Looking for a career adjustment? Dr. Chris Shoff, who shares a chiropractic practice with his dad in Albert Lea, Minnesota, says now is a great time to become a chiropractor. "It's a burgeoning profession because medical doctors are starting to see chiropractors as part of the health care team," explains Dr. Shoff. "We're being recognized more and more everyday."

And, they are also in high demand, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports that employment of chiropractors is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 as consumer demand for alternative health care grows.

Read on to learn the real deal about chiropractic schools and what it takes to become a chiropractor.

Myth 1: Chiropractic Schools are Easy To Get Into

That's simply not the case, says Dr. Shoff, who chose to attend Logan College, just outside of St. Louis, from the 17 chiropractic schools in the United States accredited by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. At Logan, he explains, applicants must have completed a minimum of three years undergraduate work, including courses in chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and other hard core science courses. Dr. Shoff had already graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of science degree in human biology when he applied.

Myth 2: Chiropractic Colleges Don't Teach Real Medical Knowledge

Once accepted to chiropractic schools, aspiring chiropractors are in for an intense program, heavy on both science and hands-on practical skills. Dr. Shoff took three years and four months to complete Logan's program at a full-time, year-round pace of 27 or so credits per semester. Coursework at chiropractic colleges includes lecture classes in areas like anatomy and biochemistry, lots of lab work, hands-on adjusting and diagnosis classes, and more. In fact, according to the BLS, chiropractic programs require a minimum of 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience.

In addition, students at chiropractic schools get a taste for the profession by actually treating patients while still in school. "In the seventh semester, we worked under a licensed chiropractor treating students in the college," says Dr. Shoff. "By semester eight, we worked in an outpatient clinic under a licensed chiropractor."

Myth 3: Once you finish coursework at chiropractic colleges, you're a chiropractor.

Not so. In fact, you'll have to pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) tests, which consists of four parts. Additional requirements vary by state, but you'll most likely have to also pass a PT (physiotherapy) exam, and possibly an acupunture exam before you can earn your state license. Dr. Shoff says he was able to take one part at a time as he completed corresponding courses at Logan. After taking the final part during his last semester, he began the state license application process. Dr. Shoff became licensed about a month after he completed chiropractic school.

Myth 4: Chiropractors are just wannabe doctors.

Given the amount of education and training required via chiropractic schools, plus the complexity of the licensing exam, it's safe to say that chiropractors work and study very hard to break into the field. And, for Dr. Shoff, the payoff of getting to help people is certainly worth it.

"It's a wonderful profession. You can practice privately or do research or education. The practice is only limited by the individual," he says.

And as for the stigma that might have once existed toward chiropractic? Dr. Shoff shares this: "There's one particular family physician that I get two or three referrals from a week. My dad graduated [chiropractic college] in 1950, and that's probably more than he got in 45 years."