The medical field has become so broad that many professional programs and courses are coming out everyday and one of them is Chiropractor care. To become a professional in this field, you need to get a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree as this will help you to get more job opportunities. You may ask yourself if there are opportunities as a chiropractor, well there are many including educator, practitioner, administrator or even a researcher.
A chiropractor school teaches students how to diagnosis and treat mechanical disorders associated with the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. They teach how techniques and other skills that will restore and maintain the musculoskeletal system. There are many schools in Canada that offer programs that can give Chiropractic Doctoral Degree.
CHIROPRACTOR SCHOOLS IN CANADA
In Canada, there are just two chiropractic schools, one is the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) while the other is the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres (UQTR). The former teaches students in English while the latter is offered in French.
• Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC)
This is a private chiropractor school located in Toronto, Canada, it was established in 1945 and have about 800 students. The degree from this school is under the ministerial consent from the provincial Ministry of Colleges and Universities. It takes 4 years to get a Chiropractor Doctoral Degree from this school and there is opportunity for distance learning.
The school has expert tutors, rigorous curriculum, superb and efficient facilities and many clinical experiences for students in order to help them build a strong career and make them the most skilled and educated chiropractors. Apart from the four-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree, students can go further to get post-graduate degree in radiology, clinical sciences and sports sciences. It is also compulsory for students to go for a 12-month internship .
To be admitted to this school, you must have the minimum of a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 grade point scale. However, the school requires candidates to present their official academic transcripts from all post institutions they have been registered. If English is not your first language, it is required that you indicate on your application but you will have to submit any evidence that shows how proficient you are in English. A university level course work will be given on English and you will get a minimum of 92 on TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and minimum of 7.0 on IELTS (International English Language Test System).
• University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières
The University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières requires students to undergo a 5-year program upon graduation of the CEGEP (College of General and Professional Teaching). These programs will need students to have full-time study of about 4200 hours divided into two phases or steps.
The first step is called the pre-clinical phase and it lasts for 2 years; the program include having classroom sessions on subjects like biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, anatomy, neurology, toxicology and pharmacology. This requires between 23-26 credit hours unlike other undergraduate courses that takes 15 hours credit hour.
The second step is known as the clinical phase and this lasts for 3 trimesters. It is a practical phase where students show their performance. The topics covered in this phase include physical examination, diagnosis, pediatrics, obstetrics, rheumatology, geriatrics, orthopedics and others. Techniques and skills are built at this stage, also communication with patients and their education is taught in this phase.
CHIROPRACTIC SPECIALTY COLLEGES
These colleges are recognized and accredited by the The Federation of Canadian Chiropractic (FCC) to handle and teach students how to become specialists in areas like orthopaedics, physical rehabilitation, sports sciences, radiology, and clinical science. Other areas students can become specialists include spinal stenosis, pediatric, diagnostic imaging, or even animal chiropractic care. Students from this colleges have post-graduate qualifications in any of the above mentioned areas and are known as Chiropractic specialist.
These colleges include:
• College of Chiropractic Sciences (CCS)
The school was established in 1975 to give students post-graduate qualifications in the clinical areas of chiropractic. College of Chiropractic Sciences teaches students how to become experts in the management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders using chiropractic skills and techniques. The college has lots of research articles based on evidence and practice, these articles can and have impacted the chiropractic field. Fellows or graduates from this institution have many projects they have undergone.
Fellows from the College of Chiropractic Sciences are recruited or employed by government, its agencies and chiropractic agencies as specialists in many areas like research, political, education and social-economic issues that need chiropractic attention. They are also actively sought after in educational programs that will improve the chiropractic clinical fields.
• College of Chiropractic Orthopedists – C.C.O.S.(C)
The college teaches students non-surgical techniques and skills to prevent or correct misalignment of the bones, joints, muscles, and nerves including how these organs function. The Canadian Chiropractic Association approved this institution as an official body in 1994. Currently, College of Chiropractic Orthopedists is recognized by many licensing bodies in Newfoundland-Labrador, B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Ontario.
College of Chiropractic Orthopedists has many tutors who are knowledged and specialized in diagnosing and treating neuromusculoskeletal diseases, injuries, and syndromes. They also have experience in diagnosing spine-related disorders and TMJ-related disorders.
