Chiropractic Assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks under the direct supervision a Chiropractor in a health care setting. Their clinical responsibilities include obtaining patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature etc., explaining treatment procedures, escorting patients, taking X-rays, maintaining equipments so on an so forth. Administrative duties may include responding to patient’s queries, scheduling appointments, maintaining patients’ check in and checkout, recording medical histories, calculating billing, attending phone calls, assisting in insurance claims etc.

Chiropractic Assistants work under a licensed chiropractor in variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, residential care facilities, rehabilitation facilities etc. They may have to work on day or night shifts as well as in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become a Chiropractic Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to earn at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The students can hold a two-year associate’s degree program in chiropractic technology for better job prospects in this field. Most of the employers in USA, however, prefer candidates with previous experience in a medical or chiropractic environment for these professionals.

Chiropractic Assistants study the coursework of medical terminology human anatomy, biology, physiology, billing, office management, insurance processing etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since many states of USA require a Chiropractic Assistant to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The candidates can also obtain certification from the state’s Chiropractic Examiners Board.

Skill Set

Chiropractic Assistants possess various traits such as empathy towards patient, detail oriented, high medical ethics, a great deal of physical stamina to stand for long duration, ability to assist the patients emotionally and physically, familiarity with patient care and customer service, ability to perform multitask job simultaneously, effective verbal and written communication skills, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Chiropractic Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 29% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Chiropractic Assistant was $29,370 in May 2012.