Chiropractors are in high demand as the population ages and new healthcare trends arise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for chiropractors should increase by 18% by 2022. More than half of employers in the U.S. are considering hiring new chiropractor employees. This is excellent news for aspiring chiropractors hoping to break into this growing healthcare field, an exciting field that can provide so much and offer much job security.
However, you must learn the admissions requirements to a chiropractic school and become licensed to practice chiropractic before starting. If you think you need a degree to be successful, this article will also give you some insight into the pros and cons of a chiropractor's career path.
Pros of Chiropractor Career Path
1. Job Security
There is a high demand for chiropractic services and professionals, and employment should increase over the next few years. The BLS also reports that the demand and job growth rates are better than the average for all other occupations in healthcare. It is also projected that there will be a high degree of job openings because many current chiropractors are reaching retirement age or deciding to leave the field altogether. As a result, you will have plenty of options for finding employment if you pursue this exciting field as an occupational health care professional.
2. You Can Make A Great Living.
The median salary for chiropractors is $70,720. Many people can afford to pay a chiropractor because they have health insurance or Medicare. Making decent money as a chiropractor is also possible if you work hard enough. Chiropractors also enjoy high job security, meaning wage growth can continue. You can better your living regardless of the economy and what happens in the rest of the country.
3. You Can Work Independently.
Many people choose to open their own businesses, and chiropractors succeed. There are many opportunities to work and be your boss if you become a chiropractor. So, you can control your practice and how much you earn.
4. You Can Make A Difference In People's Health.
Chiropractic care benefits many people, and there is no denying that doing what you love can be very fulfilling. You can help improve people's lives and make a tremendous difference in their lives while also helping yourself earn some money along the way--all this with just a little bit of hard work, like the G5, who provides quality services through their combined hands-on massage and percussion techniques that improve patient outcomes and reduce recidivism and pharmaceutical use.
Cons Of Chiropractor Career Path
1. The Degree Is Long And Expensive.
You first want to consider whether you need a doctorate or can get by with a master's degree in chiropractic medicine. The minimum education requirement to practice chiropractic is a Doctor of Chiropractic degree or a Doctor of Medicine degree and an additional three years of training to become licensed. Both degrees require four years' worth of study and several hundred thousand dollars in tuition fees to graduate from these programs, and it may take some work to find a school that will give you a scholarship if you qualify.
2. You May Need To Complete An Internship.
Internships are required to complete the education and license requirements, which can be challenging to get accepted into if you do not have a connection with the school you are hoping to intern for. If you do not have a connection, finding one willing to take you on as an intern may be challenging because there are so many chiropractor schools these days, and some of these schools may already have their intern spots filled.
3. You Will Have To Renew Your License.
Because chiropractors are state and country-licensed professionals, they must continue to maintain their licenses, which means they must achieve education credentials every few years to renew their licenses. You may have to put extra hours into your practice every few years to maintain your license and continue practicing as a doctor.
With all the presented information, you may still wonder if becoming a chiropractor is for you. Pursuing this career path may be for you if you can succeed in chiropractic. It may take some time and a lot of hard work to succeed, but it is well worth it when you finally achieve your goals.