Speak with an admissions advisor. 562-475-4604
10 Terms | 3 years and 4 months
12 Terms | 4 years
Spring: January 9th, 2023
Summer: May 8th, 2023
Fall: September 5th, 2023
*based on admissions requirements
The Los Angeles College of Chiropractic has been educating future chiropractors for over 100 years. Our evidence-based, whole-person approach to practice and our University-wide commitment to interprofessional education set our graduates apart. SCU’s curriculum is built around interprofessional collaboration so you can gain both essential clinical chiropractic skills and vital new perspectives to advance your career. Located in one of the most vibrant areas of the country, SCU gives students the benefits of learning and practicing in culturally and clinically diverse settings. In addition, SCU offers multiple paths to customize your academic experience with 22 credits of electives that include courses in Sports Medicine, Eastern Medicine, Functional Medicine, Diagnostic Imaging, and more, allowing you to customize your education to best fit your interests and career goals.
SCU’s model of experiential learning in interprofessional settings combines learning alongside other healthcare disciplines, coursework, clinical experiences, community engagement, and campus clubs to expose students to a variety of philosophies, practices and treatment options; help students develop a broad base of knowledge; and prepare future healthcare professionals with a deep understanding of integrative, evidence and team-based, whole-person healthcare.
Real patients. Real practice. Extensive clinical experiences across a variety of situations, care settings, and business structures. Learn more at our Clinical Experiences page.
SCU utilizes competency exams that mimic the board certification. The competency exams give students feedback on how they are doing and give us feedback on how we are doing as a program.
Gain experience that books cannot teach and technology cannot replicate by studying at one of the only chiropractic schools in the nation with a cadaver lab.
SynDavers and 3D4Medical virtual anatomy software help you view the intricacies of the human body. Use Echo360 lecture capture and Draw It to Know It to help you study and learn. Practice with Force Sensing Table Technology® to get real-time feedback to enhance their skills used to deliver spinal manipulation.
Learn over 12 manipulation techniques to allow you to treat your patients in a personalized fashion.
Expected growth between 2018 and 20281
U.S. News & World Report Best Health Care Jobs3
Median annual wage for chiropractors in the Los Angeles area2
SCU’s Doctor of Chiropractic program teaches an evidence-based, whole-person approach to practice. Our University-wide commitment to Interprofessional Education sets our program apart. Our innovative curriculum is built around interprofessional collaboration so you can gain both essential clinical skills and vital new perspectives to advance your career.
Concentrate on the basic sciences to set your foundation for understanding the human body. Get hands-on experience in Chiropractic technique courses beginning in your first term.
Go more in-depth and gain critical exposure to other schools of thought with interprofessional education courses. Start to develop an understanding of how to read the human body for signs of health and disease.
Put basic and clinical science knowledge to work as you consult, diagnose, and treat real patients under the supervision of licensed doctors while working with peers training for other healthcare professions. Be prepared to lead in today’s evolving healthcare environment.
Los Angeles College of Chiropractic prepares students to become compassionate, evidence-informed chiropractors that improve lives through a person-centered, outcome-focused approach to health and healing.
At SCU, we want students to understand when they start the program what they will know, be able to do, or value as a result of taking a course or completing the program. For complete details, including Program Learning Outcomes, view the complete curriculum.
For over 100 years, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) has focused on making a difference in the world by preparing students to become whole-person healthcare practitioners through excellence in healthcare education. Through our demanding chiropractic curriculum, our dedicated faculty strive to educate evidence-informed, compassionate, skilled, and integrative chiropractors who are also sensitive to current healthcare needs.
Our outstanding faculty and staff are motivated by our mission and core values, and they strive to deliver the knowledge, skills, and tools you will need to excel in your career as a Doctor of Chiropractic. As the program is academically challenging, SCU provides the support and resources necessary to help you achieve success – while maintaining academic rigor and consistency.
We are passionate about helping others, and about educating students to help others along their own journeys to health. Our excellence comes from a solid curricular foundation, a person-centered and outcome-focused approach, and a diverse and inspiring campus community.
We look forward to welcoming you to LACC!
Dean, Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
Southern California University of Health Sciences
Jacqueline Beres, DC, cert-PSP, cert-MDT
Assistant Dean, Chiropractic Clinical Education (LACC); Director, Spine Care Department
The LACC Advisory Board is composed of academic experts, industry leaders, and chiropractic experts from around the world.
