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If you've ever searched for "chiropracticor" or "how to be an eye doctor," you might assume these two careers have nothing in common. One works with the spine; the other works with the eyes. But I've spent years helping job seekers on healthcareers.app navigate healthcare career decisions, and I can tell you that chiropractic and optometric careers share a surprisingly similar structure: doctoral-level education, independent practice potential, a strong patient-relationship focus, and growing demand driven by an aging population. This post is for anyone weighing these two paths—or simply curious about what each one really involves, from the medical job test requirements to daily clinical life.
A chiropractor—sometimes misspelled as "chiropracticor"—is a licensed healthcare provider who diagnoses and treats neuromuscular disorders, primarily through manual adjustment and manipulation of the spine. But the scope of modern chiropractic care goes well beyond back cracking. Today's chiropractors may offer soft-tissue therapy, rehabilitative exercises, ergonomic counseling, and nutritional guidance. Many specialize in sports medicine, pediatric care, or geriatric wellness.
Chiropractors are classified as physicians in many states, though their prescribing authority is limited compared to MDs or DOs. They're trained to identify red flags that warrant referral to other specialists—a critical skill that underscores their role as primary-contact providers.
The term "eye doctor" typically refers to one of two roles: an optometrist (O.D.) or an ophthalmologist (M.D. or D.O.). Since most people searching "how to be an eye doctor" are thinking about optometry—the non-surgical path that requires a Doctor of Optometry degree rather than medical school and residency—I'll focus primarily on optometrists here, with notes on how ophthalmology differs.
Ophthalmologists, by contrast, complete medical school and a surgical residency, allowing them to perform procedures like cataract surgery and LASIK. If your goal is surgery, ophthalmology is the route. If your goal is primary eye care with strong patient relationships, optometry is often the better fit.
One of the most revealing comparisons between a chiropractor and an eye doctor is how their educational pipelines mirror each other. Both require a bachelor's degree (typically with heavy science prerequisites), a competitive admissions process, and four years of doctoral-level study. Let me break it down.
The parallels are striking. Both careers demand roughly eight years of post-secondary education, a high-stakes board examination process, and lifelong commitment to continuing education. Neither career takes shortcuts.
I frequently hear from job seekers who underestimate the examination gauntlet required for either path. The phrase "medical job test" can mean different things depending on the career, but for chiropractors and optometrists, board exams are the defining gatekeeping mechanism.
The NBCE series consists of four parts. Parts I and II cover foundational and clinical sciences. Part III tests diagnostic imaging interpretation. Part IV is a practical exam assessing hands-on clinical competency, including spinal adjustments on standardized patients. Many candidates spend months preparing using board review courses and practice exams.
The NBEO series also has multiple parts. Part I (Applied Basic Science) and Part II (Patient Assessment and Management) are written exams. Part III (the Clinical Skills Examination) is a live, standardized-patient test where candidates must demonstrate examination techniques and clinical decision-making in real time. Failure rates on any of these parts are non-trivial, and retake policies can delay careers by months.
If you're exploring either career, I'd encourage you to factor exam preparation—both the cost and the time—into your planning. Consider it a full-time project in your final year of school.
I won't fabricate specific salary figures, but I can share directional trends that the Bureau of Labor Statistics and professional associations consistently report.
The BLS projects faster-than-average job growth for chiropractors over the coming decade, driven by increasing public interest in non-invasive, drug-free pain management. Earnings vary widely based on geography, practice ownership, and specialization. Urban solo practitioners often earn differently from chiropractors employed in multidisciplinary clinics or hospital systems. Practice ownership can dramatically increase income but also involves business risk.
Optometrists also enjoy strong demand, with the BLS projecting above-average growth fueled by an aging population's rising need for vision care. Sources such as the American Optometric Association note that scope-of-practice expansions in several states are opening new clinical opportunities for O.D.s. Compensation is generally strong, though it varies by setting—private practice, retail optometry chains, hospital-based clinics, and academic positions each offer different earning structures.
Both careers reward entrepreneurial professionals. Owning a practice typically increases earning potential in either field, though it comes with the responsibilities of managing staff, billing, and overhead.
One reason I love discussing these two careers together is that both offer something increasingly rare in healthcare: predictable schedules with minimal overnight or weekend work. Emergency calls are uncommon for chiropractors and optometrists alike. Most maintain weekday office hours with occasional Saturday clinics.
Both careers also offer telehealth potential, though it's more developed in optometry through remote retinal screening and virtual vision assessments. Chiropractic telehealth is growing in the areas of patient education and follow-up consultations.
If you're torn between becoming a chiropractor and becoming an eye doctor—or if you're simply comparing these to other healthcare careers—I recommend reflecting on a few questions:
Yes. A chiropractor earns a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited institution and must pass national board exams—a rigorous medical job test—before receiving state licensure. While their scope of practice differs from medical doctors, they are recognized as licensed healthcare providers in all 50 states. The term "chiropracticor" is a common misspelling of chiropractor, but the credentials and training behind the title are serious and well-established.
If you're pursuing optometry, expect about eight years of education after high school: four years of undergraduate study plus four years in an accredited Doctor of Optometry program. If you're asking how to be an eye doctor who performs surgery (ophthalmologist), add four years of medical school plus a three- to four-year residency, totaling roughly 12 years. Both paths require passing comprehensive licensing exams.
Chiropractors take the NBCE exam series (four parts covering basic sciences, clinical sciences, diagnostic imaging, and practical skills). Optometrists take the NBEO exam series, which includes written components and a live clinical skills examination. Both are multi-day, high-stakes board examinations that serve as the primary gateway to professional licensure.
Chiropractors generally cannot prescribe pharmaceutical medications, though a few states allow limited prescribing rights. Optometrists can prescribe diagnostic and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents in all 50 states, though the specific scope varies. This is one of the more significant practical differences between the two careers.
Both careers show strong, above-average projected job growth according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chiropractors benefit from growing acceptance of non-pharmacological pain management. Optometrists benefit from an aging population and expanding scope-of-practice legislation. Neither field is expected to contract in the foreseeable future, making both solid long-term choices.
Whether you're researching how to become a chiropractor, exploring how to be an eye doctor, or simply trying to understand what each medical job test involves, I hope this comparison has illuminated more similarities than you expected. Both careers demand doctoral-level training, both offer autonomy and entrepreneurial potential, and both are positioned for strong demand in the years ahead. At healthcareers.app, we built our platform to help you explore these kinds of nuanced career decisions with real information—not just surface-level overviews. Whatever path you choose, know that both chiropractic and optometry offer deeply rewarding ways to improve patients' lives, one visit at a time.
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