Chiropractic assistant
Also known as: chiropractic support worker, assistant to licensed chiropractor, assistant etiopath, assistant osteopath, assistant to chiropractic, chiropractic's assistant
About this occupation
Chiropractic assistants perform routine and administrative tasks to support patient care and work under the sole direction and supervision of a Chiropractor or Specialized Chiropractor. They may interview patients, keep records of the case history, assist Chiropractors or Specialized Chiropractors in providing patients examination and perform administrative tasks. Chiropractic assistants work within defined contexts using agreed protocols and procedures.
Essential skills and knowledge
- provide health education
- use e-health and mobile health technologies
- medical informatics
- administrative tasks in a medical environment
- answer patients' questions
- collect healthcare user's general data
- maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
- maintain chiropractic equipment
- customer service
- collect healthcare user data under supervision
- chiropractic terminology
- accept own accountability
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Physician Assistants (O*NET 29-1071.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- Typical education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness
US median pay: US$135,880 a year (2025), 162,150 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- BiologyO*NET: BiologyExtremely important (4.8)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageExtremely important (4.6)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyExtremely important (4.6)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.5)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.4)
- Environmental ScienceO*NET: Biology + GeographyImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Family Medicine Physicians
- Pediatric Surgeons
- Cardiologists
- Nurse Practitioners
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
- General Internal Medicine Physicians
- Pediatricians, General
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.