Accreditation confirms that SCU programs, faculty, resources and partnerships are meeting or exceeding national standards for education. Southern California University of Health Sciences is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402, Alameda, CA 94501. Phone: (510) 748-9001.
The Doctor of Chiropractic program at Southern California University of Health Sciences – Los Angeles College of Chiropractic is awarded programmatic accreditation by The Council on Chiropractic Education, 8049 North 85th Way, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258-4321, Phone: (480)443-8877, Website: www.cce-usa.org.
The Doctor of Chiropractic Program of the Southern California University of Health Sciences is also approved by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
| Calendar Year (Last 4 years) | Number of Graduates | Number of Graduates Passing All Parts of licensing exams* or are licensed to practice chiropractic, within six (6) months post-graduation | Percentage of Graduates Passing All Parts of licensing exams* or are licensed to practice chiropractic, within six (6) months post-graduation |
| 2018 | 124 | 101 | 81% |
| 2019 | 96 | 88 | 92% |
| 2020 | 81 | 70 | 86% |
| 2021 | 120 | 101 | 84% |
| Total | 421 | 360 | 86% |
| *NBCE Parts I, II, III, and IV or CCEB Components A, B, and C | |||
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) at SCU provides information pertaining to professional licensure for the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Students should refer to the information below and contact the appropriate licensing board to ensure they will meet the licensure requirements in the state(s) in which they intend to practice upon graduation. LACC’s Doctor of Chiropractic program meets the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Some states have requirements in addition to educational requirements. Prospective and enrolled students are encouraged to research licensure requirements for the state in which they intend to practice. Licensure requirements vary from state to state.
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 of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board.
Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although SCU will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the licensing agency to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice. Additionally, while progressing through the program, we recommend that you check licensing agency requirements regularly to monitor whether they have changed in a manner that impacts your licensure plans.
The following states require students to have a bachelor’s degree, in addition to a D.C. degree, to obtain a license:
| Curriculum Meets Licensure Requirements | Curriculum Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements | Unknown/Cannot Be Confirmed as Meeting |
| Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island*, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia*, Wisconsin | None |
In states above indicated with an asterisk (*) – students must have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating into the D.C. program.
State Licensure and Pre-chiropractic Education Requirement Resources:
LACC’s Doctor of Chiropractic program (DC) is accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)
All international students are strongly encouraged to check the credentialing requirements in the country where they intend to practice.
The Proportion of Students in the Cohort Who Graduate from the Program as of July 2021
The following table provides graduation rates for the two academic years that recently exceeded 150% of the
program’s specified length, per CCE’s Policy 56. These rates may differ slightly from the DC
Graduation Rates Table because the Completion Rates Table includes transfer students.
DC Degree Completion Rates
| Southern California University of Health Sciences; Los Angeles College of Chiropractic | ||||
| Normal Length of Program: 10 Trimesters | ||||
| Entrance Term |
# of Students Matriculated in Entrance Term | Term 15 Trimesters after Entrance Term | # Students in Column A that graduated by Column C Term | Completion Rate at the 150th Percentile |
| Fall 2015 | 83 | Summer 2020 | 68 | 81.9% |
| Spring 2016 | 35 | Fall 2020 | 29 | 82.9% |
| Summer 2016 | 0 | Spring 2021 | 0 | NA |
| Fall 2016 | 79 | Summer 2021 | 70 | 88.6% |
| Spring 2017 | 21 | Fall 2021 | 19 | 90.5% |
| Summer 2017 | 0 | Spring 2022 | 0 | NA |
| 2-YR TOTAL | 218 | 186 | 85.3% | |
Additional graduation and retention rate information is available on our Student Achievement page.
Some of my favorite courses at SCU have to be the chiropractic procedure classes; those are the classes you get to hone in on your chiro skills, your palpation skills and ultimately work on the adjustments that make you a chiropractor. Those are the classes I feel enhance my knowledge the most and are some of the reasons I chose to become a chiropractor here are SCU.
