Full Story: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Chiropractor_vs_Doctor
Are chiropractors “doctors”? Yes and No. They are doctors similar to non-medical “doctors” in other allied health care professions like optometry, podiatry, dentistry and psychology. Chiropractors usually have the academic degree of “Doctor of Chiropractic”, which is awarded after an average of 8 years of university training.
However, medical doctors are allowed to prescribe medication while chiropractors are not (except in a few states, usually nutritional and homeopathic items). The scope of what medical treatment and procedures chiropractors are allowed to perform varies by state.
Chiropractor |
Medical Doctor |
|
|---|---|---|
| Residency and Internship | One-year internship that coincides with clinical courses while in training. NO Residency required, but have the option to complete if accepted and desire to. | One-year internship required, and 3-8 years of residency required for further specialization. |
| Treatment Techniques | Chiropractic adjustment (grade I-V) ranging from soft tissue mobilization to joint adjustment. Electrical Stimulation. Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Pain Management | Extensive knowledge of general medicine, including knowledge of HEENT, Pulmonary, Cardiac, Vascular, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Neurological, Psychiatric, Musculoskeletal, Endocrine, and dermatologic medicine |
| Practice | Private practice clinics, generally. However, some are employed by health systems and hospitals. Generalist practice, neurology related, orthopedic related, and general alignment restoration dealing with the skeletal system. | Same as Chiropractors but with larger focus at hospitals and clinics. |
| Can prescribe medication | No. New Mexico recently allowed limited prescription rights to DCs | Medical physicians (D.O., M.B.B.S., M.D.) can prescribe all medication. |
| Medical Licensing Exam (MLE) | National Board Exam (NBCE). Parts I, II, III IV (practical) and state boards. | USMLE or COMLEX (depending on specific medical degree) plus specialty boards after residency. |
| Board Certification | National exam, Chiropractic Board at the State level and Diplomate specialty boards. | Medical Board at the State level and National specialty boards. |
| Years of medical school | 3-4 undergraduate years (Bachelor’s required / state dependent), 2-4 Chiropractic school, 1 year residency, minimum 6-7 years | 4 years of undergraduate. 4-5 years of medical school. 3-8 years of Residency. Some may choose to do an additional fellowship as well. Minimum 11 years study for basic Family physician. Minimum 13-16+ years for any other specialty. |
| Status | DC stands for Doctor of Chiropractic. They are not medical doctors, however for insurance purposes, some states consider chiropractors health care providers, some do not. | All physicians are doctors. Some physicians are Primary Care Physicians, while others are specialists. |
| Surgery | Minor surgery in some states. DCs are non-pharmacologic and non-surgical clinicians who are experts at conservative treatments within their scope of practice. However, do perform MUA in surgical setting. | Specialists have full surgical rights in their area of expertise. |
| Specialization | Orthopedics, Pediatrics, General Rehab, Internal Disorders, Radiology, Neurology, Nutrition, Occupational Health, Sports Med, Forensic Sciences. | ENT, Ophthalmology, Anesthesia, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Neurology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Pathology, Gastroenterologyl, Urology, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry, Family Medicine |
| For more information | Chiropractors are organized by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). www.acatoday.org. All information above was taken from this website. | American Medical Association (AMA) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) |