Doctor of Chiropractic
Program Accreditation
Doctor of Chiropractic Program Accreditation and State Approval
The Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at Southern California University of Health Sciences Los Angeles College of Chiropractic is awarded programmatic accreditation by The Council on Chiropractic Education, 10105 E. Via Linda, Suite 103 3642, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258-4321, Phone: (480) 443-8877, Website: www.cce-usa.org.
The Doctor of Chiropractic Program of the Southern California University of Health Sciences is also approved by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
National Examination Performance
Successful completion of Parts I, II, III, and IV of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exams is necessary to become licensed in almost all U.S. licensing jurisdictions. LACC students perform exceptionally well on those exams, as demonstrated in the table below and the program has consistently surpassed the Council on Chiropractic Education threshold of 80%.
Successful Completion of NBCE Licensing Exams by Six Months After Graduation
The table reports the number of students who graduated in each of the last four calendar years and the percentage of those who passed all parts of the NBCE licensing exams within six months of graduation.
Licensing Exam Success Rates
| Calendar Year (Last 4 years) |
Number of Graduates |
Number of Graduates Passing All Parts of licensing exams* or are licensed to practice chiropractic, within six (6) months post-graduation |
Percentage of Graduates Passing All Parts of licensing exams* or are licensed to practice chiropractic, within six (6) months post-graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 81 | 70 | 86% |
| 2021 | 120 | 97 | 81% |
| 2022 | 140 | 128 | 91% |
| 2023 | 150 | 122 | 81% |
| Total | 491 | 417 | 85% |
*NBCE Parts I, II, III, and IV or CCEB Components A, B, and C
Licensure
In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (LACC) at SCU provides information pertaining to professional licensure for the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Students should refer to the information below and contact the appropriate licensing board to ensure they will meet the licensure requirements in the state(s) in which they intend to practice upon graduation. LACC’s Doctor of Chiropractic program meets the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Some states have requirements in addition to educational requirements. Prospective and enrolled students are encouraged to research licensure requirements for the state in which they intend to practice. Licensure requirements vary from state to state.
Neither acceptance for admission into the program nor the subsequent earning of a Doctor of Chiropractic degree guarantees that a state or foreign country will grant a graduate a license to practice chiropractic. Each state and foreign country, through its legislative and administrative process, defines the standards of competency and scope of practice of chiropractic within its jurisdiction. For further information on each of the jurisdictions, please visit the Official Directory of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board.
Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although SCU will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the licensing agency to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice. Additionally, while progressing through the program, we recommend that you check licensing agency requirements regularly to monitor whether they have changed in a manner that impacts your licensure plans.
The following states require students to have a bachelor’s degree, in addition to a D.C. degree, to obtain a license:
| Curriculum Meets Licensure Requirements |
Curriculum Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements |
Unknown/Cannot Be Confirmed as Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island*, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia*, Wisconsin |
None |
In states above indicated with an asterisk (*) students must have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculating into the D.C. program.
State Licensure and Pre-chiropractic Education Requirement Resources:
All international students are strongly encouraged to check the credentialing requirements in the country where they intend to practice.
Graduation Rates
The following table provides the overall average of the two most recent year’s graduation rates, calculated at 150% of the normal completion time. LACC graduation rates have been consistently above the Council on Chiropractic Education threshold of 70%.
DC Degree Completion Rates
| Southern California University of Health Sciences; Los Angeles College of Chiropractic | ||||
| Normal Length of Program: 10 Trimesters | ||||
| Entrance Term |
# of Students Matriculated in Entrance Term |
Term 15 Trimesters after Entrance Term |
# Students in Column A that graduated by Term in Column C |
Completion Rate at the 150th Percentile |
| Fall 2017 | 80 | Summer 2022 | 71 | 88.8% |
| Spring 2018 | 43 | Fall 2022 | 40 | 93.0% |
| Summer 2018 | 0 | Spring 2023 | 0 | N/A |
| Fall 2018 | 100 | Summer 2023 | 91 | 91.0% |
| Spring 2019 | 56 | Fall 2023 | 50 | 89.3% |
| Summer 2019 | 0 | Spring 2024 | 0 | N/A |
| 2-YR TOTAL | 279 | 252 | 90.3% | |
Additional graduation and retention rate information is available on our Student Achievement page. These rates above may differ slightly from the DC Graduation Rates Table because the Completion Rates Table includes transfer students.
FAQs
The Doctor of Chiropractic program typically takes 10 trimesters (approximately 3 years and 4 months) to complete on a full-time basis. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education and clinical training required to become competent chiropractic practitioners.
Yes, SCU provides various financial aid options and scholarships to eligible students. These may include federal grants and loans, institutional scholarships, work-study programs, and external scholarships. Please contact the Financial Aid office at financialaid@test.scuhs.edu for detailed information about the available financial assistance opportunities and the application process.
SCU offers a unique sports medicine emphasis for students in the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program. You may provide care for all levels of athletes, from high school to world-class professionals. Opportunities include exclusive, integrated sports medicine experiences. You will receive a Certificate of Completion if you complete the Sports Medicine Emphasis. The emphasis is noted on the transcript.
Yes, SCU offers career services and support for graduates transitioning into the professional workforce. The university’s career services department provides resources such as job search assistance, resume building, interview preparation, and networking opportunities. Alumni may also have access to a network of SCU graduates and professionals in the chiropractic field, which can be valuable for career guidance and opportunities.
Yes. SCU offers a variety of scholarships for incoming Doctor of Chiropractic students. These include:
- LACC Dean’s Merit Scholarship: $15,000 awarded over 10 terms for students with a GPA of 3.6 or higher.
- LACC Out-of-State Scholarship: $10,000 for students residing outside California, awarded over 10 terms, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Relocation Scholarship: $5,000 to assist with housing for students relocating from outside California or beyond commuting distance.
Yes. Students from Canada may be eligible for the Canadian Scholarship, offering a 20% tuition discount for F-1 Visa Canadian students enrolled in the Doctor of Chiropractic program. This can be combined with the Relocation Scholarship but not with the Dean’s Merit or Out-of-State Scholarships.