Admissions Requirements

As a future chiropractor, your opportunities are limitless. Palmer College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Palmer’s doctor of chiropractic program is professionally accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education.

While each prospective student is considered on an individual basis, we have prerequisites that all students must meet.

Our admissions counselors would like the opportunity to discuss your qualifications to help you make an informed decision about attending Palmer College. Contact an Admissions Counselor or apply today.

Doctor of Chiropractic Program

• Minimum of 90 credit hours*
• 3.0 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale**
• 24 semester hours in life and physical sciences, half with labs
• Official transcript and favorable background check review
• A well-rounded general education includes required coursework in life and physical sciences; humanities; social and behavioral sciences; and communications and languages. Coursework in each of these domains may include:
  • Life sciences
    • Biology (human anatomy, physiology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, cellular biology, exercise physiology, kinesiology)
    • Chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology/pharmacology and nuclear medicine)

    Already have an undergraduate degree?

    Palmer values a diverse, broadly educated student body, and that’s why we consider applicants from all undergraduate majors. Some of these majors include:

    • Health disciplines: pre-medicine and pre-dentistry, as well as exercise physiology, athletic training, kinesiology, physical therapy, biology, nursing, health science and chemistry.
    • Other disciplines: psychology, marketing, anthropology, management, communications, mathematics, sociology, business, criminal justice, history, liberal studies, engineering, education and religion.
    • Still need science prerequisites? Our main campus in Davenport, Iowa offers science prerequisite options. Contact your admissions counselor for more details , and be sure to explore our D.C. Prep Fast Track program.

    Working on your undergraduate degree now?

    If you’re currently an undergraduate student and hope to join the Palmer family, we suggest course work that includes:

    • 24 semester credits of science, with half of the courses containing a lab component

    We suggest labs in:

    • Biology: human anatomy and physiology, general biology, embryology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, cellular biology, exercise physiology and kinesiology
    • Chemistry : general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology/pharmacology, nutrition and nuclear medicine
    • Physical sciences : physics, biomechanics and statistics
    • Students lacking 24 semester science credits have an option to take prerequisites on the main campus in Davenport, Iowa. Contact your admissions counselor for more details , and be sure to explore our D.C. Prep Fast Track program.

    Save time and tuition. Check out our B.S. Completion Program or our 3+1 and 2+2 agreements and see how you can save one year of time and tuition.

    How admissions guidelines are determined

    The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) sets the above admissions guidelines. The CCE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for the accreditation of programs and institutions offering the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Palmer also is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

    Bachelor of Science in general science – Main Campus

    At Palmer College of Chiropractic, you can finish your Bachelor’s degree while working toward your Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

    The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in General Science completion degree complements the D.C. degree. Your B.S. degree coursework will help to build a solid foundation for your future as a chiropractor.

    Admissions requirements:

    • Must have an equivalent of 45 college-level semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale
    • Must have applied to the Doctor of Chiropractic Program

    Degree completion requirements:

    120 credit hours which includes:

    • 90 credit hours of undergraduate courses from an institution or institutions accredited at the college level by an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
      • 60 credit hours freshman/sophomore level
      • 30 credit hours junior/senior level
      • No grade below a “C” (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) will be accepted

      Up to 15 credit hours may be granted from coursework in vocational/technical programs (transferable as freshman/sophomore level courses).

      Up to 20 credit hours of College Level Examination Program credit may be granted (transferable as freshman/sophomore level courses).

      Credit hours at a glance

      These are the minimum hours you must take by category:

      • Natural and Physical Sciences (24 credit hours) such as: biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, geology, and nutrition.
      • Humanities (6 credit hours) s uch as: literature, history, philosophy, art, theater, music, religion and physical education.
      • Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credit hours) Includes psychology, sociology, political science, business, economics, geography, anthropology and computer science.
      • Communication and Languages – 9 credit hours . Includes classical languages, foreign languages, English, communication and speech communication.
      • Mathematics – 3 credit hours . Includes algebra, physics, statistics, applied math and calculus.

      Other types of courses will be reviewed and considered for credit by the Undergraduate Program Oversight Committee.

      To learn more please contact the Undergraduate Studies Program by email or call 563-884-5867.

      Technical Standards

      The College seeks to prepare students to become competent, caring Doctors of Chiropractic who serve as primary care providers for the prevention, diagnosis and conservative management of health conditions. The academic, clinical, social and personal preparation for the practice of chiropractic requires both mental and physical abilities.

      There are certain abilities and characteristics which are defined as Technical Standards. Those standards, in conjunction with academic standards, are requirements for admission, promotion and graduation. Although these standards serve to focus upon the necessary physical and mental abilities of all students, they are not intended to deter any student for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum.

      *Students applying to Palmer Florida must have earned a Bachelor’s degree before the anticipated start date.

      **Applicants with less than 24 semester credits in life and physical sciences and/or a cumulative GPA less than 2.75 for degreed students and 3.0 for non-degreed students may be considered under an alternative-admissions track plan (AATP). This point of entry requires a more extensive review of the applicant’s enrollment factors by both academic and admissions personnel. Decisions for admission are made on a case-by-case basis.