Chiropractic in the UK

Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health.
In the UK today, there are over 2,200 practicing chiropractors and the profession is growing year on year. Nearly all chiropractors work as private health care providers. Chiropractors provide more than 10,000,000 treatment visits every year to patients in the UK Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. It is the third largest doctoral-level health care profession after medicine and dentistry. (Meeker, Haldeman; 2002; Annals of Internal Medicine)

In common with medical practitioners and dentists, all chiropractors must be registered by law, under the Chiropractors Act 1994 and the title ‘Chiropractor’ is protected under this legislation. It is illegal to practise as a chiropractor in the UK if you not registered with the UK Government appointed regulator, The General Chiropractic Council (GCC). In order to register with the GCC on graduation, you must be qualified from a recognised place of chiropractic education; abide by the GCC’s code of practice, hold professional indemnity insurance and pass the necessary competence and criminal records checks*. Registration is renewed annually and chiropractors are also required to undertake a minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) per annum in order to complete their annual re‐registration.

Healthcare Professional Information

(BCA NHS Video originally aired on NHS digital channels)