Chiropractic Medical Assistants
Career Guide: Salary, Job Duties, and More
This page offers details on the expected salaries, day-to-day job duties, and additional insights for those exploring or considering a career as a chiropractic assistant.
What is a Chiropractic Medical Assistant?
Chiropractic assistants work in chiropractic clinics and practices supporting chiropractors, physical therapists, and other medical staff. They assist in providing care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions both in clinical and office settings.
Typical duties include scheduling appointments, preparing exam rooms, assisting with chiropractic treatments and modalities, operating specialized equipment like decompression machines or ultrasound devices, documenting patient sessions, educating patients on follow-up care and exercises, reordering supplies, and assisting with patient mobility. Chiropractic assistants require on-the-job training in standard chiropractic workflows, medical devices, and clinical documentation systems.
How Do I Become a Chiropractic Medical Assistant?
Chiropractic assistants play a vital role in chiropractic clinics and offices. They assist chiropractors before, during, and after patient appointments. If you’re interested in launching a career as a chiropractic assistant, see the following steps:
- Earn a High School Diploma or GED
- Complete Formal Training through a Certificate or Associate Program in Chiropractic Assisting
- Take Relevant Courses including Anatomy, Physiology, Terminology, and Chiropractic Philosophy
- Complete Hands-on Clinical Training through an Externship or Practicum in a Chiropractic Office
- Obtain Professional Certification such as the CCCA Credential from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research
- Develop Critical Soft Skills like Communication, Detail-Orientation, and Professionalism
Key Responsibilities of a Chiropractic Medical Assistant
Chiropractic assistants work in chiropractic clinics and practices supporting chiropractors, physical therapists, and other medical staff. They assist in providing care to patients with musculoskeletal conditions both in clinical and office settings.
Typical duties include scheduling appointments, preparing exam rooms, assisting with chiropractic treatments and modalities, operating specialized equipment like decompression machines or ultrasound devices, documenting patient sessions, educating patients on follow-up care and exercises, reordering supplies, and assisting with patient mobility. Chiropractic assistants require on-the-job training in standard chiropractic workflows, medical devices, and clinical documentation systems.
- Preparing exam rooms by sanitizing surfaces, arranging supplies, and testing equipment
- Assisting patients with completing health intake forms and paperwork
- Taking preliminary vitals like temperature, pulse, blood pressure, height and weight
- Discussing patient health history, symptoms, pain levels to facilitate diagnosis
- Assisting chiropractor with patient positioning and adjustments
- Handling billing, bookkeeping, inventory management, and other administrative tasks
The career outlook for chiropractic assistants looks highly favorable over the next decade due to projected robust job growth stemming from increasing demand for chiropractic services among aging patient populations seeking conservative treatment options for back, neck, and joint issues. As more patients pursue drug-free pain management and integrative medical care, opportunities for trained assistants across a variety of practice settings will expand.
Additionally, the shift toward multidisciplinary care models is allowing greater integration of chiropractic approaches across healthcare environments. Chiropractic assistants with diverse administrative and clinical skills are well-positioned to capitalize on openings within hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient clinics, and coordinated care teams due to their versatility and expertise in supporting chiropractic physicians.
National Average: $48,320.00
| U.S. Regions | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| West | $49,860.00 |
| Midwest | $39,613.00 |
| Northeast | $51,140.00 |
| Southwest | $38,251.00 |
| Southeast | $38,220.00 |
Additional Key Information:
| Salary Range | $42,284.00 entry level to $58,500.00+ |
| Common Benefits | Health insurance, retirement, vacation & bonuses |
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