This is one of the most Googled questions about chiropractic care. Let’s clear it up once and for all.
Yes, chiropractors are doctors — just not medical doctors.
They don’t prescribe medication. They don’t do surgery. But they are highly trained healthcare professionals with a doctorate-level qualification in their field.
In the UK and many other countries, they’re regulated primary healthcare providers — just like dentists and optometrists.
Where the Confusion Comes From
Some people assume that unless you wear a stethoscope and write prescriptions, you’re not a “real” doctor.
But here’s the thing: the word “doctor” doesn’t mean medical doctor. It simply means someone trained to the highest level in their area of expertise.
Dentists are doctors. So are psychologists. Optometrists. And yes—chiropractors.
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat problems with the body’s structure; especially the spine, joints, nerves, and posture. They specialise in helping the body move and function better, naturally.
And no, despite some common myths, chiropractors don’t claim to be medical doctors. That’s a misconception. They are trained doctors within their own distinct area of healthcare.
What Does a Chiropractor Actually Study?
Chiropractors train for 4 to 5 years at university, often longer if they go on to specialise in different areas.
Their education includes:
• Anatomy, physiology & biomechanics
• Neurology, orthopaedics, and pathology
• General medicine and pharmacology (not to prescribe, but to understand how drugs affect the body, identify contraindications to care, and when a patient needs to be referred out to another healthcare provider, and which provider would be the best fit for the specific issue).
• Radiology and diagnostic imaging
• Physical assessment and postural analysis
• Clinical hands-on practice (lots of it)
It’s not a weekend course. Chiropractic degrees are on par in length and scientific depth with medical degrees — but with a different focus: movement, structure, and neuromusculoskeletal function (which means disorders related to the nerves, muscles, and bones).
In fact, the core sciences studied in chiropractic training—especially in anatomy, neurophysiology, and diagnostic imaging—often mirror those of GPs. The key difference is that chiropractors specialise in the musculoskeletal and postural systems, not internal medicine.
Once they qualify, chiropractors must register with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and keep up with continuing professional development every single year.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Techniques
Many chiropractors go further than the standard qualification.
Some specialise in advanced methods such as:
• Advanced Biostructural Correction™ (ABC) – a structural approach focused on correcting misalignments the body can’t fix on its own
• Craniosacral therapy – gentle work often used with babies or neurological conditions
• Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) – focused on restoring spinal curves
• Functional neurology, paediatrics, sports chiropractic and more
These often require years of additional postgraduate study, giving chiropractors extra tools to work with more complex, long-standing, or neurological cases.
So… Are They Real Doctors?
Yes. But they’re not medical doctors.
They’re doctors in the same way dentists and optometrists are — professionals trained to doctorate level in a specific branch of healthcare.
They can’t prescribe antibiotics. But they can spot a serious health issue and refer you to the right specialist.
They’re fully qualified to:
• Take a full health history
• Perform orthopaedic and neurological exams
• Interpret diagnostic images
• Diagnose musculoskeletal and postural issues
• Treat and manage neuromusculoskeletal disorders (conditions involving nerves, muscles, and bones)
• And support your recovery without medication
Final Thought
If you’re seeing a chiropractor, you’re seeing a regulated, educated, and experienced healthcare professional who has spent years studying the way your body moves, functions, and holds itself up.
They’re not trying to be your GP.
They’re here to work with your body—not against it—and to help you feel, function, and move the way you were designed to.
So yes—chiropractors are real doctors.
Just not the kind who hand out prescriptions.
And depending on what you’re dealing with, that might be exactly what you need.
