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An Overview of the Doctor of Chiropractic Program
Here’s a look at what to expect from a chiropractic college academic program.
It is no secret that the Doctor of Chiropractic program is rigorous and challenging. You may hear professors describe it as “drinking water from a fire hydrant.” Becoming any type of doctor takes a lot of hard work and dedication. To complete the program successfully, you must be passionate about the profession, good with time management, and disciplined with your studies.
We know that becoming a doctor of chiropractic is no easy task, but nothing worth having or doing ever comes easily! Part of our job as enrollment specialists is to ensure prospective students understand exactly what it will take to become a chiropractor and all that they will need to get there. Here in the admissions office, we receive questions daily about the curriculum for the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
Before we get to the questions, let’s cover some basic information. Sherman College of Chiropractic enrolls students four times a year: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Our program lasts 14 quarters, which is 3.5 years of continuous academic study. Like high school, the same class you start with will be the same class you graduate with.
Students do not get to choose their chiropractic classes or professors like they do in undergrad. Each quarter, there is a fixed schedule, and you will be required to take those classes at the days and times listed along with your classmates. Lastly, there is a one-week break in the spring and fall, and a three-week break in the summer and winter.
Now, let’s break down some of our most frequently asked questions!
Q: What is the average class size?
A: This depends on the quarter you enroll in. Fall classes tend to be the largest; in fall 2025, we enrolled 61 students in the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Spring classes are usually the smallest, typically ranging from 12 to 20 students. Regardless of your class size, we always maintain an appropriate student-to-faculty ratio to ensure our students’ needs are met.
Q: How many hours per day/week are spent in class?
A: Each quarter introduces a new set of classes, which means you may spend more or less time in the classroom depending on the quarter. On average, students are on campus from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Students get a break every day at 11 AM., during which they typically eat lunch or meet with their respective clubs.
Q: What is the latest class offered at Sherman College?
As mentioned earlier, the course schedules change each quarter. Currently, the latest class begins at 4 pm.
Q: How are the quarters alike or different from one another?
Each quarter differs because you start a new set of classes each time. The curriculum builds up each quarter, so you must learn everything in quarter one and pass all your classes to move on to quarter two, and so forth. You will gain hands-on experience from your very first quarter on campus, although later quarters will focus more on chiropractic techniques and offer more elective options.
Q: What is the Doctor of Chiropractic program structure?
A: The Doctor of Chiropractic program is designed in a specific way to help you pass your national board exams and prepare you for a successful practice. For example, quarters 1-6 prepare you to take your Part 1 boards around the start of your 7th quarter. We also make sure that hands-on training begins in your very first quarter. We understand that it takes time to learn how to palpate and analyze the spine’s dynamics. In your first quarter, you will have Palpation 1 and Full Spine Analysis 1.
The first half of the program is spent in the classroom taking didactic courses such as philosophy, technique classes, palpation, basic sciences, and more. During your eighth quarter, you will begin transitioning to clinic-related classes. You will take the Chiropractic Center entrance exam during the eighth quarter, and you will receive your first patient, a reciprocal in your class. In the ninth quarter, you will be paired with a first-quarter student who will become your second patient. In the tenth quarter, you will notice a significant change as you focus more on the clinical side of chiropractic and start seeing patients in our outpatient clinic. Your classroom time will decrease as you dedicate more time to clinical practice. This pattern will continue until you complete the program. During your fourteenth (final) quarter, you have the option to enroll in the PMOE course, which stands for Practice Management Observation Elective. If you choose to do so, you will shadow an approved office for the quarter.
Q: How many electives are required, and what types of electives are offered?
A: You are required to take 55 elective hours for graduation. Electives include chiropractic techniques, research, radiology, and pediatrics.
Q: What are the tests, midterms and final exams like?
A: While each class varies, the tests at Sherman College are designed to mirror the national board exams. They may include practical tests, multiple choice, short answer, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
Q: How available are the instructors after class?
A: Here at Sherman College of Chiropractic, we have an open-door policy. On campus, you’ll notice that each door to the staff and faculty offices features glass windows. If they’re inside, you’re likely able to meet with them! Some of our professors hold other jobs outside Sherman, so it’s always best to make an appointment to meet with your professor to ensure that you are both available.