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How to become a Chiropractor

Diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal problems, mainly of the spine, through manual adjustment.

Apply early

Selection programmes like this often close months before the standard application deadline, and marks alone don’t guarantee a place. See the Dates page for the exact closing dates.

What does a Chiropractor actually do?

More about this career

Treats back, neck and joint problems through hands-on spinal manipulation and other manual techniques, usually running an independent practice rather than working in a hospital. Registration with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) is required before you can practise.

Where this degree can take you

  • Physiotherapist
  • Biokineticist
  • Sports Rehabilitation Therapist
  • Osteopath

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Sciences
  • Life Sciences

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the programmes we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 2 of 2 programmes
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 2 of 2 programmes
  • Life Sciences – asked for by 2 of 2 programmes

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each programme links to the page it came from.

Programmes that lead here

2 programmes at 2 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Durban University of Technology

No cut-off publishedSelection programme

Bachelor of Health Sciences in Chiropractic

Health Sciences

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Two further 20-credit subjects (not more than one language).
  • Interview and fitness – Applicants must be over 17, physically fit and pass an interview after short-listing on Grade 11/12 results.

New row, read directly from DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus (dut-pass-3). DUT’s 2027 prospectus lists a Bachelor of Health Sciences with onward progression into the Master of Health Sciences in Chiropractic; the older "National Diploma: Chiropractic (Foundation Programme)" row has been removed in its favour. From DUT’s 2027 Study Opportunities prospectus. Applications go through the CAO (cao.ac.za), not directly to DUT; general closing date 30 September 2026 (fee R250 SA / R300 international).

Source: View the official page (dut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Johannesburg

Bachelor of Health Science in Chiropractic

Health Sciences · 4 years

UJ APS 28 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

Read from the 2027 UJ Undergraduate Prospectus, page 67, programme code B9C01Q. A selection process applies (questionnaire, two practitioner letters, interview); the Master of Health Sciences in Chiropractic is needed to register with the AHPCSA.

Source: View the official page (uj.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every programme above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?