Chiropractic Degree & Career Guide

Requirements for States

Guide to becoming a chiropractor in Washington

chiropractor adjusts clients neck and top of spine

If you’re thinking of becoming a chiropractor in the Evergreen State, it’s important to do your research to find out exactly what’s required before you start helping patients. The requirements to get licensed as a chiropractor in Washington are fairly similar to most other states but do include a few small differences to be aware of.

In This Article

WA Requirements
Legal Considerations

Working as a WA chiropractor
Resources

Requirements to be a chiropractor in Washington

The Washington State Department of Health states that in order for someone to be licensed as a chiropractor in Washington—and is applying for a chiropractic license for the very first time—they must satisfy the following:

Complete at least half of the requirements of a bachelor’s degree (about two years of undergraduate education)
Graduate from an accredited college approved by the state’s Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission
Pass Parts I-IV exams administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE)
Pass the state jurisprudence exam
Submit a letter of recommendation
Submit the application and pay the appropriate fee

Education requirements

Like chiropractors everywhere, Washington chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree in order to practice. The program must consist of at least 4,000 hours of classroom instruction and be approved by the state’s Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission. DC programs typically take about three to four years to complete.

In order to be admitted to a DC program, you need to complete some undergraduate college education beforehand. Each program’s admission requirements are unique, with most either requiring applicants to have a bachelor’s degree or simply have a certain number of undergraduate credits in the health sciences.

In Washington, chiropractors must complete at least one half of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Since this is usually necessary to even be admitted into DC programs, it’s not really a requirement that demands any special consideration. Most people applying to DC programs already have a bachelor’s degree in biology, kinesiology, health sciences or something similar.

Chiropractic exam and licensing requirements

Washington chiropractors must pass Parts I through IV of the NBCE exams. Each exam is sequential, but they aren’t meant to be completed all at once. DC students can take Part I as early as their second year of chiropractic school, for example.

On top of those exams, Washington chiropractors also have to take the state jurisprudence exam before they can get licensed. Once you submit your application for licensure, you are mailed the open-book exam which must be completed and returned to the Commission within 30 days. This exam tests applicants on the state laws and regulations relevant to the chiropractic profession.

Continuing education requirements

Washington chiropractors must complete 25 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. When you apply for a license renewal, you must provide evidence of the CE you’ve completed during the most recent renewal period.

If you’ve only had your chiropractor license for less than a year, you don’t have to submit CE hours on your first renewal.

Legal considerations for Washington chiropractors

Out-of-state transferability

For chiropractors licensed elsewhere, you’ll still need a Washington chiropractor license in order to practice in the state. Luckily, the Commission has determined that the licensing requirements for all U.S. states or territories, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are substantially equivalent.

You’ll still have to submit an application that includes proof of your existing licenses(s), a letter of recommendation and be able to attest that you have been engaged in the full-time practice of chiropractic or have taught general clinical chiropractic subjects at an accredited school of chiropractic.

Scope of practice

You can find information about the scope of practice of chiropractors in Washington in Title 18, Chapter 18.25 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). It begins with defining chiropractic as:

“Chiropractic is the practice of health care that deals with the diagnosis or analysis and care or treatment of the vertebral subluxation complex and its effects, articular dysfunction, and musculoskeletal disorders, all for the restoration and maintenance of health and recognizing the recuperative powers of the body.”

More information about chiropractors’ scope of practice can be found in Chapter 18.25 as well as Chapter 246-808 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

Professional conduct and ethical guidelines

Both Title 18, Chapter 18.25 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Chapter 246-808 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) contain extensive information about professional conduct and ethical standards for chiropractors, including disciplinary procedures if these standards are violated.

Liability insurance requirements

Chiropractors should obtain professional liability and malpractice insurance to protect themselves and their business. Professional organizations such as the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) often offer discounts on insurance for members.

Working as a chiropractor in Washington

Washington can be an excellent state for chiropractors to work in. A bustling wellness culture and health-conscious lifestyle—especially in the greater Seattle area—emphasizes a growing demand for alternative and drugless medical treatments like chiropractic services. Plus, chiropractic services are covered under the state’s Medicaid insurance plan known as Apple Health, making them more accessible to many low-income families.

Chiropractor salary in Washington

The median annual salary for chiropractors in Washington state is $93,730 according to the 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Although this is right on par with the national median, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area has the highest median annual wage in the state at $82,280.

Keep in mind however that the BLS does not track data for all self-employed workers, which can include some chiropractors that run their own private practice.

Chiropractors

10%$39,900

25%$63,400

50%$93,730Median

75%$111,810

90%$122,750

Median Hourly Wage$45

Job growth9.5%

Total Employment970

Metro area	Median Salary	Bottom 10%	Top 10%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$99,490	$43,830	$125,210
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$82,390	$42,550	$119,840
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	$81,430	$39,590	$105,200
Kennewick-Richland, WA	$79,100	$35,990	$120,700

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

Job outlook and finding employment opportunities

The BLS estimates that the employment of chiropractors will grow 9.5% through 2034, which is faster than the average across all occupations. Part of this growth may be attributed to an increasing demand for alternative medical treatments, and which is reflected by the fact that most health insurance plans today cover chiropractic care to some extent.

The BLS also notes that the continued aging of a large baby boom population means that these older adults—who are more prone to musculoskeletal and joint problems—are more likely to seek out chiropractic services over time.

Most chiropractors work in healthcare offices such private chiropractic practices. They may also work in offices with other healthcare providers like physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists and more. They could also work in multidisciplinary offices with other complementary and alternative practitioners including acupuncturists, massage therapists, or holistic health practitioners.

Setting up a private practice

Starting your own private practice is a huge decision. Not only does this require a significant initial financial investment, but you’ll be in charge of a heap of administrative responsibilities you wouldn’t otherwise worry about if you work for someone else, including making sure you and your employees get paid, paying rent, making sure your business follows all relevant rules and regulations and marketing your business to build a consistent client base.

You’ll need to obtain a business license in order to open a private practice. Business licenses may be issued by your city, county or both.

Resources for staying up to date on industry trends and developments

Check out some of the most relevant professional organizations within the industry to learn more about the chiropractic profession and how to become a chiropractor in Washington:

Refer to the Washington State Department of Health and its Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission for information about the licensure of chiropractors within the state.

The Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) is the only professional membership organization for chiropractors in the state. Members receive numerous benefits including access to various networking events, discounted CE classes and more.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the country. Their mission is to provide professional resources to professionals, lobby for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, support chiropractic research and more.

Chiropractic Economics is a publication devoted to the professional practice of chiropractors. Their print magazine and online articles cover many different topics including chiropractic industry news, research, business resources and more.

Final say

Whether you’re a current resident of Washington or one of the tens of thousands of people migrating there every year, you need to heed the state’s licensure requirements before you can begin working as a chiropractor. The right education is the first step above all else, which includes sufficient undergraduate credits followed by a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. From there, you need to pass the national licensing exam as well as the state’s jurisprudence exam.

No matter where you are in your chiropractic career journey, take some time to familiarize yourself with the state’s chiropractic laws and regulations so that you can start helping heal patients as soon as possible.