A chiropractor is a specialist in the area of chiropractic medicine, which is a form of treatment that uses manipulative therapy to correct chiropractic subluxation, which many chiropractors theorize as the cause of most disease. Chiropractic therapy has been shown to have some efficacy in treating back and neck pain, headache, and other symptoms of spinal-related conditions, the application of chiropractic medicine as a cure or outside of this specific area is not yet fully accepted by the medical community. Chiropractic is an example of alternative medicine

The educational requirements for chiropractors are similar to that of medical doctors. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) has set minimum guidelines for chiropractic colleges, however additional requirements may be need for a license depending on the state or government a chiropractor chooses to practice in. Many states require a 4-year undergraduate degree, although the minimum for enrollment set forth by the CCE is 90 semester hours as a prerequisite for attending a chiropractic college.