Curriculum
All courses are designed to incorporate chiropractic clinical relevance and context. Beginning in the first semester, students pair their foundational science courses with clinical observation experiences in community chiropractic offices and interprofessional settings, such as the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, emergency departments, and physical therapy clinics, to see how classroom learning connects to patient care.
As students move into the clinical spine and extremity courses, they begin supervised hands-on clinical practice, applying diagnostic, management, and clinical reasoning skills with real patients under the guidance of licensed chiropractors. Knowledge and clinical skills checks along the way help ensure students are ready for each new level of clinical responsibility.
This progression culminates in one and a half full-time clinical semesters at the end of the program, 24 weeks in total, in which students work as pre-licensed clinicians managing real-world patients in supervised chiropractic clerkships.
Throughout the program, students learn alongside peers from across Pitt’s health sciences schools through the University’s interprofessional education program, and they train in clinical settings that reflect how team-based care is delivered today.
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Exam
In order to become a licensed chiropractor, doctoral students must pass the NBCE exams and complete the other state licensing requirements.
The NBCE offers exams in the areas of basic sciences (Part I), clinical sciences (Part II), clinical competency (Part III) and a practical skills exam (Part IV). Licensing agencies that regulate the practice of chiropractic use NBCE exam scores in their evaluation of candidates for licensure.
Students in the Pitt DC program are eligible to apply for these exams.
Areas of Study
Students will take courses in basic science, clinical science, chiropractic science and clinical education.
- Basic – Foundational science courses to enhance and acquire knowledge in the clinical and chiropractic sciences
- Clinical Science – Courses to support the assessment and formulation of a diagnosis and opportunities for collaboration and referral
- Chiropractic Science – Courses for the development of the knowledge skills and abilities to assess and manage patients in a clinical setting
- Clinical Education – Observational and hands-on rotations to synthesize the content of all courses and to prepare for practice as a clinician
Sample Plan of Study
Currently, classes are planned for Monday through Friday, starting at 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesdays alternate weekly between didactic coursework and the Clinical Practicum. This schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Year 1
Semester 1 – Fall Term (20 credits)
- Gross Anatomy I (4 credits)
- Human Function and Metabolism (6 credits)
- Introduction to Diagnostic Imaging (1 credit)
- The Patient Interview (1 credit)
- Clinically Relevant Palpation (1 credit)
- Introduction to the Chiropractic Profession and Primary Spine Care (2 credits)
- Evidence Based Practice I (2 credits)
- Introduction to Clinical Reasoning (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum I (1 credit)
Semester 2 – Spring Term (20 credits)
- Neuroscience (3 credits)
- Gross Anatomy II (5 credits)
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology (2 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging I (1 credit)
- Principles of Differential Diagnosis (2 credits)
- Manual Therapy Psychomotor Skill Development (1 credit)
- Spinal and Tissue Biomechanics (2 credits)
- Soft Tissue Manipulation (1 credit)
- Evidence Based Practice II (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum II (1 credit)
Semester 3 – Summer Term (20 credits)
- Pathology (3 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging II (1 credit)
- Clinical Pain Classification and Phenotyping (2 credits)
- Medical Screening & Diagnosis: Chest and Abdomen (2 credits)
- Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Spine Related Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Thoracic and Lumbopelvic Spine (2 credits)
- Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Thoracic & Lumbopelvic Spine (1 credit)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider I (1 credit)
- Evidence Based Practice III (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum III and Comprehensive Clinical Exam I (1 credit)
Year 2
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Exam – Part I
At the end of year 1, and during the fall of the second year, Pitt Doctor of Chiropractic students will be eligible to take the first part of this exam which covers basic science. This is a computer-based test.
Semester 4 – Fall Term (19 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging III (1 credit)
- Clinical Lab Diagnosis (1 credit)
- Clinical Pharmacology (2 credits)
- Medical Screening & Diagnosis: Head and Neck (2 credits)
- Cervical Spine Related Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Cervical Spine (2 credits)
- Cervical Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Cervical Spine (1 credit)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider II (1 credit)
- Nutrition in Chiropractic Practice (2 credits)
- Clinical Practicum IV (2 credits)
Semester 5 – Spring Term (17 credits)
- Clinical Neurology (3 credits)
- Diagnostic Imaging IV (1 credit)
- Extremity Disorders (3 credits)
- Examination of the Extremities (2 credits)
- Extremity Mobilization and Manipulation (2 credits)
- Rehabilitative Exercise: Extremities (1 credit)
- Spinal Manipulation Review (2 credits)
- Clinical Reasoning for the Primary Spine Provider III (1 credit)
- Clinical Practicum V (2 credits)
Semester 6 – Summer Term (21 credits)
- Review of Systems and Interprofessional Collaboration (2 credits)
- Emergency Care (2 credits)
- Public Health and Epidemiology (3 credits)
- Cases in Diagnostic Imaging (1 credit)
- Special Populations (3 credits)
- Special Topics in Manual Therapy I (1 credit)
- Advanced Topics in Rehabilitation (2 credits)
- Taping and Bracing (1 credit)
- Evidence-Based Practice IV (2 credits)
- Physical Agents and Modalities (2 credits)
- Pre-Clerkship and Comprehensive Clinical Exam II (2 credits)
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Exam – Part II and III
At the end of year 2, students will be eligible to take Part II, a clinical science-specific computer exam of six categories, and Part III of the exam which involves matching questions that test students on their clinical reasoning.
Year 3
Semester 7 – Fall Term (16 credits)
- Outcomes Accountability Capstone I (3 credits)
- Principles of Differential Diagnosis (3 credits)
- Special Topics in Manual Therapy II (1 credit)
- Chiropractic Practice (3 credits)
- Clerkship I (6 credits)
Semester 8 – Spring Term (10 credits)
- Outcomes Accountability Capstone II (1 credit)
- Clerkship II and Comprehensive Clinical Exam III (9 credits)
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Exam – Part IV
If a student has passed Part I of the exam, they are eligible to take the Part IV test within six months of graduation (that is, within the window of six months prior to graduation to six months after graduation).
This portion of the exam is in-person. Students will be required to schedule an appointment with the NBCE and travel to their headquarters in Colorado for standard hands-on testing.