Updated: February 3, 2026

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Learn how to become a chiropractor in Georgia 

georgia chiropractor stretches woman patient neck and shoulder

Becoming a chiropractor in Georgia can be a rewarding career choice that offers the opportunity to help people manage pain and improve their overall well-being through natural, non-invasive treatments. With Georgia’s rapidly growing population and increasing awareness of holistic health care, chiropractors in the state can find ample opportunities to thrive.  

Although every chiropractic career must begin with the right education followed by national licensing exams, each state has its unique requirements that must be met in order to get licensed.

In This Article

Requirements to be a chiropractor in Georgia

Chiropractic licenses in Georgia are issued by the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners. In order to qualify for a license, applicants must:  

  • Complete at least two years of undergraduate education
  • Graduate from a chiropractic school or college that is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) or a Board-approved alternative 
  • Pass Parts I, II, III and IV of the chiropractic exams administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) 
  • Complete at least 120 hours of physiotherapy training
  • Submit a completed, notarized application and pay the applicable fee
  • Submit a completed Georgia jurisprudence exam with your application

For a complete list of all required documents to be included in your application, please refer to the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners website.  

Education requirements

Before you can call yourself a chiropractor and start helping patients, you must complete years of education and training. This begins with a solid undergraduate education before moving on to chiropractic school. Georgia chiropractors must complete at least two years of undergraduate education—this isn’t entirely surprising considering that most Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) programs require this anyway, and even then, most chiropractors complete a bachelor’s degree to be a more competitive applicant to DC programs.   

After completing your undergraduate education, you must graduate from a four-year DC program accredited by the CCE or a Board-approved alternative. A DC program is the foundation of your chiropractic education where you’ll learn all about the human body, chiropractic theory and techniques. The only CCE-accredited DC program in the state is Life University, located in Marietta about 20 miles north of Atlanta. There are also several accredited programs nearby in Florida and South Carolina.  

Georgia chiropractor applicants also must demonstrate that they’ve completed at least 120 hours of physiotherapy coursework in their application. If these hours are already demonstrated in your transcripts, no further documentation is needed, but otherwise you must complete a separate form. 

Exam and licensing requirements

Like chiropractors everywhere, chiropractors in Georgia must take and pass Parts I through IV of the chiropractic exams administered by the NBCE. Some states also require the NBCE’s physiotherapy exam, but Georgia is not one of them.  

You can apply for a chiropractor license once you have graduated from your DC program and have passed the NBCE exams, provided you can supply all the required application materials. This also includes an open-book, state-specific jurisprudence exam that can be found online, filled out and submitted with your application.  

Continuing education for chiropractors in Georgia

Licensed chiropractors in Georgia must complete 20 hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) each year in order to renew their license. Licenses must be renewed biannually on December 31.  

Licensed chiropractors in Georgia must complete 20 hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) each year in order to renew their license.

Of those 20 hours, 15 must be in chiropractic clinical science, four hours must be in ethics or risk management and one hour must be in Georgia chiropractic laws and rules.   

Transferability for out-of-state chiropractors


Anyone who is licensed as a chiropractor by another state that has licensure requirements equal to or greater than Georgia’s should, at the discretion of the Board, be issued a license in Georgia. They still must apply via endorsement and pay the appropriate fee.  

Scope of practice 


Information about the scope of practice for Georgia chiropractors can be found in Title 43, Chapter 9 (“Chiropractors”) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA).  

Professional conduct and ethical guidelines 


Chapter 100-7 of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia defines immoral and unprofessional conduct for chiropractors. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • Sexual misconduct 
  • Bribing clients for services or recommendations 
  • Being convicted of a felony  
  • Not keeping patient records on file for at least 10 years since the last patient visit

Failing to comply with any part of the chapter could result in a license being revoked, suspended, put on probation or some other disciplinary action

Liability insurance requirements


Chiropractors everywhere should consider obtaining liability insurance to protect themselves and their practice. While there are many different insurance providers to choose from, consider joining a local professional association as these organizations often offer insurance discounts for members.  

Working as a chiropractor in Georgia

Georgia chiropractor salaries

The median annual salary for chiropractors in Georgia is $61,220 according to the 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is more than the national median, and it’s also important to bear in mind that the overall cost of living in Georgia is 10% below the national average, according to RentCafe. Competitive wages coupled with a lower cost of living can make Georgia an attractive option for many chiropractors. 

Chiropractors
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10%$27,580

25%$47,890

50%$61,220Median

75%$84,390

90%$129,990

Median Hourly Wage$29

Job growth9.5%

Total Employment1,490

Metro area Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Savannah, GA $74,550 $46,160 $129,910
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $62,430 $31,990 $153,490
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $61,180 $20,790 $129,990
Gainesville, GA $59,790 $15,080 $162,080

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. 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 BLS expects the overall employment of chiropractors to grow 9.5% through 2034, which is quite a bit faster than the average across all occupations. The BLS attributes this to a couple of factors, including an aging baby-boomer population and an increasing demand for complementary and alternative medicine services.  

Employment opportunities for chiropractors in Georgia look positive and reflect the state’s dynamic healthcare landscape. With a steady increase in population and a growing awareness of alternative and holistic health practices, the demand for chiropractic services is on the rise. Chiropractors can find employment in various settings, including private practices, multidisciplinary clinics, wellness centers and even sports teams, given Georgia’s strong sports culture. 

Setting up a private practice 

You may eventually decide you’d like to go into business for yourself and start your own chiropractic practice. To do so, there are many different steps you need to take. Some of the most essential include:

  • Choose a legal structure for your practice, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation and register your business with the Georgia Secretary of State
  • Obtain a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS
  • Secure a general business license from your local county or city government
  • Find a suitable office space that meets local zoning and health requirements
  • Set up systems for billing and register with insurance companies if you want to accept insurance
  • Hire necessary staff
  • Market your business

Resources to learn more

For all information regarding chiropractic licensure, laws and regulations in the state, contact the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners.    

The Georgia Chiropractic Association is a professional membership organization for chiropractors that offers various benefits, professional resources, continuing education opportunities and networking opportunities for members.

Though not quite as old or as established as the GCA, the Georgia Council of Chiropractic is another membership organization for chiropractors in Georgia.  

Wrapping up

To become a chiropractor in Georgia, you must earn a DC degree from a program accredited by the CCE. After that, you must pass the NBCE exams and the Georgia-specific chiropractic law exam. Once these requirements are completed, candidates can apply for licensure through the Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners which oversees the practice of chiropractors in the state. Maintaining licensure also requires ongoing continuing education. To get started with your chiropractic career, start searching for applicable education programs today.