Chiropractic School Admission Qualifications and Academic Standards

All students must meet both our academic standards and our technical standards in order to be admitted, progress through, and graduate from the College of Chiropractic. These qualifications assist you in progressing through the curriculum and clinical training in the doctor of chiropractic program.

Academic standards

Academic standards refer to acceptable demonstrations of competency in various disciplines, before admission and after, as judged by faculty members, examinations, and other measurements of performance.

For detailed information about academic standards, refer to the University Student Handbook.

Technical standards

Technical standards refer to the essential aptitudes and abilities that allow chiropractic students to perform in a modern healthcare environment in a variety of ways. Students must demonstrate the capacity/ability on their own, with reasonable accommodations, in these areas of competency:

• Perception/Observation – vision, hearing, tactile and proprioceptive abilities
• Communication – speaking, reading and writing
• Gross and Fine Motor Coordination
• Cognition – conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
• Professionalism, Behavioral and Social Attributes

To review the specific criteria for these areas of competency, refer to the Technical Standards Guide (pdf).

Accommodations
It is in the best interests of both the student and Northwestern to assess the degree of limitation caused by disability. However, Northwestern will make the final determination of whether or not an individual meets all qualifications for study at Northwestern. Northwestern’s accommodations process is found under Disability Services for Prospective Students. Questions regarding qualifications or accommodations should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs.