Chiropractors are found in every town and city across the country today.
This healthcare profession is one of the fastest-growing practices in operation today.
Those who plan to become educated in chiropractic care can be assured that they have a promising future and secure career field.
Additionally, this path is ideal for working within the healthcare field to help people feel better and have better mobility.
Consider the following information and details outlining the pros and cons of going into the chiropractic field.
Table of Contents
Pros of Being a Chiropractor
There are many positive aspects of becoming a chiropractor.
Consider the following information to help outline the most common pros associated with this career field.
1. Job Security Anywhere
Regardless of where you choose to live, you can carve a secure career for yourself by becoming a chiropractor.
There are clinics and practices already established all over, especially in large towns and cities, looking for qualified professionals who want to help people live pain-free and increase their quality of life.
You can even open a small practice in just about any area in the US without too much competition.
More people than ever are turning to chiropractors to get adequate relief from the symptoms of the present, chronic, and developing conditions that affect their muscular-skeletal system.
2. Lucrative Career
One of the best benefits of becoming a chiropractor is that you can make plenty of money over the lifetime of your career.
That means a stable life and more opportunities to save and meet goals for your family.
For example, the average chiropractor makes about $70k per year, but some top-performing chiropractic professionals can earn over $135k per year.
The factors influencing salary include location, specialties, size of the practice, experience, and more.
Those who stick with this career can find themselves comfortable for years to come.
3. Work for Yourself
If the prospect of becoming your own boss sounds appealing, then you might consider becoming a chiropractor.
That is especially true for those interested in working in a healthcare field that can positively impact lives.
It is a beautiful opportunity for people who like working with the public and allowing patients to live a more fulfilling life.
4. Flexible Locations for Practicing
You are not committed to only practicing at a traditional clinic.
A chiropractor can also practice in other atmospheres and locations, such as a medical facility or even a private practitioner visiting the patient’s rehab location or home.
Chiropractic care allows professionals to choose the environment they want to practice in.
This is especially true in larger cities and populated areas where there is a significant calling for mobile practices or those specializing in visits to rehab and nursing home facilities.
5. Work By Yourself
If you enjoy working in practice by yourself, you have that opportunity as a professional chiropractor.
While some chiropractic professionals prefer to work with others in a joint practice, others enjoy the individual practice.
When you work by yourself, you can streamline how your practice operates and the number of patients you see.
It is a great way to control your professional career and the schedule and hours you keep.
6. Make a Stable Schedule
Stability and a predictable schedule are essential to many chiropractors.
When you work in a joint practice, you may have less predictability and uncertain scheduled hours.
However, there are many instances where you can control your practice scheduling and the number of days during the week or on the weekend that you see patients.
Being a chiropractor helps create a more stable home life and adds to the work/home balance, especially for those who have families.
7. Shorter Education and Training Process
Compared to some other professional medical fields, chiropractors train for fewer years.
Unlike some medical professionals such as specialists, the number of years required to attain your education and hands-on training is about half.
That means more years of working in your desired profession, getting experience, and establishing a reputation sooner.
Cons of Being a Chiropractor
There are many positive aspects of becoming a chiropractor; it is important to note that there are also some cons to consider.
Before entering any field, carefully weigh the pros and cons and consider any negative aspects that may impact your decision and affect your lifestyle.
1. Potential for Legal Action
As a medical professional, there is always the chance that a patient will see you for issues, including malpractice.
This occurrence is a serious matter for anyone who decides to work in the medical profession.
Always be prepared for the potential and have a plan for handling these unfortunate events.
2. Expensive Insurance
Because lawsuits and malpractice issues are common in the field of chiropractic care, you will need to have dedicated insurance in place to help protect you from lawsuits.
This type of insurance is costly and is essential for any person practicing chiropractic care.
3. Responsibilities to Patients and Workers
Chiropractors have many responsibilities, especially those related to their patients and those who work for them in their practice.
These responsibilities mean a firm dedication to scheduling, professionalism, and accuracy.
That is why chiropractic care is a demanding medical field, and anyone practicing as a chiropractor must keep this in mind at all times.
4. Periodic License Renewal
If you work as a chiropractic care provider, you will likely need to renew your license every two years.
Keep in mind that each state’s requirements for license renewal can vary, but typically the shortest length of time is two years in states like New York.
Be sure to understand these requirements and meet the deadlines for recertification if you want to continue practicing in that state.
5. Expensive Education
Education expenses can add up quickly, especially for those practicing in the healthcare field.
Chiropractic care training and education last for several years and involve many expenses.
Most people who begin training and studying in this field will rack up student debt and have loans to pay over many years.
This is something to consider before attaining the proper education and training to begin practicing chiropractic care.
6. Finding an Internship
You will likely need to find an internship to practice and hold your skills before you can begin working as an independent chiropractor.
Finding these internships may be difficult, and they do not pay.
That means you will need to find a way to not only dedicate yourself to this internship, which can be demanding, but you also need to have a job in place to pay your bills and your education costs.
7. Continuing Education Needs
As chiropractic care changes in the balls, you will need to continue your education.
In order to be experienced and effective, you will need to know all the latest developments and techniques that can be covered by periodically engaging in continuing education.
This process may be complicated due to a demanding schedule from your current practice and can become somewhat costly.
Before becoming a chiropractor, make sure you consider that you will need to plan for continuing education every few years.
Pros and Cons of Being a Chiropractor – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Chiropractor | Cons of Being a Chiropractor |
|---|---|
| 1. Job Security Anywhere | 1. Potential for Legal Action |
| 2. Lucrative Career | 2. Expensive Insurance |
| 3. Work for Yourself | 3. Responsibilities to Patients and Workers |
| 4. Flexible Locations for Practicing | 4. Periodic License Renewal |
| 5. Work By Yourself | 5. Expensive Education |
| 6. Make a Stable Schedule | 6. Finding an Internship |
| 7. Shorter Education and Training Process | 7. Continuing Education Needs |
Should You Become A Chiropractor?
Becoming a chiropractor is not for everyone.
If you are interested in working in the medical field, carefully ascertain if you’re prepared for the commitments and responsibilities that go along with studying and practicing in this field.
This profession offers many substantial benefits to those who are appropriately qualified and prepared to work with their patients and their coworkers daily overtime.
To get more information about becoming a chiropractor, you can contact your favorite educational institutions to obtain literature and insight about the education requirements, price, and training needed to begin working in this field.
Local colleges and universities have these programs available and can provide insight into the profession to help potential candidates determine if they want to pursue this career field.
Career counselors can provide more details about each college’s courses and the length of time to complete them and receive a degree.
You might consider two years at a local college and then wrap up training at a technical college or university to keep expenses lower.
Keep in mind that you must love to work with people and have a strong desire to help them overcome various issues related to their mobility and bodily functions.
This process requires caring compassion, patience, and dedication.
To see if you fit the bill, you might consider talking with a chiropractor to see if they have some insight to help you prepare for the education and training process.
