Chiropractic assisting programs prepare people to work in chiropractic offices and clinics. Students learn to interview patients, make appointments, and keep records. They also learn limited radiology techniques and nutrition.

The use of medicine without, ahem, medicine has been growing steadily in the United States. To be more specific, natural and alternative remedies to "Western" medicine have become more commonplace. As a result, more people are seeking out chiropractors (in addition to acupuncturists and homeopaths). Chiropractors are a type of physician who believes that the human body has the natural power to heal itself without the interference of medication or surgery.

As the use of chiropractic medicine grows, so too will chiropractic practices. And just as doctors need assistants, so do chiropractors. If you're interested in the medical profession and want to pursue a nontraditional path, chiropractic assisting might be for you.

As a student in this program, you learn many of the same things that medical assistants do. You learn how to handle basic medical office responsibilities. You study medical insurance and billing policies. You also learn to do simple medical procedures. To do this, you must study medical terminology. In addition, most programs teach you how to perform simple X-rays and similar diagnostic tests. You may even learn some massage therapy. Because chiropractic medicine focuses on natural ways to heal, you also study nutrition.

A few schools offer programs in chiropractic assisting. You can earn either a certificate or an associate degree. Certificates usually take about one year of full-time study after high school, and associate degrees typically take two years.