Licensure Requirements

Due to the various licensure requirements for each of the 50 states, as well as internationally, it is strongly recommended that applicants contact the respective Boards of Examiners regarding pre-chiropractic educational requirements in states and countries where they may consider practicing after graduation. The prerequisites for admission to the Chiropractic Program at SCU are established in compliance with the standards, rules and guidelines of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE).

Neither acceptance for admission into the program nor the subsequent earning of a Doctor of Chiropractic degree guarantees that a state or foreign country will grant a graduate a license to practice chiropractic. Each state and foreign country, through its legislative and administrative process, defines the standards of competency and scope of practice of chiropractic within its jurisdiction.

For further information on each of the jurisdictions please visit the Official Directory on the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board.

Academic Requirements

Prerequisite science courses must equal one academic year (not less than six semester units in each subject area) in the following subjects: Biological Sciences (Anatomy and Physiology preferred), General (Inorganic) Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and General Physics. An academic year normally entails completion of two semesters or three quarters. In addition, all science courses must include related laboratory that covers the entire subject. All science courses must be acceptable for transfer to other professional health care professions (medical, dental, osteopathy, etc.) and must be completed with a grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 grade scale) or higher. The prerequisite and cumulative grade point averages must be 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or higher.

The Chemistry requirement may also be completed by taking 12 (twelve) semester hour credits of Chemistry to include a minimum of three units of General/Inorganic Chemistry, six units of Organic and/or Biochemistry plus the remaining credit hours in other Chemistry courses accepted by SCU. At least six semester hours of the Chemistry courses must include pertinent related laboratory experiences that cover the range of material presented in the didactic portions of the courses.

The Physics requirement may also be met by taking one Physics course equaling a minimum of three semester units with pertinent related laboratory that covers the range of material presented in the didactic portion of the course, plus an additional three semester hours in either Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Statistics or Exercise Physiology.

Non-science prerequisite courses must also include six semester units of English Language Skills (an English composition course is required); three semester units of Psychology and 15 semester units of Social Sciences and/or Humanities.

A maximum of 20 semester units of a candidate’s pre-professional academic requirements may be acquired through CLEP examinations or through challenged courses (except for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics requirements). Units earned through CLEP examinations must be shown on the transcript of the college or university administering the test or other evidence presented to verify the number of units passed. No science courses may be acquired in this manner.