GETTING STARTED

Below is a list of questions and items that you should consider as you delve into starting your Chiropractic career!

Where do I want to practice?
Home office or other location
Hear advice from a respected Chiropractor on Choosing a location here.

How and where to study for National Boards
The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners has wonderful resources and a sample test for you. Link to NBCE site.

What are the laws in the state I want to practice in?
Link to state specific information

What are the Legal aspects of opening a practice in the location I choose
You can find Chiropractic Board information for each state here
For other legal issues in specific locations, you will want to check with authorities in that location. It may be a good idea to consult with a business attorney in that area to see what regulations you need to abide by.

Should I open a new practice or become an associate?
Buy a practice, Open a new practice, or become an associate?
There are pro’s and con’s to each of these. You can find current practices that are looking for associates, or practices for sale here.
If I’m going to be an associate, what do I need to know?
1. Independent contractor or Employee: Independent Contractors are responsible for their own taxes.
2. Contracts:
Review your contract! Items to specifically review are:
a. Pay & How and when you are paid. You should search information on online or ask another
Chiropractor or attorney what he thinks before signing
b. Time off
c. Non-compete clauses
d. Expectations of the Employer
e. Benefits

What equipment do I need to get into practice?
Check out our information on equipment here
You can find any equipment that is currently for sale from other Doctors on our Classifieds page
We have several equipment companies that support us:
Healthcare Equipment Services - X-Ray Equipment & Servicing
CE Lasers - Laser Therapy
Williams Healthcare - Adjusting Tables
Therasage - Adjunctive Therapies

Should I hire staff?
You can find information on our Advice page
Do I need an office person? Or should I start with just myself?
Do I have a family member who would be willing to help as I start out?
Where do I find office help?

How to get patients when I just start out?
You can find information on our Advice page

What kind of advertising will/should I do?
You can find information on our Advice page

Should I have an all cash practice or should I accept insurance?
This is a personal preference. More and more doctors are going to all cash for the ease of it and for less stress and cost to them. You should talk with other Chiropractors to get their personal experience.

How do I handle billing?
You can hire a billing service to handle your billing. There are also many software options for you.
We have a live-stream webinar just for you on this topic! You can see details here

What Continuing Education (CE) credits I will need to maintain my license
Link to state specific information
For the first year of your licensure, you may attend as many of our CE seminar’s as you wish for free. This includes live, live-stream and online courses. Many state boards do not require you to obtain CE hours the first year of licensure - but you should check with the state board you are licensed with.

Do I need to specialize in any area to be successful?
Being a Chiropractor is all you really need. As you get established, you may be interested in furthering your education to include specific specialties. But Chiropractic will always be your foundation.

Treatment protocols - personalized - niches
Again, being a Chiropractor is all you really need to start. As time goes by, you may learn that there are special needs in your area that you can provide, or there may be an addition to your treatments that you add to enhance your patient’s experience. See Getting Patients in the Door along with other advice on this topic.

Keep your passion for the profession alive
Keep the passion for Chiropractic alive! People respond to how passionate you are about what you do. If you feel your passion waning, try some continuing education courses. If you find a good continuing education course - such as ours! - you’ll be rejuvenated and eager to return to work and help people! As a new Doctor, you can take any of our seminars for free for the first year of practice…so take advantage of this opportunity!

What other professional help may I need (accountant, lawyer, etc)?
It is wise to talk with an attorney in your area about starting a practice. They can help you ensure you do all that is required and adhere to your local and state regulations.
Accountants can help keep you compliant with state and federal tax authorities - we recommend you talk with an accountant in your area.