Prospective Students
Life West has a vibrant academic and extracurricular environment
Students start their days early, with classes generally beginning at either 7:30 or 9:30 a.m. depending on individual quarterly schedules. Most classes end between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. There are scheduled breaks between periods. Lunch break lasts from 11:40 to 1:00, a time during which many students attend meetings or events of on-campus technique and social clubs. Students report that they tend to study two to three hours daily outside of class, and that they generally have time to earn money with on- or off-campus part-time jobs.
Why a Life West Chiropractic Degree?
Students interested in earning a chiropractor degree will receive chiropractic schooling with hands-on technique exposure from the first quarter. In the last year of their chiropractor education, seniors finishing their chiropractic degrees work directly with the public through our out-patient health center. The clinic sees over 1500 patients per week. A chiropractic degree student from Life West graduates with the in-depth knowledge and the confidence required to build their own successful practice.
- Gain a practical, 'real world,' chiropractor education within our outpatient health center.
- Work on their chiropractic degrees with highly recognized practicing faculty members.
- Utilize state-of-the-art technology including digital x-ray, and bone density testing equipment.
- Have the benefit of flexible chiropractic schooling via a curriculum designed to meet your special needs.
- Earn their chiropractor degree while learning up to 15 chiropractic techniques - including upper cervical and Gonstead.
- Receive personalized chiropractic schooling - our student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1
- Feel confident that our chiropractor degree fee structure is all-inclusive with no hidden charges
- Enjoy the cultural, learning and growth opportunities of the San Francisco Bay Area
Earning a Chiropractic Degree
Chiropractor education requirements are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. Chiropractic degrees require intense study, unrelenting dedication and commitment to chiropractic schooling. Chiropractic degree students will also that find a chiropractic degree program may offer options for specializations in specific artialcialeaus of chiropractic medicine, such as internal disorders, nutrition, neurology, orthopedics, sports injuries, ergonomics or diagnostic imaging. Students pursuing their chiropractor degree will receive exposure to these various specialties at Life West.
Chiropractic degree applicants must have at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate study leading toward a bachelor's degree, including courses in English, the social sciences or humanities, organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology. While many chiropractic degree applicants already have a bachelor's degree, it is not required to apply for chiropractor education at Life West. For chiropractor education application details, click here.
Chiropractic schooling helps students develop keen observation skills to detect physical abnormalities. chiropractor education includes teaching students to follow a standard routine to get information needed to diagnose and treat patients. Chiropractic degree students learn how to take the patient's health history; conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations. Furthermore, chiropractic schooling involves learning how to review X rays and other diagnostic images become an integral part of chiropractor education. While it is important for chiropractic degree students to develop their manual dexterity to perform adjustments, unusual strength or endurance is not necessary. Chiropractic degree students should be able to work independently and handle responsibility. In the course of their chiropractor education, successful chiropractic degree students cultivate empathy, understanding, and the desire to help others which are valuable qualities for interacting with patients and their loved ones.
After earning their chiropractic degrees, Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) must pass their national board exams I-IV and depending on the individual state, also pass a state board exam. Beyond chiropractic schooling, once these tasks have been completed, a license to practice chiropractic will be granted. In order to maintain licensure a specified number of hours of continuing chiropractor education and chiropractic schooling are required each year. Accredited chiropractic programs and institutions offer continuing chiropractor education and chiropractic schooling programs.
Having completed their chiropractic schooling and earned their chiropractor degree, newly licensed D.C.s can set up a new practice, purchase an established one, or enter into partnership with an established practitioner. Those with a chiropractor degree also may take a salaried position in a chiropractor's office, a group practice, or a healthcare facility.