demanding and requires close physical contact with the patient. In addition to that, physical treatments with a chiropractor require a number of sessions and active patient participation. Therefore, a chiropractor needs to have an astounding amount of patience, dedication, and proper training in all the procedures involved.

Eligibility to become a Chiropractor in India

Wondering how to become a chiropractor in India? Just like every profession, there is a required educational qualification for a chiropractor as well.

A chiropractor in India needs to have a minimum educational qualification of a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute. However, a candidate needs to obtain the following qualifications as well.

  • A 5-year integrated Bachelor’s degree or B.Sc in Chiro followed by a 2 to 3-year Masters’s degree program or M.Sc in Chiro.
  • After the completion of a Masters’ degree, a candidate needs to obtain a doctorate in Chiropractic.
  • A candidate needs to complete 2200 hours of educational and clinical practice as a chiropractor to become a health professional. However, this stage is more relevant in India as the profession is still in its infancy.

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Educational Background Needed for a Chiropractor

If a candidate is interested in undertaking the role of a chiropractor, he or she needs to pass their intermediate exams or +2 exams with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their main subjects. In addition to that, they need to have at least 90 odd semester hours of undergraduate study. Their bachelor’s degree needs to include courses like English, humanities, organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology.

Even though the minimum educational qualification required to be a chiropractor in India is a bachelor’s degree, a candidate needs to fulfill these criteria to eventually take up the profession.

There are several colleges in India that offer pre-chiropractic study in their bachelor’s degree program currently.

If you would like to explore more similar courses you can check out our Course Details page to be aware of everything regarding the course right from eligibility to the salary packages offered, etc.

Advanced Qualifications

After completing the bachelor’s degree, the aspiring candidate needs to aim for their master’s degree in this field. The candidate needs to undergo four years of Doctor of Chiropractic program. This program requires a minimum of 4200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience to complete the degree.

The first two years emphasize classroom and laboratory training in anatomy, physiology, public health, microbiology, pathology, and biochemistry.

The final years of the curriculum are taxing for the candidate as he is now required to learn manipulation and spinal adjustment for practical learning. This clinical experience focuses on physical and laboratory diagnosis, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, physiotherapy, and nutrition. At this stage, a candidate is more or less ready to enter the field and get a medical license. However, further qualification is always a good step.

If a candidate is interested, he or she can opt for postdoctoral training in orthopedics, neurology, sports injuries, nutrition, rehabilitation, radiology, industrial consulting, family practice, pediatrics, and applied chiropractic sciences.

Specialty Training

If a candidate wishes to gain a doctorate in the practice of chiropractic, they can take specialty exams. These exams will provide them with the “diplomate” status in their chosen specialty. There are Chiropractic specialty boards in India that conduct these examinations.

License

You need a license to become a chiropractor in India after completing the required education. The qualifications and eligibility mentioned above are limited only to India, and the eligibility criteria vary from country to country.

After the completion of education and the required medical training, a budding chiropractor needs to apply for a license to start their private practice. This license can be obtained by clearing the compulsory four-part test conducted by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

If a candidate wishes to start their practice in another country, they need to research the eligibility criteria for their country of choice. This is how to become a chiropractor in India with proper qualifications.

Required Skillset to become a Chiropractor

Even though professional qualifications are very much essential for a chiropractor in India, a medical professional needs to have a myriad of interpersonal and observational skills to become a skilled professional.

  • A chiropractor needs to demonstrate empathy and should have great communication skills to understand the ailments of the patient.
  • A chiropractor needs to have impeccable observational skills to make the correct diagnosis of the patients.
  • A candidate aiming to become a chiropractor needs to keep his or her health and fitness in check along with learning interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
  • Problem-solving skills are required to deal with complicated situations to relieve the pain of the patient.
  • A chiropractor needs to be updated with the latest technologies in the field of medicine to provide the best treatment for their patients.
  • A certain amount of expertise is required to understand the area of pain and know how to deal with it.
  • In hospitals and clinics, a chiropractor in India also needs to develop teamwork skills to coordinate with other specialists.
  • In addition to the above skills, a chiropractor needs to learn how to handle marketing, bookkeeping, and accounting for their clinic.

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Job Profiles for a Chiropractor in India

As a chiropractor, a person needs to identify, treat and relieve the pain in different areas of the body like the lumbar region, joints, back, neck, and spine. Apart from treating patients, a chiropractor also needs to learn how to maintain hospital records, use blood pressure cuffs, use a stethoscope on patients, and keep records of the patients. The practice of chiropractic also involves the usage of radiology to see the source of the pain.

Anyone who has all the above skills can apply their training and learnings in this field. There are also numerous treatment processes that can be applied by a chiropractor to treat their patients. Therefore, the profile is often rewarding and enriches a patient’s life.

Chiropractor Employment Opportunities in India

The opportunities for a chiropractor is increasing rapidly due to the hectic lifestyle and lack of physical exercise among working professionals in India. Therefore, there are numerous opportunities for chiropractors, and they can easily get jobs in various public and private hospitals along with nursing homes.

A qualified chiropractor can also get a medical license and start their own clinic to start relieving the pain of the patients. Apart from healthcare services in hospitals, a chiropractor can effectively work even in military hospitals, sports academies, training institutes, Gymnasiums, and old age homes.

Salary of a Chiropractor in India

The salary of a chiropractor in India depends on various factors like skills, experience, and knowledge. The salary of a chiropractor mostly depends on years of practice, as more experience directly correlates to a higher salary. A chiropractor working in a government hospital is paid according to the government pay scale. In nursing homes, most chiropractors earn anywhere between 35,000 to 40,000 Indian rupees.

This is in sharp contrast to a private hospital because a more experienced professional earns considerably more. A fresher can earn anywhere between 20,000 to 25,000 Indian rupees. With years of practice, this salary can go as high as 50,000 or even more. Most chiropractors also have their own practice besides working in a hospital which allows them to earn more.

If they have considerable experience, chiropractors also collaborate with many private clinics across their city and charge hourly rates for their service. Therefore, the salary of a chiropractor is similar to other sectors, and the salary across India varies between 20,000 to 50,000 rupees.

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How is a Chiropractor in India different from Other Healthcare Professionals?

A chiropractor is knowledgeable about every part of the body and not just the spinal cord. This information is evident from the above texts as the training for a chiropractor is intensive. A Chiropractic student requires a total of approximately 2,419 hours of academic work before obtaining the license. However, a majority of medical students require roughly 2,047 hours of study.

Furthermore, the role of a chiropractor requires an extensive study in the fields of anatomy, embryology, physiology, biochemistry, diagnosis, x-ray, and orthopedics, while a medical practitioner requires a study of pathology, psychology, and obstetrics.

This does not mean that becoming a chiropractor is more difficult when compared to other fields of a medical study. Every medical practitioner has undergone a series of tests and practical expertise to complete their core education. A doctor possesses various strengths and different approaches to healing the body. Finding the perfect expert to heal the body is of utmost importance.

Conclusion

Due to the growing demand in this sector, Chiropractor in India is one of the most rewarding careers right now. A chiropractor gets to relieve the pain of their patients with various methods of treatment. As the practice is growing, a chiropractor has numerous opportunities in both government and private sectors. Given the salary, it is a brilliant career for anyone wishing to go into this sector.

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