Guidance for students

While studying chiropractic, a student's primary relationship will be with their education provider. However, the GCC has recognised its chiropractic degree programme and will maintain regular contact with the provider through its annual course monitoring process. 

The GCC has published a Student Engagement Strategy, which provides information to students about the Council, which aims to have relevant, timely contact with the student chiropractic community.  

As the UK's chiropractic regulator, the GCC welcomes all comments, concerns or queries about working as a chiropractor in the UK. You can contact us at any time by emailing us at education@gcc-uk.org.

We have produced comprehensive guidance for chiropractic students on being fit to practise. It provides information about the standards of professional and personal behaviour that we expect of those training to become a chiropractor. 

Our guidance, called Professionalism in Action, covers the following key topics:

• The role of the General Chiropractic Council
• What student fitness to practise means
• Standards expected in initial training
• What is student professionalism
• Professional boundaries
• Learning to act professionally
• Expected actions and behaviours
• Support to practise professionally
• Information for students with health conditions or disabilities
• Factors that may affect performance
• Seeking help
• Concerns about another student or member of staff
• Advice for students if fitness to practise is questioned
• Registration following qualification.

It is also important that students familiarise themselves with, and adhere to, the standards we set out in the Code from day one of their training.

We hope our guidance is useful. If you think we can improve it or you have any additional comments about the document, please do share them by email to education@gcc-uk.org

Individuals who have successfully graduated from a recognised chiropractic degree programme are eligible to register with us.

You need to do this in order to practise chiropractic lawfully in the UK.

To find out what will be expected of you once you register with us, you can take a look at the Code.

Find out more about registration here.

Did you know?

• 95% of chiropractic students find employment within 6 months

Source: British Chiropractic Association

A career in chiropractic offers many opportunities – from private practice or NHS work, to research and academia.

Visit the National Careers Service to find out more.

You may also wish to look at the websites of the professional associations we work alongside, as well as the Royal College of Chiropractors, for more information:

• British Chiropractic Association
• McTimoney Chiropractic Association
• Scottish Chiropractic Association
• United Chiropractic Association

More general information on careers is also available here.

Professionalism in Action: Student Fitness to Practice Guidance

Principles on students acting as models for other students of the same or different sexes

Supervision and delegation in chiropractic undergraduate education: where does the responsibility lie if complaints are made?

Advice on student clinical placements (2019)

Student Engagement Strategy