Discover what sports chiropractors do, and how they differ from regular chiropractors. Learn what education is needed, the average salary, and job outlook.
Chiropractors specialize in addressing health issues concerning the musculoskeletal system, including conditions affecting bones, muscles, and joints. Sports chiropractors undergo specific training to diagnose, treat, and prevent sports-related injuries, while also aiding athletes in their rehabilitation process.
The Doctor of Chiropractic program at University of Western States prepares graduates with a systems-based, whole-person approach to health and a dedication to care that is “for the good of the patient.” Students in the program are offered an option that combines it with the M.S. in Sports Medicine program, creating a unique path toward a rewarding career as a sports chiropractor.
What Is a Sports Chiropractor?
A sports chiropractor aids athletes in maximizing performance, preventing injuries, and expediting recovery from injuries. Chiropractic care offers a medication-free approach to enhance overall health, promoting efficient bodily function and healing. Approximately 90% of professional and Olympic athletes reportedly integrate chiropractic care into their training and recovery routines.
What Type of Education Is Required for a Sports Chiropractor?
A sports medicine chiropractor career typically requires completing a minimum of three years of undergraduate education. It’s advisable to pursue degrees like human biology, exercise science, or kinesiology, which have a strong focus on biological sciences.
Register for a Doctor of Chiropractic degree program, which typically takes 3 to 5 years to finish the 4,200 instructional hours. The chiropractic program should be nationally accredited, spanning over four years, and include hands-on training through laboratory sessions and clinical internships.
For post-graduate education to achieve the sports level of chiropractic care and specialization, you need to acquire further education and pass the required examinations.
This may vary by employment industry and region:
- National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exams and state-specific licensure
- Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP)
- minimum of 100 hours from a CCSP program
- post-graduate hands-on emergency procedures course
- Healthcare provider-level CPR certification
- written exam
- Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP)
- Written exam
- 6-station practical exam
- written project
- 250 hours of practical field experience.
- Must have the CCSP certification in order to receive this certification.
Students in the University of Western States chiropractic program must complete the standardized clinical skills assessment (CSA) which evaluates students’ attainment of clinical competencies.
- First eligibility to sit for NBCE Part I occurs in correlation with completing Q5.
- First eligibility to sit for NBCE Part II occurs in correlation with completing Q9.
- First eligibility to sit for NBCE Part III occurs in correlation with completing Q9. Also requires successful completion of NBCE Part I.
- First eligibility to sit for NBCE Part IV occurs in correlation with completing Q10 and requires successful completion of NBCE Part I.
Pursue Sports Chiropractic Care With UWS
The M.S. in Sports Medicine at UWS is an excellent companion to the Doctor of Chiropractic program to provide specialized learning in sports-related areas and practical training. It better equips chiropractors with the knowledge to assist athletes’ unique health needs.
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at the University of Western States is awarded programmatic accreditation by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). UWS provides a route to combine the M.S. in Sports Medicine with the Doctor of Chiropractic program with strong values in integrative health to better prepare students for career opportunities in sports injury chiropractic care.