Gaining professional registration as a chiropractor in Canada

16 October 2023

How do you become a chiropractor?

doctor looking at x-ray
Learn how you can study chiropractic

Like Canada, few post-secondary institutions in Australia offer chiropractic programs.

The Master of Chiropractic degree granted by Macquarie University is the only graduate chiropractic program offered in Australia. It’s been accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (CCEA), a member of the Councils on Chiropractic Education International (CCEI), making it recognized by the Canadian Chiropractic Examination Board (CCEB) for the purposes of seeking to practice chiropractic in Canada.

If you wish to gain qualifications leading to professional registration as a chiropractor in Canada or Australia, you must undertake a recognized program of study.

Macquarie’s undergraduate-to-graduate pathway program (the 5-year Bachelor of Chiropractic Science + Master of Chiropractic) and Macquarie’s graduate-entry program (3-year Master of Chiropractic) both meet this requirement. Those without a strong background in human systems should consider the undergraduate pathway program.

Macquarie’s program structure involves completion of the Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and/or completion of the Master of Chiropractic. Combined, these two degrees taken more than five years and are equivalent to the Doctor of Chiropractic offered at other institutions; therefore, graduates will be eligible to write the board’s licensing exam, which is required in order to be granted a license to practice in Canada. Students undertake 12 months of clinical practice at one of the university’s three chiropractic clinics prior to graduation.

Step #1 Complete Education

Complete a graduate chiropractic program approved by a CCEI member council to be considered equivalent to a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

Step #2 Canadian Chiropractic Examination Board (CCEB) Certificate 

The CCEB has updated its process (October 2023). Candidates must complete 1 written and 1 clinical examination. There will still be 3 exam administrations per year. You must pass the Written Examination before being eligible to apply for the Clinical Examination.

The written portion comprises standard multiple-choice items and case-based items. The clinical portion has been expanded to include additional stations reflecting the new competencies.

All candidates have a total of 4 years (and 4 attempts) to successfully complete all their required examinations. The new Written Examination will be offered in February 2024. The new Clinical Examination will be offered in May 2024.

There is no delay to candidates on their journey towards a CCEB certificate given the integration of the written elements of the examination in alignment with the new competencies. Candidates who have started their journey with the CCEB (have taken an examination) prior to October 2023 will be given a final attempt at completing in the existing examination format prior to being moved into the new examination format. Here’s what you can expect:

February 2024 (restrictions)
New Written Exam

  • All first-time writers of a written CCEB exam
  • All Component A repeat writers
  • Repeat writers of Component B on their third or fourth attempt

Component B

  • First-time repeat writers only
  • Final administration of existing format

Component C

  • No restrictions – first-time and repeat attempts
  • Final administration of existing format

May 2024 (full implementation of new exam)
New Written Exam

  • First-time and repeat writers
  • New Clinical Exam (OSCE): First-time and repeat attempts

Step #3 Provincial Registration

Provide your CCEB Certificate to the regulatory board for the province you intend to practice to become licensed.

About Macquarie University Chiropractic Programs

Macquarie offers a professional chiropractic program that attracts a number of Canadians who have completed an undergraduate degree in a related field. The Master of Chiropractic degree offered at the Macquarie Chiropractic School is comparable to Doctor of Chiropractic programs at chiropractic schools in Canada and in the United States.

Benefits of studying chiropractic at Macquarie University:

  • Smaller class ratio at approximately 1:10–12
  • Macquarie has a 99% employment rate within 6 months for domestic and international students
  • 3-year degree (master’s only), with internship

Program: Master of Chiropractic
Semester intake: February
Duration: 3 years
Application deadline: Rolling admissions. Applications close when the program is filled. You’re encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Pathway program

If you don’t have a strong background in human systems, you may want to consider the pathway program, the Bachelor of Chiropractic Science. Combined with the Master of Chiropractic, this will qualify you to practice as a chiropractor in Australia or Canada. The total duration for the Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and Master of Chiropractic is 5 years and includes an internship.

Program: Bachelor of Chiropractic Science
Semester intake: February
Duration: 3 years (Master of Chiropractic is only 2 years after graduating from Bachelor of Chiropractic Science; 3 + 2 years.)
Application deadline: Rolling admissions. Applications close when the program is filled. You’re encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Start your application to Macquarie Chiropractic School!

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Would you like more information about Macquarie chiropractic degrees? Contact OzTREKK’s chiropractic admissions officer at rehabsci@oztrekk.com or call toll free in Canada at 1-866-698-7355.

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