Chiropractic Degree & Career Guide

Requirements for States

Learn how to become a chiropractor in North Carolina

Starting a chiropractic career in North Carolina is not much different than anywhere else, with chiropractors needing to satisfy the same education and exam requirements as other states—with a few specific exceptions.

The state’s varied population, from bustling urban centers like Charlotte and Raleigh to more rural communities, offers chiropractors a wide range of patient demographics and health needs. Whether you’re thinking of going to chiropractic school or you’ve already started, it’s worthwhile to get familiar with the state’s laws and regulations to make sure you know exactly what you need to do to get licensed.

In This Article

NC Requirements
Legal Considerations

Working as a NC chiropractor
Resources

Requirements to be a North Carolina chiropractor

The North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners states that chiropractors must satisfy the following in order to qualify for licensure:

Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Graduate from a four-year chiropractic college accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) or a school deemed substantially equivalent by the Board
Pass the Parts I-IV and physiotherapy exams administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)
Submit an application, which must include three character references (at least two of which must come from licensed chiropractors), and pay a fee
Complete a fingerprint-based background check
Pass the state’s jurisprudence exam

Education and training requirements

Chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree in order to get licensed. These three-to-five-year programs are the foundation of every chiropractor’s education where you learn chiropractic theories, techniques and participate in plenty of hands-on practice. In North Carolina, the chiropractic school you attend must either by accredited by the CCE or deemed equivalent in the eyes of the North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners. If you’re ever unsure if a school qualifies, contact them directly.

Before you can earn your DC degree, however, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree first. Most DC programs don’t require you to major in a specific subject as a condition of admission, but whatever you pick should give you a solid foundation in the health sciences. Many chiropractors, therefore, major in biology, kinesiology, exercise science or something similar as undergraduates.

Exam and licensing requirements

Just like chiropractors everywhere, hopeful chiropractors in North Carolina must take and pass Parts I through IV of the exams administered by the NBCE. In addition, they must pass the NBCE’s physiotherapy exam, which is not required in all states. The physiotherapy exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions which you have 75 minutes to answer.

North Carolina chiropractors also have to take and pass the state’s jurisprudence exam. Once the Board receives and processes all necessary application documents, applicants will receive access to an online jurisprudence exam.

Continuing education

Licensed chiropractors in North Carolina must complete 18 hours of continuing education (CE) every calendar year in order to keep their license active. No more than eight of these hours can be obtained through recorded online study.

If you graduated from chiropractic college the same year you obtained your license, you do not have to complete the CE requirements for that year. The annual CE requirement begins the calendar year after you receive your license. The deadline for all license renewals is December 31 of each year.

Legal considerations for chiropractors in North carolina

Out-of-state transferability

If someone is licensed as a chiropractor in another state but needs to apply for a North Carolina license, the Board will issue a license provided that the applicant:

Is currently an active, competent practitioner in good standing
Has practiced during at least one of the last three years
Holds a valid license from another state
Has no pending disciplinary proceedings or complaints
The licensure requirements in the other state are equal to or higher than those required in North Carolina

Scope of practice

Chapter 90, Article 8 of the North Carolina General Statues contains information about the lawful practice of chiropractic in the state. The Statutes defines ‘chiropractic’ as:

“’Chiropractic’ is herein defined to be the science of adjusting the cause of disease by realigning the spine, releasing pressure on nerves radiating from the spine to all parts of the body, and allowing the nerves to carry their full quota of health current (nerve energy) from the brain to all parts of the body.”

Later on it says:

“Any person obtaining a license from the North Carolina State Board of Chiropractic Examiners shall have the right to practice the science known as chiropractic, in accordance with the method, thought and practice of chiropractors, as taught in recognized chiropractic schools and colleges, but shall not prescribe for or administer to any person any medicine or drugs, nor practice osteopathy or surgery.”

Professional conduct and ethical guidelines

Information about unethical conduct for chiropractors according to the North Carolina General Statues can be found in Chapter 90, Article 8. Some of the examples of unethical conduct they cite include:

Allowing any unlicensed person to practice chiropractic in their office
The over-utilization or improper use in the providing of treatment with the stated diagnosis and clinical findings
Billing or charging a service to a third-party (i.e. insurance) that was free to the patient
The over-utilization of ionizing radiation in the re-X-ray of a patient
Failure to use the names Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractor or D.C. in conjunction with their name on all reports, insurance claims and any marketing materials (business cards, signage, etc.)
Violation of the Rules of Ethics of Advertising and Publicity

Liability insurance requirements

Healthcare providers should consider getting professional liability insurance and/or malpractice insurance to protect themselves. There are innumerable insurance providers out there to choose from, but you may want to check out your local and/or national chiropractic association as they may offer insurance discounts for members.

Working as a chiropractor in North Carolina

North Carolina chiropractor salaries

According to the 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the BLS, the median annual salary for chiropractors in North Carolina is $80,350. That’s a bit higher than the national median, which could be fairly lucrative given that the cost of living in North Carolina is 5% lower than the national average according to RentCafe.

Although it’s only the second largest city in the state, Raleigh appears to have the highest median wage of all metropolitan areas.

Chiropractors

10%$49,290

25%$59,950

50%$80,350Median

75%$126,850

90%$155,570

Median Hourly Wage$39

Job growth9.5%

Total Employment890

Metro area	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$99,880	$54,100	N/A
Winston-Salem, NC	$91,240	$49,240	$146,530
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$88,410	$52,170	$155,570
Asheville, NC	$78,510	$50,690	$134,840
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$78,110	$49,330	$145,720
Wilmington, NC	$60,530	$32,000	$126,750

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

There were 890 chiropractors in North Carolina in 2023 according to the BLS. This number may not be 100% accurate, however, since self-employed chiropractors may not be included in their figures.

The employment of chiropractors is expected to grow 9.5%, which is much faster than the average across all occupations.

With more people seeking alternative treatments for pain management and wellness, the demand for chiropractic services is rising. Chiropractors can find positions in many settings, including private practices, multidisciplinary clinics, hospitals and wellness centers. Urban areas such as Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro offer numerous opportunities due to their large populations and expanding healthcare infrastructure. In addition, rural regions present unique opportunities for chiropractors to help underserved communities, often with less competition and the potential for strong patient-practitioner relationships.

Resources for staying up to date on industry trends and developments

Contact the North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners for any and all information about chiropractic licensure, rules and regulations within the state.

The North Carolina Chiropractic Association is a professional membership organization for chiropractors in the state that offers various member benefits and professional resources.

Carolina Chiropractors is another membership organization for North Carolina chiropractic practitioners with a mission to advance the field of chiropractic.

Chiropractic Economics is a print and online publication devoted to the professional practice of chiropractors. Their articles cover many different topics including chiropractic industry news, research, business resources and more.

Wrapping it up

The chiropractic profession has come a long way since its inception in the late 19^th century when it was founded by D.D. Palmer, and today it’s primed to grow even more. If you’re thinking about becoming a chiropractor in North Carolina, start by reading up on the state’s laws and regulations, especially since you’ll need to pass a jurisprudence exam about exactly that before you can get licensed.