Chiropractor

If you are passionate about helping others and are looking for a rewarding yet flexible lifelong career, becoming a chiropractor may be the profession for you.  

Chiropractors are best known for treating neck and lower back pain, but they are trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent conditions affecting other bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. They are trained to use a range of techniques and are best known for using manual care methods, including spinal and joint manipulation, but may also use other hands-on or instrument-assisted approaches. Chiropractors also provide lifestyle advice and exercises to help patients manage their condition. This may include dietary and nutritional advice as well as strategies to manage stress and discomfort. 

Working with patients of all ages and abilities offers a varied day-to-day experience; you could be working with elite athletes one day, pregnant women or elderly patients another.

Nearly all chiropractors work as private health care providers, although some do provide services through the NHS. Chiropractors can choose to work for a chiropractic or health clinic as an employee, be in partnership with other chiropractors or health professionals or run their own clinic.

As with many healthcare disciplines, chiropractic is a regulated profession. To practise and call yourself a chiropractor, you must be registered with the General Chiropractic Council, the same way that doctors or dentists have to.

Starting salaries are around £30,000 although this can vary. After a few years’ experience this will rise as you get busier. A business minded chiropractor with a large practice employing others can expect to earn up to £100,000 after several years.

Whilst the entry requirements to join a chiropractor degree course do vary, you will generally need five GCSEs, including English and maths, and three A-levels, including one science.

To become a chiropractor, you will need to complete an approved 4-year chiropractic degree or postgraduate master's course (3 years of full-time study and 1 year working under supervision), register with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), and meet and maintain the requirements of the Code. These criteria are essential to ensure that all chiropractors treat patients safely and to a consistently high standard.

The number of chiropractic education providers in the UK is growing, with five universities currently offering approved degree courses in chiropractic. These are Health Sciences University, The University of South Wales, London South Bank University, McTimoney College of Chiropractic, Teesside University. From September 2026 Coventry University will also offer an MChiro degree programme.

To find local education and training opportunities that could lead to a career as a chiropractor, visit our partner website >log on | move on>.

Study to become a chiropractor

Train to become a chiropractor

The Royal College of Chiropractors

Want to know what it's like to work as a chiropractor? Watch a video in our How Did You Get That Job? section within the Resources area.