Exploring Chiropractic (D.C) & Naturopathic (N.D.) Medicine

Health Professions Advising

Exploring Chiropractic (D.C.) & Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.)

Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine are separate healthcare professions with their own educational pathways, accreditation standards, licensing requirements, and approaches to patient care. The sections below provide an introduction to each profession and the preparation required for professional school.

Review accreditation and licensure carefully. Requirements and legal scopes of practice vary by profession and location. Before enrolling in a program, confirm that the degree will meet the requirements for practice in the state or province where you may eventually work.
Explore Your Options

Learn about each profession and its training pathway

Use the sections below to learn about professional roles, academic preparation, applications, accreditation, and licensure. Individual schools establish their own admission requirements, so program websites should always be part of your course and application planning.

Common Villanova Prerequisite Courses →

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who evaluate and treat conditions involving the neuromusculoskeletal system. Much of their work centers on the spine, joints, movement, mobility, and pain. Treatment may include spinal or joint manipulation, rehabilitative exercise, physical modalities, and patient education.

Chiropractors take patient histories, perform physical examinations, assess posture and movement, and may use diagnostic imaging when appropriate. They also need to recognize when a patient’s condition requires referral to another healthcare professional.

Chiropractic may be a good fit for students who:

  • Are interested in anatomy, biomechanics, movement, and musculoskeletal health.
  • Enjoy hands-on patient care and working closely with patients over time.
  • Are comfortable working with people who may be experiencing pain or limitations in mobility.
  • Enjoy patient education related to movement, exercise, and health habits.
  • Are interested in private, group, or multidisciplinary practice settings.

Education and licensure

Chiropractors earn the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Professional programs generally take about four years to complete after undergraduate preparation. Graduates must then meet the licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where they plan to practice.

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners administers examinations used by state licensing boards. States determine their own requirements for licensure, which may include examination components, background checks, jurisprudence requirements, and other state-specific criteria.

Explore the Profession

Spend time in a chiropractic setting. Shadowing can give you a clearer picture of patient care, treatment methods, practice settings, and the daily responsibilities of the profession before you begin applying to programs.

Admission requirements vary among Doctor of Chiropractic programs. Under current Council on Chiropractic Education standards, programs may admit students who have completed a bachelor’s degree or students who meet specified undergraduate credit and academic requirements.

Each chiropractic program sets its own prerequisite coursework and admissions policies. Science preparation often includes biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology, or related coursework. Review the admissions requirements of programs you are considering before finalizing your academic plan.

Choosing a chiropractic program

The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) accredits Doctor of Chiropractic programs in the United States and maintains information about currently accredited programs.

When comparing schools, consider the curriculum, clinical training, cost, location, student outcomes, licensing preparation, and the admission requirements of each program. It can also be helpful to look at the types of clinical settings and patient populations available during training.

Experiences before applying

Shadowing chiropractors can help you understand how practices differ in patient populations, treatment approaches, and professional settings. Healthcare employment, service, research, athletics, coaching, and other sustained experiences may also contribute to your preparation.

The application process

Application procedures differ by school. Some chiropractic programs participate in the Chiropractic Centralized Application Service (ChiroCAS), while others use an institutional application. Review each program’s admissions website for current deadlines, prerequisite requirements, recommendations, interviews, and application instructions.

Official Resources

Naturopathic medicine is a healthcare profession that places substantial emphasis on preventive care, nutrition, lifestyle, and patient education. Graduates of accredited naturopathic medical programs earn the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine or Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) degree.

Accredited N.D. programs include biomedical and clinical sciences along with training in naturopathic therapeutics. Coursework may include nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, counseling, pharmacology, diagnostic methods, and other clinical subjects.

Naturopathic medicine may appeal to students who:

  • Are interested in prevention, nutrition, lifestyle, and patient education.
  • Want coursework that includes biomedical science as well as complementary approaches to care.
  • Enjoy longer patient conversations and individualized care planning.
  • Are comfortable researching how professional scope varies across states and provinces.

Licensure and scope of practice

Naturopathic medicine is regulated in some U.S. states and jurisdictions and is not regulated in others. The services an N.D. may legally provide can also differ substantially from one location to another.

If you are considering this profession, research the laws in places where you might eventually want to practice. This can help you understand how the degree may translate into professional practice after graduation.

Explore the Profession

Talk with practicing professionals. If possible, speak with or observe N.D.s who graduated from accredited programs. Ask about their patient population, scope of practice, professional setting, and how local regulations affect their work.

Accredited naturopathic medical programs are generally four-year doctoral programs. Member schools of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges require undergraduate science preparation that includes biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Other prerequisites vary by school.

Programs may also require or recommend physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, or other coursework. Review each school’s admissions requirements before planning your remaining undergraduate courses.

Program accreditation

The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the programmatic accreditor for naturopathic medical education and maintains current information about accredited and candidate programs.

Program status matters for future professional eligibility. Graduation from an appropriately accredited or qualifying candidate program is tied to eligibility for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations and to professional regulation in jurisdictions that license or register naturopathic doctors. CNME does not accredit online N.D. programs.

Experiences before applying

Spend time learning about naturopathic medicine before beginning professional school. Shadowing or speaking with practicing N.D.s can help you understand the profession. Healthcare experience, community service, research, public health work, nutrition-related experience, and other sustained activities may also be useful depending on your interests.

Applying through NDCAS

Participating naturopathic medical programs use the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Centralized Application Service (NDCAS). Applicants submit academic history, transcripts, evaluations, experiences, and other required information through the centralized application. Schools may also have their own supplemental requirements.

Official Admissions Resources

Accreditation and professional regulation should be part of your program research from the beginning. Before enrolling, review how the degree connects to the licensing or registration requirements in places where you may want to work.

Chiropractic

  • Confirm the program’s accreditation status with the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).
  • Review the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) examination process.
  • Check the licensing requirements of the state where you may want to practice.

Naturopathic medicine

  • Confirm the program’s current accreditation or candidacy status with the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).
  • Review the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) administered through the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners.
  • Review the laws and authorized scope of practice in states or provinces where you may want to work.

Licensure Resources

Verify current requirements before enrolling. Accreditation status, licensing laws, and professional scope can change. Use accreditor and licensing-board websites for the most current information.
Continue Your Planning

Use program requirements to guide your planning

Start by reviewing admissions requirements for accredited programs that interest you. Your faculty advisor can help you fit prerequisite coursework into your Villanova degree plan. HPA can help with profession exploration, program research, and application planning.