On top of chiropractic procedures classes, my favorite is the cadaver lab experience. The cadaver classes opened up my perception of what the human body is made up of. It allowed me to get an in-person perspective of how the body works and looks on the inside. I am genuinely thankful for those experiences because they opened and broadened my horizons to the human body and anatomy in general.
The student body at SCU is unique. Everyone is open-minded and willing to talk to you and help you out. I love that I have found my main group of friends who have become my life support. I am also in numerous clubs, which have helped with networking and support; a great community to be a part of.
"I wanted to become a chiropractor after sitting in on a chiropractor lecture. Everything clicked, and I knew this was what I wanted to do. I came from a background where I wasn't a good student; I was at a low point, but SCU gave me a chance. I received help, support, resources, and tutoring. I now have the skills to succeed as a chiropractic student and as a leader on campus."
Doctor of Chiropractic faculty, Dr. Sermeno, ensures you understand [the material] to the best of your ability. If he is presenting in a way you do not understand, he will present it differently so you can understand. I appreciate that. He is also in practice and brings that knowledge to the classroom, so we have an idea of what is happening in clinics and have real-life examples to learn from."
If you have 90 credit hours or more and meet other admission standards, you are eligible for the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
Note: The life sciences encompass the fields of science that involve the scientific study of living organisms, like plants, animals, and human beings, as well as related considerations like bioethics. Physical sciences encompass the branches of science that study non-living systems.
Students seeking reasonable accommodations or support services while enrolled at SCU can do so through the Student Services Office (SSO). We encourage you to register with SSO as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the approval and notification process.
$129,200* or $129,600** tuition to complete the program.
SCU’s Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee for degree programs allows you to plan your educational investment.
Benefits of our Fixed Tuition Guarantee:
If you would like to learn more about the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at FinancialAid@scuhs.edu.
*Tuition rate reflected above represents the fixed rate for a student entering during the 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition rates are subject to change and may not be reflected on this website or other SCU materials. Please contact us for the most updated information.
**Tuition difference is based on 10-term vs. 12-term programs.
***Some limitations apply. View the Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee page for more information.
| Term | Tuition* | Fees | Medical Equipment |
EXXAT Fees | Petition to Graduate Fee |
Total Term Cost** |
| 1 | $12,920 | $316 | $1,125 | $155 | – | $14,516 |
| 2 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 3 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 4 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 5 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 6 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 7 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 8 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 9 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | – | $13,236 |
| 10 | $12,920 | $316 | – | – | $150 | $13,386 |
| Totals | $129,200 | $3,160 | $1,125 | $155 | $150 | $133,790 |
*DC students can also expect to pay $31 per student/preceptor relationship to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners between term 3 and 10.
**DC students on the 10 term track enrolled in less than 12 units will be charged on a per unit basis of $1,077 per unit.
***DC students on the 10 term track enrolled in more than 28.5 units will be charged full time rate plus the per unite rate of $1,077 for every unit over 28.5 units.
****Program fees listed are for the 2022/2023 academic year and are subject to change. Program fees include charges for technology, malpractice insurance, professional affiliation, and ASB.
*****Books, supplies and other equipment not included in the tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.
| Term | Tuition* | Fees | Medical Equipment |
EXXAT Fees | Petition to Graduate Fee |
Total Term Cost** |
| 1 | $10,800 | $316 | $1,125 | $155 | – | $12,396 |
| 2 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 3 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 4 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 5 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 6 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 7 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 8 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 9 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 10 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 11 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | – | $11,116 |
| 12 | $10,800 | $316 | – | – | $150 | $11,266 |
| Totals | $129,600 | $3,792 | $1,125 | $155 | $150 | $134,822 |
*DC students can also expect to pay $31 per student/preceptor relationship to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners between term 3 and 12.
**DC students on the 12 term track enrolled in less than 12 units will be charged on a per unit basis of $900 per unit.
***DC students on the 12 term track enrolled in more than 28.5 units will be charged full time rate plus the per unite rate of $900 for every unit over 28.5 units.
****Program fees listed are for the 2022/2023 academic year and are subject to change. Program fees include charges for technology, malpractice insurance, professional affiliation, and ASB.
*****Books, supplies and other equipment not included in the tuition and fee schedule may be required for this program.
Elections were recently held for the 2023 SCU ASB Executive Board (E-board) annual student leadership positions, including President, Vice President, CCO Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Community Liaison.
