Doctor of Chiropractic: What the Degree Means for Your Care

A doctor of chiropractic is a licensed clinician with a D.C. degree who treats musculoskeletal problems, mostly of the back, neck and joints, with hands-on care. It is a real doctoral degree with national board exams and a state license. At FIT Clinic in Colts Neck, that training starts with an exam before any plan.

Is a doctor of chiropractic a real degree?

Picture the framed diploma on the wall of a chiropractor’s office. That diploma is a real doctorate, and it is earned the long way. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says chiropractors must earn a D.C., a postgraduate degree that typically takes 4 years, plus a state license.

Programs are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education, as Life University’s program page shows. The NBCE reports that all 50 states accept or require its national exams, Parts I through IV, for licensure.

What does a doctor of chiropractic actually treat?

Most of what walks through the door is musculoskeletal. It is the back that seized while lifting groceries, the neck that stiffened after a week at the laptop, the joints, muscles and nerves that stopped working together. New Jersey’s board regulations build the practice around adjustment and manipulation of the spine.

The American College of Physicians guideline lists spinal manipulation among non-drug treatment options for low back pain, alongside exercise and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Read our approach in chiropractic care, explained.

Where did chiropractic start, and what has changed?

D.D. Palmer performed the first adjustment in Davenport, Iowa, in 1895, according to Palmer College. Methods have been argued over ever since.

Dr. Michael Brandon and I met in chiropractic school, as roommates in Fairfield, Connecticut. We kept a habit of testing, not loyalty to one technique. His view: “You don’t need to ‘crack’ or give that large adjustment to people.”

Is a chiropractor better than a physical therapist?

Neither is better. They are different healthcare professions with overlapping tools, like manual therapy and exercise, and the choice between them depends on the condition. If your pain changes with movement, either can assess it. If you just had surgery, follow your surgeon’s rehabilitation plan. If you feel unwell beyond the joints, start with medical doctors who can prescribe. And whoever you see, ask how they measure progress.

What happens at a first chiropractic visit at FIT Clinic?

The first visit starts the same way every time: with an exam, before any plan. Dr. Brandon tells new patients: “I explain the options and tell them I don’t actually know what they need yet — I need to go over the exam first.”

He starts from three questions: “What is their pain, where is their pain, and what motions or activities cause it.” FIT Lab, in our building, measures strength and recovery: an ARX strength baseline, grip strength, sit-to-rise, a 3D body-composition scan, a VO2 estimate and an HRV snapshot. If you aren’t testing, you’re guessing.

How do you check a chiropractor in Freehold or Colts Neck?

Before you trust anyone with your spine, check the license. The New Jersey State Board of Chiropractic Examiners licenses every chiropractor in the state, so Freehold and Colts Neck practices answer to the same board. Then ask what a new patient visit includes.

For Freehold patients, FIT Clinic is at 8 Merchants Way, by the corner of Route 34 and County Route 537, with parking in front and behind.

Frequently asked questions

Is a chiropractor a medical doctor?

No. A chiropractor holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, separate from the M.D., and questions about medicine or surgery belong with a physician. A good chiropractor says so. Dr. Brandon’s rule: “If I can’t be the one to help them, I want to at least put them in the right direction to find someone who can.”

Can a chiropractor take X-rays in New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey’s chiropractic regulations list taking and ordering X-rays within a licensee’s scope of practice. Imaging is a tool, not a default. At FIT Clinic the exam decides whether anything else is necessary, and our clinical team explains why in plain English first.

Do athletes see a doctor of chiropractic?

Many do, often after an injury. Dr. Brandon’s observation: “Athletes are usually much more motivated than the average person to get better.” The FIT Sports Evaluation is a 20-minute appointment with Dr. Michael Brandon, DC, or Jim Goetz, CSCS, covering the whole chain, the training week and sleep.

How many chiropractic visits will I need?

Nobody can say before the exam. Researchers are still studying it: NCCIH has funded research in veterans’ health care comparing 1 to 5 visits with 8 to 12 for low back pain. Your number depends on your findings and how you respond.

Does a chiropractic clinic offer stretching or nutrition services?

Some do, and FIT Clinic does. FIT Stretch is one-on-one assisted stretching that builds the strength to keep new range. A 45-minute nutrition consultation is available with Dr. Michael Brandon, DC, who holds a B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics and Sports Nutrition.

The Bottom Line

A doctor of chiropractic is a licensed clinician with a real doctoral degree. What matters is whether care starts with an exam. Know who you are seeing: confirm the license with the state board. Know what you are bringing: note what hurts, where, and which motions set it off, so you learn more from the exam. Know why it hurts: read Why Your Back Hurts on our site. Then book your exam at FIT Clinic, or call or text 848-301-1515.

Book your first visit at https://fitclinic.co/book/ — or call or text 848-301-1515.

FIT Clinic at Functionised — 8 Merchants Way, Colts Neck, NJ 07722.

Sources

• Chiropractors: Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Program Overview, Life University
• NBCE Exams, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• N.J. Admin. Code Tit. 13, ch. 44E, State Board of Chiropractic Examiners
• American College of Physicians issues guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain
• Spinal Manipulation: What You Need To Know, NCCIH
• Palmer College History, Palmer College of Chiropractic
• State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs