Aside from the usual doctors, nurses, and dentists, chiropractors are also crucial in the medical industry. Chiropractors deal with specific issues with our bodies that involve corrective manipulation. Actually, some other medical professionals can do this, but chiropractors are specialists. These people are trained to work on several cases that require such processes and thus are the best options for these situations.
Chiropractors do not receive the same appreciation and admiration from people the way doctors, nurses, and dentists do. However, because they do not receive the same love and gratitude, does not mean they should not be considered decent careers. There are some things that chiropractors are good at, but other people in the medical industry are not.
Now that we’ve convinced you that becoming a chiropractor is entirely worth it, here is everything you must know about becoming a chiropractor in Canada.
Educational Requirements for Chiropractors in Canada
To become a successful chiropractor in Canada, aspiring candidates should finish at least seven years of higher education before getting their license. An interested individual must have a GPA of 2.50 or above from their last three full years of studying in Canada.
Applicants must have spent three years in a university as well. They should have studied physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, a half course of introductory psychology, and one and a half units in humanities.
The next four or five years of education required will consist of studying chiropractic medicine in general. It is very rigid, and it is divided into pre-clinical and clinical sciences. The pre-clinical phase is for two years.
This should be taken at an institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Council on Chiropractic Education and Completion, from the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board, and of the licensing body of the jurisdiction where you are at.
Some of the subjects that chiropractor candidates must take include biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, toxicology and pharmacology, public health, dietetics, and nutrition. Some others include pathology, pharmacology, and microbiology.
The clinical phase of the chiropractic study is for three semesters and focuses more on the chiropractic performance-based courses. The subjects needed to be studied include neurology, radiology, general physical examination, differential diagnosis, history-taking skills, laboratory diagnosis, orthopedics, rheumatology, and many others.
Chiropractor Licensing and Other Professional Requirements
Chiropractors are classified as regulated professions in Canada, just like several medical industry careers. Before they can practice as chiropractors, they must be registered and certified by their respective regulatory authorities in their provinces and territories. This is a requirement in all the provinces and even in the Yukon Territories.
Skills, Knowledge, and Other Requirements
Chiropractors should be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and other relevant requirements before becoming licensed and successful chiropractors in their jurisdiction.
Skilled chiropractors perform different tasks such as taking the case history of patients, conducting necessary examinations, and observing the patients. They can diagnose spinal disorders and should also perform or order X-rays and other relevant tests for their patients.
They should also advise the patients on corrective exercises, lifestyle, and diet so that they won’t have to go to the hospital and use additional treatments whenever necessary, such as light, heat, and massage.
They should also be proficient in either English, French, or both as they would have to constantly communicate with their patients. They should also have above-average communication skills.
Chiropractors should also be highly knowledgeable about their career and practice topics, such as business administration, client service, medicine, therapy and counselling, and biology.
Chiropractor Salary and Wages in Canada
Chiropractors working in Canada earn a decent amount, as is customary with other professions in the medical industry. A chiropractor working in Canada earns around $60,000 a year and can go as high as $122,320 a year, depending on your skills, qualifications, and years of experience as a skilled chiropractor.
Not all jurisdictions have the relevant data posted online, but according to Jobbank, chiropractors in Quebec earn up to $125,300 a year while the chiropractors working in Ontario earn up to $116,270 a year. However, these are just estimates and not the exact earnings per province or territory.
Several factors also play an essential role in determining a chiropractor’s annual salary in Canada. These factors include the skill set, the years of experience working as a chiropractor, the nature of the employer (i.e. if it is a public or a private hospital or clinic), and other relevant qualifications, such as a master’s degrees and/or doctoral degrees for chiropractors.
