Career Pathways

Post-Registration Training (PRT) Trainer

The UK Post-registration Training (PRT) programme supports recent graduates transitioning from student to independent practitioners. A central component of PRT is the mentee/mentor relationship between the graduate and their PRT Trainer.

PRT Trainers are experienced practitioners who support recent graduates in developing their clinical proficiency in their first year of practice. The role is one of mentor and clinical educator. Many chiropractors become trainers to give something back to the profession and to assist them in attracting candidates to associate roles. Many find it also supports their professional development.

Becoming a PRT Trainer requires training with the Royal College of Chiropractors (RCC) and committing to setting time aside to observe, evaluate, advise and consult with their graduate. 

Contact details

RCC's PRT programme

How to become a PRT Trainer

Hear from a PRT Trainer

Carol Latto has been a PRT Trainer for many years and also sits on the RCC's PRT Committee, helping to guide the ongoing development of the PRT programme. Watch Carol's vlog.

Daniel Ruby combines the roles of clinician and PRT Trainer with a part-time position as head of clinic at the McTimoney College of Chiropractor. Watch Daniel's vlog.

Placement provider

Recent growth in the number of chiropractic programmes offered by UK universities has led to increased posts available to chiropractors in education. 

London South Bank University and Teesside University have pioneered placement providers; chiropractors in private practice who are willing to host undergraduates in their clinics, enabling them to observe the clinical and business aspects of practice life first-hand.

Placement providers are provided with training to help them undertake their role effectively, gain opportunities to engage with the undergraduate education process and foster connections that might be helpful when they look to recruit clinic associates in the future.

To date, placement providers are recruited via locally-advertised stakeholder events. Chiropractors interested in these posts should initially contact the Clinic Lead at the relevant institution/s for an informal discussion.

Contact details

Health Sciences University 

13-15 Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 2DF

E: aecc@aecc.ac.uk 

London South Bank University

90 London Road, London SE1 6LN.

McTimoney College of Chiropractic

Kimber House, 1 Kimber Road, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 1BZ

E: chiropractic@mctimoney-college.ac.uk 

Teesside University

Middlesbrough, Tees Valley TS1 3BX.

E: enquiries@tees.ac.uk

The Welsh Institute of Chiropractic, University of South Wales

University of South Wales, Treforest, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales, CF37 1DL

E: enquiries@southwales.ac.uk 

Hear from a placement provider

Farid Moshtael's career as a chiropractor followed a previous career in the NHS. Hear Farid talk about how he decided to become a placement provider, utilising his skills as an experienced clinician and PRT Trainer (see above) to help undergraduates gain insight into how to operate a modern-day clinical practice. Watch Farid's vlog.

Clinical Supervisor or 'Floor Tutor'

In their final year, chiropractic students operate as interns in a teaching clinic. In this supervised environment, they can integrate the various aspects of clinical practice, incorporating examination, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and follow-up care. These clinical experiences involve close interaction between the student clinicians, patients, and Clinical Supervisors, sometimes known as Clinic Floor Tutors. Clinical Supervisors usually operate on a part-time, hourly-paid basis, combining their roles with private clinical practise or other academic positions.

Generally speaking, Clinical Supervisors are responsible for the supervision and approval of all clinical activities undertaken by Student Clinicians during scheduled clinic sessions. They participate in the assessment of student clinicians and, as registered chiropractors, are legally responsible for the patient's overall care, delegating this care provision to the student clinicians. Clinical Supervisors must undergo training by the employing educational institution.

The role of Clinic Supervisor provides excellent experience in the academic teaching environment and a potential point of entry to other academic positions.
 

Contact details

When they become available, Clinical Supervisor/Clinic Floor Tutor roles are often, although not exclusively, recruited among the alumni of the educational institutions.

Positions may be advertised via professional associations or on the institution's website.

Chiropractors interested in these posts should initially contact the Clinic Lead at the relevant institution/s for an informal discussion (see contacts details in placement provider section above).

Hear from a clinical supervisor

Elisabeth Angier combines the role of Clinical Supervisor at the University of South Wales with that of a busy clinician in private practice. Watch Elisabeth's vlog.

Full-time Lecturer

Full-time lecturer posts are often chiropractors who have spent time in practice but then choose to return to university to take an academic position. Lecturer roles vary but typically involve course design and delivery and require excellent communication and teamworking skills.

Typically, candidates must have completed a postgraduate master's or PhD qualification or be working towards one and may have had academic work published. A prior teaching qualification is not essential since the university usually offers this while working. However, experience as a placement provider or clinic tutor may be helpful. Some universities provide work as a graduate teaching assistant to help prepare graduates for a teaching career.

Information

Full-time lecturer posts are usually advertised on the institution's website and may be promoted on social media (Find contact details in Training Roles).

