Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

The Work

Chiropractors diagnose, prevent and offer treatment for mechanical disorders or problems in the body's muscular-skeletal system that can adversely affect the nervous system and general health. While they work mainly on the spine, they also assess the whole body and can treat a wide variety of conditions including backache, sports injuries and headaches.  
 
The treatment chiropractors give is called manipulation. Using their hands, the chiropractor feels the patient's joints to find where the bones or tissues are out of line. They then manipulate the joints to adjust them back to their normal position.  
 
There are three types of chiropractic practice: Chiropractic, McTimoney Chiropractic, and McTimoney-Corley Chiropractic. The main differences are in the overall approach and in the techniques taught.  
 
Chiropractic is more mainstream medical in approach, while McTimoney Chiropractic and McTimoney-Corley Chiropractic have a more holistic (whole person) approach. All three 'schools' of chiropractic are committed to achieving the same professional standards of care.  
 
At a first consultation, the chiropractor discusses the client's problem and takes case notes. Then the chiropractor examines the client, perhaps asking them to stand and move in certain ways so that their posture can be observed. If appropriate, the chiropractor will either take X-rays or refer the patient to have X-rays done (not all chiropractors take X-rays).  
 
Another part of the examination is done by the chiropractor feeling the joints of the patient's spine and/or other parts of the body. The purpose of the examination is to assess the problem and identify the part of the body that is causing it.  
 
Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, so the treatment is totally through the use of their own hands. Depending on the type of chiropractic used, the manipulation of the client's joints will be with a combination of large and small movements (Chiropractic) or almost wholly by small, swift 'flicks' of the hand against the joints (McTimoney and McTimoney-Corley Chiropractic).  
 
The work can be physically tiring, especially in making a lot of home visits. It may also be emotionally testing, as chiropractors need to listen carefully to patients and help to dispel their anxieties.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
• Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
• Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
• Obtain and record patients' medical histories.
• Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
• Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
• Analyse x-rays to locate the sources of patients' difficulties and to rule out fractures or diseases as sources of problems.
• Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
• Consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary.
• Recommend and arrange for diagnostic procedures, such as blood chemistry tests, saliva tests, x-rays, or other imaging procedures.

Further Information

• Chiropractor - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Chiropractor - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

There are no chiropractic courses in Ireland. Students may study a 4/5-year course in either England or Wales. Following college, students are required to spend one year working and training under a practicing chiropractor that has held his/her license for five years or more. This training can be completed in Ireland.  

Training & Development

Study abroad Chriopractic studies UK, Europe and further study Search Chiropractic courses

Professional Development 
 
At the moment there is no national regulatory system for chiropractors in Ireland but only chiropractors with internationally recognized qualifications can join:

The Chiropractic Association of Ireland (CAI) Irelands voluntary, self-regulatory body.

Accreditation of the European Council on Chiropractic Education

Council for Chiropractic Education International (CCEI)

Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €100k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Salary expert/Indeed / Payscale/ Salary explorer

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average for therapy professionals, with levels in 2022 remaining below that of 2020. Although LFS data does not allow for a detailed breakdown of employment in this group, Census data for 2016 and 2022 shows detailed employment as follows.

Despite the lack of overall employment growth in recent years, issues with recruitment resulted in a number of therapist roles (occupational, physiotherapists and speech and language) being added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List in June 2022. A total of 53 new permits were issued in 2022, primarily for physiotherapists with a small number for occupational and speech & language therapists.

The delivery of the Sláintecare report, particularly in terms of community care and mental health services, will require additional staffing in these occupations and, while a combined total of 100 additional training places are planned for occupational, physio, and speech/language therapists in Ireland and Northern Ireland’s education system, given the duration of training programmes, recruitment difficulties for these posts are unlikely to ease in the short-to-medium term. However, as employment levels are not increasing and the data does not allow for detailed analysis, it is not possible to determine if shortages exist for this occupation at present.

• Chiropractic Association of Ireland

  • 39 Clonard Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin
  • 087 392 4275
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• General Chiropractic Council

  • 44 Wicklow St, London, WC1X 9HL
  • + 44 (0)20 7713 5155
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here