Our Ever-Changing Profession

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) conducts its comprehensive Practice Analysis of Chiropractic survey every five years to ensure licensing exams are up-to-date. The recently released 2025 findings offer a compelling look at how the profession is evolving. Significant shifts are apparent since the first analysis in 1991, including substantial moves towards greater gender balance and increased racial and ethnic diversity within the profession. DCs are also staying in practice longer. Comparing 2025 to 2020 data reveals important trends: a noticeable drop in doctors practicing as sole proprietors (now 55%, down from 64%) and an increase in those working as associates or employees. The survey also found a decrease in the percentage of offices offering in-office diagnostic imaging. New data for 2025 highlights economic realities, showing that two-thirds of DCs earn over $100,000 per year, with 20% earning more than $250,000. Practice settings are diversifying, with less than half of DCs working in single-doctor offices and a growing number in multi-DC or multidisciplinary facilities. Patient volume remains high, with nearly three-quarters of DCs seeing at least 50 patients weekly. This analysis paints a picture of a dynamic profession adapting to changing demographics, business models, and economic landscapes.