Congratulations to the following elected student leaders for 2023 who will serve a one-year term beginning Jan. 2023, through Dec. 2023.
President: Joanna Quintana (top left)
Vice President: Tim Schrijver (top middle)
Secretary: Kristeen Shamas (top right)
Treasurer: Eira Perez (bottom left)
Community Liaison: Madison Park (bottom middle)
CCO Chair: John Krueger (bottom right)
November is National American Indian Heritage Month. SCU is joining in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans as part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion and our ongoing efforts to increase the representation of populations underrepresented in medicine, who serve our community as healthcare providers.
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting SCU DC Student Shayla Hartz, SCU Cal Chiro Vice President and SCU ICPA Secretary. Shayla is half Lakota Oglala and her family is originally from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
You may have seen strips of colorful tape across the arms, legs, and other body parts of Olympic athletes to high school players. With the launch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, we’ll be seeing many world-class professional athletes across 32 global teams wearing this tape throughout November and December. The tape is called Kinesiology Tape, and some refer to it simply as KT. We had Dr. Fanning give a lesson in Kinesiology Tape 101.
Read More SCU News SCU Health announces free Chiropractic Care Clinics, Ayurveda Services, and Health Fairs WHITTIER, CA. – (Nov. 15, 2022) — Southern Californians can receive free chiropractic care […]
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Read More SCU News Amid Hispanic Heritage Month, SCU honors the importance of diversity in transforming and redefining health and healthcare educationSince 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Month has been recognized […]
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Read More SCU News Dr. Charles Cale (left) and his wife, Linnie Cale (right), circa 1925. In 1911, when modern chiropractic was only 16 years into its history, Dr. Cale […]
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Read More SCU News Left: Jim Whedon DC, MS Professor and Director of Health Services Research Adjunct Professor, The Dartmouth Institute. Right: Louis Kazal, Jr., M.D. Director of Integrative Medicine, […]
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Read More SCU News SCU Health announces free chiropractic and ayurvedic healthcare clinicWHITTIER, CA. – (July 13, 2022) — Southern Californians can receive free chiropractic and Ayurvedic care at an […]
Read More SCU News From left to right, Dr. Preetideep Singh, M.D., Associate Professor, Assistant Dean, IPE; Dr. TrungHung Tho Bui, DC, FHS Instructor; and Dr. Jonathan Carlos, M.D., FHS […]
Read More SCU News Jonathan Anthony Enriquez Carlos, DC, SCU Class of 2021 graduate receives NCMIC scholarshipWHITTIER, CA – (Dec. 28, 2021) Jonathan Anthony Enriquez Carlos, DC, SCU Class of 2021 […]
SCU Doctor of Chiropractic students, Christian Caragao and Katie Sakamoto, recognized by The California Chiropractic AssociationWHITTIER, CA – (Dec. 6, 2021) SCU Doctor of Chiropractic students Christian Caragao and Katie Sakamoto […]
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You wouldn’t be looking at this program if you weren’t interested in helping people find their healthiest life. Your dedication and enthusiasm for the growing movement toward whole-person wellness is what makes you a perfect fit for SCU. Now, begin to Discover why the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic is for you.
Our approach to Interprofessional Education is unique in California and across the country. Here, modern medicine unites with ancient and traditional healing arts to create an environment of engagement. SCU’s groundbreaking IPE model combines curriculum, clinic, community, and clubs to help you develop a broader base of knowledge and gain a deeper appreciation for different perspectives on care which leads to a seamless transition from student to practitioner.
We bring together aspiring students from different disciplines so you can learn and excel side-by-side. The depth and breadth of this dynamic experience will prepare you to one day take the lead in a collaborative, interprofessional practice.
Graduate students have a variety of ways to help fund their education. From graduate-dedicated federal loans to specialty grants and scholarships, paying for your education can be easy at SCU. In addition, our distinctive Fixed Rate Tuition Guarantee for degree programs provides students with confidence in planning for their educational investment.
Fixed Tuition Guarantee Benefits:
It’s not always possible to come to campus. However, there are a variety of ways to see buildings and spaces, interact with current students, and ask staff questions no matter where you are. Check out our virtual experiences to make connections and learn what it is like to be part of the University.
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