Chiropractors are doctors skilled in musculoskeletal manipulation. They diagnose and treat misalignments in our joints, particularly in our spines, which are believed to cause other issues that can affect different areas of our body.
Chiropractors must be licensed everywhere in the United States, but the requirements for licensure can vary from place to place since individual states are the ones who issue chiropractic licenses. Florida’s requirements for chiropractors are similar to those found elsewhere, with a few notable exceptions. It’s important that anyone planning or on their way to becoming a chiropractor in Florida get acquainted with these laws and rules so that they can start their career with ease.
In order to become a chiropractic physician in the state of Florida, you must apply with the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine. Applicants must satisfy the following:
Be at least 18 years of age
Graduate from an accredited bachelor’s degree program (with exceptions for people that enrolled in a chiropractic program before July 1, 1990)
Graduate from a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
Pass the Florida Chiropractic Laws and Rules (FCLR) exam through the NBCE
Submit electronic fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for a criminal history background check
Pay the appropriate licensing fee
Education
To become a chiropractor in Florida, like all other states, you must graduate from a chiropractic program that awards the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) title and is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). These doctoral programs can vary in length but typically take between three and five years to complete. There are currently 18 DC programs in the United States at 21 different locations.
Before you can enroll in a DC program, however, you also need to complete a bachelor’s degree. The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine does not require that your bachelor’s degree be in any specific subject, but future chiropractors often choose to major in biology, kinesiology, exercise science or a similar subject to prepare themselves for chiropractic school.
Some schools even offer a concurrent bachelor’s degree and DC degree program all in one, where students complete their Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and move directly into their DC degree. This accelerated program means they can complete their education in less time, typically about six years.
Exam and licensing requirements
Florida chiropractors must pass five of the NBCE’s exams: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and the Physiotherapy exam. Parts I-IV test chiropractors on knowledge that scaffolds on itself and which they acquire as they move through their chiropractic degree program. They must take these exams in order, and can take Part I starting in the second year of their DC program.
Chiropractors in Florida must also pass the Florida Chiropractic Laws and Rules (FCLR) exam which is also administered by the NBCE. This exam tests students on four subjects:
License requirements
Office management
Patient care
Professional conduct
Students can take the FCLR exam once they have successfully completed Part I of the NCBE’s exams.
Once the Board of Chiropractic Medicine verifies that you have completed all necessary exams, education and application materials, they issue you a chiropractic license provided there are no issues with your application.
Continuing education
Chiropractors in Florida must renew their license every two years which occurs on the same date for all practitioners. All currently active chiropractic physician licenses are set to expire on March 31, 2024.
They must complete 40 total hours of continuing education for each biennial renewal. Those hours must cover the following subjects:
Subject area
Required hours
General hours
27
Medical error
2
Laws and rules
2
Risk management
1
Recordkeeping/Documentation and coding
6
Ethics and boundaries
2
Chiropractors that were licensed within the biennium have fewer requirements since they haven’t been practicing for two full years once they have to renew for the first time.
Legal considerations for Florida chiropractors
Transferability: out-of-state applicants
Chiropractors who are licensed in another state must apply for a Florida chiropractic physician license the same as anyone else. This includes taking the FCLR exam, which ensures that the practitioner is familiar with the state’s laws and regulations regarding the chiropractic profession.
Professional conduct and ethical guidelines
The 2023 Florida Statutes and administrative codes contain all information regarding the legal practice of chiropractic in the state of Florida, including scope of practice and legal and ethical requirements. Although this is not an exhaustive list of what is included, here is a sample of some actions which are considered grounds for disciplinary action in the state of Florida for chiropractors:
Attempting to obtain or renew a chiropractic physician license through bribery or fraud
Gross or repeated malpractice
Sexual misconduct in the practice of chiropractic medicine
Being convicted or found guilty, regardless of adjudication, of a crime which directly relates to the practice of chiropractic medicine or to the ability to practice chiropractic medicine
Being unable to practice chiropractic medicine with reasonable skill and safety to patients due to illness or use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals or any other type of material or because of any mental or physical condition.
Scope of practice
A chiropractor’s scope of practice is defined in Chapter 460 of the 2023 Florida Statues. In the “Definitions” section, the practice of chiropractic medicine is defined as:
“A noncombative principle and practice consisting of the science, philosophy and art of the adjustment, manipulation and treatment of the human body in which vertebral subluxations and other malpositioned articulations and structures that are interfering with the normal generation, transmission and expression of nerve impulse between the brain, organs and tissue cells of the body, thereby causing disease, are adjusted, manipulated or treated, thus restoring the normal flow of nerve impulse which produces normal function and consequent health by chiropractic physicians using specific chiropractic adjustment or manipulation techniques taught in chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. No person other than a licensed chiropractic physician may render chiropractic services, chiropractic adjustments, or chiropractic manipulations.”
