Chiropractic
Pre-requisite Requirements
Requirements for Chiropractic programs vary from school to school and can change year to year, students must carefully examine the pre-requisitie requirements of the schools they are interested in to be current and accurate when registering for courses at Gustavus. Consult the Association of Chiropractic Colleges website https://www.chirocolleges.org/academic-requirements to view a list college members and the requirements and statistics for the 20+ Chiropractic programs.
ALL Doctor of Chiropractic Programs Search
How Admission guidelines are determined for Chiropractice programs:
The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) sets the below admissions guidelines. The CCE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for the accreditation of programs and institutions offering the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Palmer also is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Student Admission:The DCP admits students who possess academic and personal attributes consistent with the
DCP’s mission. Admitted students have completed a baccalaureate degree at an institution(s)
accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent
foreign agency. (Graduate from Gustavus with ANY degree no prerequisites REQUIRED, some programs may suggest courses and require a certain GPA).
Alternatively, students may matriculate into the program having obtained 90
semester hours at an institution(s) accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education or an equivalent foreign agency if those students have 1) a cumulative GPA of 3.0
or higher on a 4.0 scale for the 90 semester credits; or 2) a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and
2.99 on a 4.0 scale for the 90 semester credits with a minimum of 24 semester credits in life
and physical science courses appropriate as undergraduate preparation for chiropractic
education as determined by the DCP. Students admitted with advanced standing or transfer
credit must earn not less than 25 percent of the total program credits from the DCP that confers
the degree.
Source: pg. 17, https://www.cce-usa.org/uploads/1/0/6/5/106500339/2025-01_cce_accreditation_standards__current_.pdf
Pre-requisite requirements Regional Chiropractic Programs:
Northwestern University of Health Sciences
What are the admission requirements for the National University College of Chiropractic?
There are three paths to enrollment for our chiropractic program:
1. Admission path 1: Bachelor’s Degree with a 2.75 GPA (no prerequisite requirements, any major)
2. Admission path 2: 90 undergraduate credits with a 3.0 GPA
3. Admission path 3: 90 undergraduate credits with a 2.75 GPA and 24 semester credits in life and physical sciences
Learn more about the chiropractic program admissions requirement
Brian Krawiecki, bkrawiecki@nwhealth.edu , Senior Admissions Counselor
Cleveland University, Kansas City
1. Admissions Path 1: to the D.C. degree requires students to have completed a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. (no prerequisite requirements, any major)
2. Admissions Path 2: to the D.C. degree requires students to have completed 90 credit hours, including 12 life science credit hours, earning a 3.0 GPA or higher. A pre-chiropractic, kinesiology, exercise science or other pre-professional health science major is preferred.
3. Admissions Path 3: allows students who do not meet Path 1 or 2 above to be considered for admission if they have earned 90 credit hours, including 24 life and physical science credit hours, with a GPA of 2.75-3.00. Students admitted under Path 3 will be required to take the flex schedule, which is a reduced course load for their first four trimesters.
Admissions:(800) 467-2252
Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport Iowa Campus
How are Admission Guidelines are determined:
Student Admission:The DCP admits students who possess academic and personal attributes consistent with the
DCP’s mission. Admitted students have completed a baccalaureate degree at an institution(s)
accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent
foreign agency. (Graduate from Gustavus with ANY degree no prerequisites REQUIRED, Palmer suggests 24 credits below, NOT REQUIRED).
Working on your undergraduate degree now?
If you’re currently an undergraduate student and hope to join the Palmer family, WE SUGGEST course work that includes:
24 semester credits of science, with half of the courses containing a lab component, see SUGGESTIONS below:
Biology: human anatomy (HES 230 & lab, 4 credits) and physiology (HES 240 & lab, 4 credits), general biology (BIO 110 & lab, 4 credits), embryology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, cellular biology, exercise physiology and kinesiology
Chemistry: general chemistry (CHE 110 & lab, 4 credits), organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology/pharmacology, nutrition (HES 222, 4 credits) and nuclear medicine
Physical sciences: physics, biomechanics (HES 309, 4 credits) and statistics (HES 220, 4 credits)
Kelley VanKeulen, kelley.vankeulen@palmer.edu
Updated 3/21/25HB