Academic posts are often advertised at https://www.jobs.ac.uk

Hear from a full-time lecturer

Mark Thomas explains how he spent time in clinical practice and in a private healthcare management role before taking up a Senior Lectureship at LSBU. Watch Mark's vlog

Hourly-paid lecturer

Part-time, hourly-paid lecturer roles are typically taken up by clinicians interested in an educational role while retaining a clinical career. Such individuals are recruited to deliver a particular course within a programme when additional teaching resources are needed.

Information

Part-time, hourly-paid lecturer roles are typically recruited among chiropractors in the locality of the educational institution. 

Chiropractors interested in such roles should initially approach the Programme Leader at the educational institution (see contacts above)

Many chiropractors have a general interest in research and participate by completing surveys and getting involved with clinical data collection. However, few follow a research career pathway. Research careers are available, sometimes partnered with lecturer appointments in an academic environment, and opportunities for this career are growing as the number of chiropractic programmes increases in UK universities. 

Doctoral candidate

Choosing a career with a particular research focus will require training through a full-time PhD studentship or a professional doctorate, designed to be undertaken part-time as you work. 

The availability of PhD studentships is often advertised within the profession. Those interested in furthering a research career should contact the Director of Research at the relevant educational institution to inquire about the availability of studentships.

Information and contact details

The Prospects website provides a helpful overview of what a PhD is and what it involves.

Funded PhDs are advertised at https://www.jobs.ac.uk/phd

The 'Find a Professional Doctorate' website provides general information and advice about professional doctorates:

The RCC offers bursaries to chiropractors wishing to develop an interest and initial training in research by undertaking a university-based M-level module in research methods.

The Chiropractic Research Council (CRC) and the RCC periodically provide funding to universities wishing to recruit PhD students.

The RCC provides personal grants to chiropractors undertaking part-time doctoral studies.

Hear from researchers

Marc Sanders talks about his PhD programme, which he is undertaking while in part-time clinical practice. Watch Marc's vlog.

Keith Walker left clinical practice to take up an academic teaching post and undertake a professional doctorate. Keith also joined the RCC's Research Committee and assisted in an RCC-funded research project. Watch Keith's vlog.

NHS-funded clinical roles are rare among chiropractors, but positions do exist. These may result from continuing contracts originally held as AQP (Any Qualified Provider) agreements or FCP (First Contact Practitioner) roles. 

Opportunities to provide NHS-funded clinical services vary by region and are in constant flux. Positions tend to arise in areas with a history of contracts/positions held. Such posts are likely to be advertised as associateships via your professional association.

Hear from an NHS clinical practitioner

Sam Harries talks about her role, which combines private and NHS-funded clinical practice. Watch Sam's vlog.

In addition to the RCC, the professional associations recruit their members to leadership and committee positions. Some of these positions are elected by the membership. Such posts offer an opportunity to contribute to the running/development of the organisation and the profession. 

The GCC also recruits chiropractors for its Council, committee and panel roles. These posts are publicised via GCC newsletters and on the GCC website. 

Information and contact details

Opportunities exist for chiropractors to develop as expert witnesses. While a legal background may be helpful for such a role, it is not essential, and training is available via organisations such as Bond Solon.

The British Chiropractic Association

40 Cranmere Avenue, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV6 8TS

T: 0300 302 0332 E: enquiries@chiropractic-uk.co.uk 

McTimoney Chiropractic Association

7a Hithercroft Court, Lupton Road, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9BT

T: 01491 739120 E: admin@mctimoney-chiropractic.org 

Scottish Chiropractic Association

The Old Barn, Houston Road, Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7BH

T: 0141 4040 260 E: admin@sca-chiropractic.org

United Chiropractic Association

Unit 67, Basepoint Business & Innovation Centre, Metcalf Way, Crawley RH11 7XX

T: 01293 817 175 E: admin@united-chiropractic.org 

General Chiropractic Council

Park House, 186 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4BT

T: 020 7713 5155 E: enquiries@gcc-uk.org 

Bond Solon expert witness overview

Career progression within the Royal College of Chiropractors

The RCC offers different membership levels, Provisional, Licentiate, Member and Fellow, according to clinical experience and achievement of postgraduate expertise/credentials. 

Completion of the PRT programme provides Licentiate (LRCC) status. Licentiate status and three years' practice experience will make you eligible to register as a PRT Trainer.

Member (MRCC) and Fellow (FRCC) status indicate growing clinical experience and eligibility to serve on a wider range of committees and Council. 

Supplementary membership levels regarding clinical interest groups ('Specialist Faculties') enable chiropractors to develop and progress careers in areas of particular interest, such as sports and paediatrics.

The Royal College of Chiropractors

Chiltern House, 45 Station Road, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 1AT

T: 01491 340022 E: admin@rcc-uk.org 

RCC membership 

RCC Specialist Faculties