Chiropractic in Denmark
Chiropractors in Denmark practice in private clinics and in hospitals, primarily at hospital centres for patients with back problems. There are about 550 practicing chiropractors in about 250 chiropractic clinics and approximately 15 chiropractors are employed in hospitals.
Competences
In Denmark chiropractors have the right to diagnose patients independently and no medical referral is required as a condition of treatment or as a condition for grants from the national health service. Through their training chiropractors achieve competences within the medical imaging field, and all practising chiropractors have access to X-ray facilities. The national health service subsidizes chiropractic treatments.
Authorization
Chiropractors are granted authorization from the National Board of Health. After completing the five-year Master’s Degree you obtain an authorization which gives the chiropractor the right to practice in subordinate positions in hospitals or clinics under the supervision of a chiropractor with authorization to practice independently. Authorization to practice independently is issued by the National Board of Health after an additional one-year practical training (internship).
The DCA
The Danish Chiropractors’ Association (DCA) is the professional association organizing chiropractors and chiropractic students. DCA seeks to ensure that chiropractics is practised under well-organized and regulated conditions. This is the DCA website.
Master of Clinical Biomechanics
The chiropractic study programme in Denmark takes place at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, and is called clinical biomechanics.
Research and NIKKB
Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics (NIKKB), is a research institute and center of scientific information and post-graduate education facilitator. In close co-operation with the University of Southern Denmark and Spine Center South at Lillebælt Hospital NIKKB produces and disseminates contemporary health care research at a high international level pertaining to the chiropractic profession and clinical biomechanics. NIKKB was established in 1990 and is financed by the Foundation for Advancement of Chiropractic Research and Postgraduate Education, which gets its means directly from Danish chiropractors and the Regions’ Board for Wages and Tariffs.. Read the history of the institute and learn more about how the institute is funded and organized.
Danish chiropractic research is worldleading.
15 chiropractors have achieved a PhD, and 10 chiropractors are about to complete their PhD. At the University of Southern Denmark two chiropractors are employed as professors.
Danish Society of Chiropractics and Clinical Biomechanics
The Danish Society of Chiropractics and Clinical Biomechanics (DSKKB) is the chiropractors’ professional society working for the promotion of chiropractic education, development and science.
The chiropractors’ patients association is called “Kiropraktik og Sundhed”. The association is responsible for disseminating information about chiropractics in Denmark.