• Chiropractic College of Radiologists (CCR)
This college specializes on teaching students the functions of the different parts of the human body, there relationship with each other and general healthcare. Students are taught all they need to know about the spinal system and relation to the nervous system. Apart from theory classes, they go through group works, hands-on lab trainings, individual project and even research studies. There is also clinical internship program where they experience real life patient care in different facilities and hospitals.
There are easily accessible educators who are experts and committed in promoting and advancing good healthcare. These educators expose students to hands-on experience as early as their first phase or trimester.
• Canadian Chiropractic Specialty College of Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation (CCPOR)
This institution was established in 1996 and was formerly known as Canadian Chiropractic College of Rehabilitation Sciences till 2011 when the name was changed to what it is presently. It is among the first five recognized Chiropractic Specialty Colleges in Canada with over 133 members and fellows. It is also recognized by the Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Educational Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB) in 1996.
The college have expert tutors who specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of disorders, impairment and disabilities affecting the neuromusculoskeletal system. The program runs for three years and focuses on assessment and diagnosis. Students are to show knowledge, skill and patient care while offering rehabilitation services. They are also expected to carry out researches and teaching teaching opportunities.
Studying in Canadian Chiropractic Specialty College of Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation gives graduates the opportunity to collaborate with other health professionals and organizations to provide excellent physical and occupational rehabilitation for patients.
• Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences – RCCSS (C)
The Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences was qualified in 1984 as a Specialty College of the Chiropractic profession. It is not just a coordinating organization but an educational institution for people who are willing to go into sports chiropractic in Canada. The college is committed to training students to become excellent chiropractors in every aspect of area of sports and physical activity. They undergo researches and practical’s that will equip than as the best specialists in handling athletes and injuries related to sports.
This college is approved and regulated by the Canadian Federation of Chiropractic Regulatory and Education Accrediting Boards (CFCREAB), and for years, has boasted of excellence, professionalism and integrity. These good characters have helped in producing the finest and best sport chiropractors.
UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER PRE-CHIROPRACTIC DEGREE
There are other many schools in Canada that offer chiropractic programs alongside other programs, however most of them only allow students to spend three to four years or less before being transferred to Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). These schools are usually a good start towards getting a Chiropractic Degree, so it will be best to include them among chiropractor schools in Canada. They include:
• Red Deer Polytechnic
Formerly known as Red Deer College, Red Deer Polytechnic came into existence in 1964 and it has served many students and the communities around Alberta, Calgary and Edmonton. This school offers Bachelor of Science Pre-Professional – Chiropractic. This program requires students to spend 3 years in post-secondary study, only the first two years can be done in Red Deer Polytechnic before completion of the third year at any university.
To be admitted to this school, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and meet the minimum course load required not just for the program and for also the alternate program.
• The University of Winnipeg
If you are looking for a place, not just any place but an excellent place to fulfill the requirements needed to be admitted into Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and other chiropractic schools, then the University of Winnipeg is your best choice. You can get a Pre-Chiropractic degree in this university before you move to Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College or any other of your choice.
The University of Winnipeg has history of academic excellence with small sizes of classrooms that makes it easier for students to have interactive session with tutors and support from the school staff. The environment is committed towards giving students the best time while studying. Students who graduated from The University of Winnipeg are easily accepted into other schools or employed (in fact, they have about 95.5 percent employability rate), this means students who have Pre-Chiropractic degree can easily be accepted into the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC).
• Thompson Rivers University
The Thompson Rivers University faculty of science has Pre-Chiropractic as one of its courses, the course runs as a full-time program for four years. One amazing thing about getting Pre-Chiropractic degree from Thompson Rivers University is that students have firsthand experience and practical’s in different disciplines I’m the laboratory, classrooms and field. There are many professors and researchers who are recognized both nationally and internationally.
Thompson Rivers University has a community of more than 14,000 students and known to give quality education to all irrespective of cultural background.
BOTTOM LINE
Becoming a chiropractor requires that you undergo rigorous training from accredited and recognized institutions as the job deals with human life. In Canada, there are only two chiropractic schools which are the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) and the Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres. There are also many specialty colleges and universities that offer Pre-Chiropractic degrees. You can choose any of them depending on your time frame, eligibility and choice.