Working as a chiropractor in Florida
Florida chiropractor salaries
The median annual salary for chiropractors in Florida is $75,130 according to the 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the BLS, a little higher than the national median. Chiropractors in the 10th percentile earned $39,960, while those in the 90th percentile earned $142,580. Although data from some areas within the state are missing, the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan areas appear to have the highest median annual wages in the state at $98,930.
Data from the 2023 Salary & Expense Survey conducted by Chiropractic Economics, a chiropractic magazine and website, paints a different picture. They reported that of the chiropractors they surveyed, the average annual compensation for chiropractors in the South was $194,500. They also found that chiropractors in suburban areas had significantly higher salaries, on average, compared to their urban and rural counterparts.
Whether you work in a solo or group practice could also potentially impact your salary as a chiropractor. The survey reported that the average total compensation for solo DCs in 2023 was $137,372, whereas the average total compensation for a DC practicing in a group setting was $195,777.
Chiropractors
10%$48,500
25%$53,820
50%$75,130Median
75%$101,200
90%$129,160
Median Hourly Wage$36
Job growth8.8%
Total Employment3,360
Metro area
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
$101,680
$59,920
$102,690
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
$98,930
$53,820
$106,300
Jacksonville, FL
$93,000
$47,290
$176,900
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
$80,700
$45,800
$150,690
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
$77,990
$47,210
$145,770
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
$76,500
$48,300
$142,100
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
$74,980
$47,820
$126,820
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
$74,850
$45,490
$132,670
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL
$74,190
$44,960
$165,590
Ocala, FL
$74,140
$45,640
$163,960
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Job outlook and finding employment opportunities
The employment of chiropractors nationwide is expected to grow 8.8% through 2032, which aligns with the growth that is expected of health practitioners at large. This is about three times faster than the growth across all occupations, which is only 3%.
According to the BLS, the vast majority of chiropractors work at chiropractic physician offices. Many chiropractors also choose to open up their own practice or group practice and be self-employed. Some chiropractors may also find work at outpatient care centers or even hospitals, but these are less common.
Setting up a private practice
Starting a private practice, like starting any other business, requires that you research the small business laws in your area. In general, you can expect to acquire a business license from your local municipality or county—or possibly both—which issues business licenses.
The Small Business Administration can be a helpful resource to find out more about starting your business and possibly receive loans from the government to get your business off the ground.
Resources for staying up to date on industry trends
Healthcare professionals have an obligation to continue learning and keep current with new and emerging trends in their field to ensure they are delivering the best possible care to their patients. Professional membership organizations can be fantastic resources for disseminating what’s new in their field, legislative developments and offering continuing education opportunities and events to their members.
To learn more about the chiropractic profession, consider the following resources to get you started:
Consult the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine for all information and questions pertaining to the licensure of chiropractors within the state, scope of practice and professional laws and regulations.
Dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting the philosophy, science and art of chiropractic, the Florida Chiropractic Society (FCS) is another chiropractic organization within the state.
According to their website, the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) is the largest state chiropractic association in the United States. They aim to improve and defend the practice of chiropractic and offer a wealth of professional resources for members that join their organization.
The Florida Chiropractic Physician Association (FCPA) is a membership organization that seeks to “integrate chiropractic physicians into the healthcare system as specialists and primary care providers with full prescriptive rights for those that want it,” and expand the legal rights of chiropractors.
ChiroLearn is an online learning platform and continuing education resource for chiropractors developed by the FCA.
Chiropractic Economics is a magazine/website for the chiropractic community based out of Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
The National is the self-proclaimed largest event for the chiropractic profession in the world. This multi-day chiropractic convention put on by the FCA typically takes place in Orlando every year.
Wrapping it up
Working as a chiropractor can be an incredibly rewarding healthcare career that helps ease patients’ pain and improve their health through natural, drugless, hands-on treatments. In Florida, you need to attend a chiropractic degree program after getting a bachelor’s degree in order to get licensed. You also need to pass several examinations offered by the NBCE, including a state-specific laws and rules exam. If you’re interested in a career as a chiropractor in Florida, start by researching education programs to launch your educational journey.
