DC vs. MD: Two Different Paths to “Doctor”

Both chiropractors (DCs) and medical doctors (MDs) are licensed doctors.
They just train differently and focus on different problems.

This page breaks that down.

The Core Difference

DCs are specialistsin the spine, nervous system, and musculoskeletal function.
MDs are broad-scope physicians trained across disease, medication, and surgery.

Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)

4-year doctoral program
~4,200 total training hours
Education is heavily focused on:

DCs are trained as focused specialists from the start.

Medical Doctor (MD)

4 years of medical school
4,000+ total training hours
Multi-year Residency
Broad training across:

MDs train broad first, then specialize later if needed.

Scope of Focus

What Chiropractors Focus On

Spine and joint mechanics

Nervous system function

Movement, alignment, and stability

Non-invasive, drug-free care

Long-term functional improvement

What Medical Doctors Focus On

Diagnosing disease

Managing systemic illness

Prescribing medication

Performing surgery

Acute and emergency care

DC vs. MD: Visual Breakdown

This short video walks through the training paths and care focus side-by-side so you can see how each role fits into real-world healthcare decisions.

Years of Experience

0 +

So… Which One Do You Need?

That depends on the problem.