When people learn that I adjust animals in addition to humans, one of the first things they ask is: "How do you become an animal chiropractor?" It's a fair question — and the answer might surprise you. The path to becoming a certified animal chiropractor is long, rigorous, and requires years of graduate-level education before you ever lay hands on a horse or dog.
I want to pull back the curtain on exactly what it takes, because I believe the families and animal owners I serve deserve to understand the level of training behind every adjustment their loved ones receive.
By the numbers
- 7–8+ years of higher education
- 4,200+ hours in chiropractic school
- 210+ additional hours in an approved animal chiropractic program
- 30 hours of continuing education every 3 years
The journey: from undergrad to certified animal chiropractor
There's no shortcut to becoming a certified animal chiropractor. The journey involves multiple stages of education, board exams, specialized postgraduate training, certification exams, and ongoing continuing education. Here's how it breaks down:
Step 1 — Undergraduate education (3–4 years)
Before you can even apply to chiropractic school, you need at least 90 semester hours of undergraduate coursework — roughly 3–4 years of college. These credits must include a heavy science foundation: biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology. Most students earn a full bachelor's degree, often in a field like biology, kinesiology, or exercise science.
Step 2 — Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree (3.3–5 years)
Next comes chiropractic school itself — a demanding doctorate-level program requiring a minimum of 4,200 instructional hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education. Most programs take between 3.3 and 5 years to complete, running year-round with limited breaks.
The curriculum is comparable in scope to medical school and covers:
- Basic Sciences — Advanced anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, neurology, pathology, and microbiology
- Clinical Sciences — Diagnosis, imaging and radiology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation
- Chiropractic Technique — Hands-on adjusting methods, biomechanics, and patient assessment
- Clinical Internship — A full year of supervised patient care in a clinical setting
Step 3 — National board exams (NBCE)
To become a licensed chiropractor, you must pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) four-part examination. These exams test everything from basic science knowledge and clinical competency to diagnostic imaging and case management.
In addition to the NBCE exams, chiropractic students also sit for a physiotherapy (PT) board exam, demonstrating competency in rehabilitation and therapeutic techniques. You also need to obtain a state license in the state where you plan to practice — each state has its own requirements.
Step 4 — Postgraduate animal chiropractic program (210+ hours)
Here's where the specialization begins. After earning your D.C. degree (or D.V.M. — veterinarians can also pursue this path), you must complete an additional postgraduate program in animal chiropractic approved by the AVCA or IVCA. These programs require a minimum of 210 certified instructional hours and cover:
- Comparative animal anatomy and neurology
- Species-specific biomechanics and physiology
- Chiropractic adjusting techniques for small and large animals
- Topographic anatomy, palpation, and safe handling
- Relevant pathology, rehabilitation, and ethics
- Hands-on laboratory work including dissection
Only licensed Doctors of Chiropractic or Doctors of Veterinary Medicine are eligible to enroll. These programs are offered at a handful of approved institutions across North America, including Options for Animals in Kansas, Parker University in Texas, and Healing Oasis in Wisconsin.
Step 5 — Certification examination
After completing the postgraduate program, candidates must sit for and pass a rigorous certification examination through the AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) or IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association).
The IVCA exam, for example, consists of a 120-question written exam plus a hands-on practical exam where you must demonstrate adjusting setups on both a dog and a horse across multiple spinal and extremity regions. You don't just need to know the theory — you need to prove it with your hands.
Step 6 — Continuing education and recertification
Certification isn't a one-and-done achievement. Both the AVCA and IVCA require recertification every three years, with a minimum of 30 hours of approved continuing education in each cycle. This is in addition to any CE hours required by your state chiropractic licensing board for your human chiropractic license.
This ongoing education ensures that certified animal chiropractors stay current with the latest research, techniques, and best practices in the field.
Why two certifying bodies?
In North America, there are two primary organizations that credential animal chiropractors:
AVCA — American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
The AVCA's certification is administered through its independent Animal Chiropractic Certification Commission (ACCC). It's the primary national credential in North America and is widely recognized by state veterinary and chiropractic boards. Certification is issued for a three-year period and requires 30 hours of approved CE for recertification.
IVCA — International Veterinary Chiropractic Association
The IVCA is an international non-profit that promotes excellence in animal chiropractic worldwide. Its certification exam is developed by the International Certification Commission for Animal Chiropractic (ICCAC). IVCA members must complete 30 hours of approved continuing education to maintain their membership and certification, which is renewed every three years.
Both organizations share a common goal: protecting the public and patients by ensuring that only properly trained and credentialed professionals practice animal chiropractic. There is no reciprocity between the two certifications — each has its own requirements and exam process.
Adding it all up
When you bring your pet, horse, or farm animal to a certified animal chiropractor, you're trusting someone who has invested seven to eight-plus years of higher education, passed multiple rounds of national and specialty board exams, and committed to ongoing learning every year.
The full education snapshot:
- ~90 credit hours of undergraduate prerequisite coursework (3–4 years)
- 4,200+ hours in an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program (3.3–5 years)
- 4-part NBCE exam + PT board exam for chiropractic licensure
- State licensure as a Doctor of Chiropractic
- 210+ additional hours in an approved animal chiropractic program
- Written + practical certification exam (AVCA or IVCA)
- 30+ hours of continuing education every 3 years for animal chiropractic recertification
- Additional state CE requirements for your chiropractic license
Why this matters to you
I share all of this not to boast, but because your animals and your family deserve to know the standard of care behind every visit. Animal chiropractic is a highly specialized field that requires the intersection of two areas of expertise — chiropractic science and animal anatomy. It's not something you can learn from a weekend seminar.
When you choose a certified animal chiropractor, you're choosing someone who has dedicated their career to understanding the spine, the nervous system, and the unique biomechanics of different species — from Great Danes to quarter horses to barn cats.
Every spine — whether it belongs to you, your dog, your horse, or your family cow — deserves expert, knowledgeable care. That's the standard I hold myself to every single day.
If you've been curious about what animal chiropractic could do for your four-legged family members, I'd love to chat. You can book a free 15-minute discovery call or schedule an appointment to get started.