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Veteran
Posts: 152
 
| I've been tossing around the idea of going back to school to be a chiropractor. Looking for insight on anyone that is one. I graduated with an Animal Sci/Ag Business degree and have been working as a barn manager in Oklahoma for 3 years now. Not what I want to do forever, and ready to move on. I thought about chiropractic school years ago, but the chiro I went to at the time told me it wasn't that great. Fast forward to now, and my chiro here in Oklahoma says GO FOR IT, he makes a ton, and it's awesome.
Moving back to Minnesota in December, and there's a chiro school located in the cities not a far drive from my parents. Waiting to hear back from them on Monday for admission requirements to see what I lack. Of course I'd want to do the equine/canine course after I was done.
I worry a lot about the amount of student loans I'll accumulate, but according to some the money you make allows you to pay them off quickly. True?
Any advice from anyone who does it, knows someone who does it, etc. would be greatly appreciated! |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
 
Location: Bandera, TX | I did a lay man's/women's course several years ago. I use it and accupuncture that I was taught many years ago quite often on my own horses and on a few friends horses. If I had the degree that your willing to go to school for I could easily be making $80-100 a horse here in Texas. If its something you love those around you will see the passion and the horses will feel the compassion so I say go for it.
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I am not a chiropractor. But good ones are very sought after. The gal we used charges $75 a horse for a 5 minute session. We recently switched to a body balancer that runs $100 per horse. But I only switched because I noticed a larger difference in my mare with the body balancer. |
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 Transplant Okie
Posts: 1206
Location: Always on call..... | I am a chiropractor but I don't practice anymore. Graduated from chiropractic school in 2004 and I practiced for three years before I went back to osteopathic medical school. I even did the animal chiro training after graduating and was board certified in that.
For me chiropractic school wasnt a great choice. I love chiropractic and wholly believe in it but you don't automatically graduate and start making money. Plus the tuition is high. We didn't learn anything in chiro school about business or marketing and that's what drives your ability to be successful. You can be the best chiropractor in the world but you will struggle if you can't sell yourself and what you do. I had classmates that kinda sucked as chiros but were great at marketing and business and they have done well. Most people don't just automatically go to chiropractors, unlike a medical doctor, for health care. You have to be able to explain how and why it is beneficial. Especially the idea of routine chiropractic care.
I tried working for other chiropractors but the ones that can afford to hire an associate are the high volume ones. That practice philosophy wasn't me so I hated working in that environment. Then I opened my own practice. I was able to treat patients how I wanted and believed in but I am not pushy or good at selling. So my patient volume wasn't stready or great. Plus never knowing how much money I was going to make each month really stressed me out. I ended up teaching anatomy and physiology classes part time at a community college to make some steady money.
The animal chiro training was awesome. i loved doing chiropractic on animals - they respond purely to it. However, in my area there were some vets who did animal chiro and they strongly opposed any chiropractors doing it. They turned me into the state board for practicing vet medicine without a license. That was a nightmare and now I have to report that for the rest of my life on credentialing and licensing applications. Most states don't have clear cut laws about animal chiropractic - so that would leave you open to the same fines/penalties I faced. If you wanted to do animal chiro work check with the Amercan Veterinary Chiropractic Association to see if your state has specific animal chiropractic laws.
I definitely have chiro friends who have been successful but it took some time to get there (like years) and most of them had the benefit of a spouse with stready income. There are also several practice management companies out there that will help you run your practice, for a fee of course, but they help make up for the lack of business training. I hate to advise people to not go to chiropractic school but I honestly don't think the time/money investment isn't worth the income potential. I would encourage you to consider physical therapy or physician's assistant. Both are the same amount of time as chiropractic school but you will graduate with mutliple job offers and great income. The prereq's for all three are the same.
Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
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Transplant Okie
Posts: 1206
Location: Always on call..... | Sorry for all the crazy emoticons on my last post! I posted from my iPad and I am not sure what happened! |
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Animal Chiropractioner
Posts: 959
Location: near Chicago | First, I will say that equine chiropractic is a great field--wide open with services sought by many. Very little competition.
It doesn't sound like you want to work on people, just horses. But the reality is that you have to either be a licensed human chiropractor or vet to take one of the animal chiropractic certification courses. Ideally there would just be a school to become an animal chiropractor.
A lot of what Dr. J says is true. State laws vary and there's no telling what they'll be in the years to come. Right now only a handful of states recognize animal chiropractic certification for their licensed human chiropractors--in fact these states have a separate licensing section just for them. And that's great. Whether other states will follow is unknown.
The point is this: Even if you are a licensed chiropractor, most states will still be treat you as a non-vet/lay person if you want to adjust horses for others. Some of these states, if you're lucky, may let you adjust horses with a veterinary referral, or in some sort of professional relationship with a vet. You would need to check that out with your state. As of now, in most states you have exactly the same legal status as human chiropractor who is certified in animal chiropractic. Doesn't seem fair to those who went through all that training and are unable to use it.
There are courses out there where you can learn horse adjusting techniques. A lot of the people calling themselves animal chiropractors also have extensive training or certifications in equine massage therapy, acupressure, and body work. Those certifications are also valuable.
Equine chiropractic is a cottage industry. If you're good, you'll get tons of referrals. If you want "DR" before your name, then you might get more referrals and have more status. The title does help. You have to ask yourself if going to chiropractic or veterinary school is worth the money and time. Only you can answer that.
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