The sustainability and future growth of the chiropractic profession globally depend not merely on patient outcomes or political recognition, but on the presence and permanence of formal chiropractic education programs in countries where chiropractic is still in its infancy.
While chiropractic is now practiced in over 120 countries, fewer than 50 university-level programs currently exist worldwide, and 60% of these are concentrated in just four English-speaking nations. This geographic imbalance has stifled the profession’s growth in many regions, leaving nearly 100 countries without the infrastructure to educate, credential and sustain their own chiropractors.
Chiropractic Educators Without Borders and the Logistical Bottleneck
The historical model of seeding the profession abroad relied heavily on Western colleges, self- and external funding, and the occasional chiropractor association with some government-backed initiative. Some early attempts included satellite campuses or scholarship programs for international students to study in North America or Europe. Unfortunately, many of those students did not return home, and institutional partnerships often unraveled due to shifting priorities or resource constraints.
Despite these setbacks, one pattern is clear: In every country where chiropractic has thrived and endured, there was an educational institution at its core. After the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K., only South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, France, and Spain exemplify this model, having enough local chiropractors returning home that they were able to achieve both academic legitimacy and sustainable professional growth. These are all countries with a large economic middle class.
Conversely, in most countries where chiropractic remains underdeveloped, there are simply not enough local practitioners to support a profession, let alone advocate for regulation, research or expansion.
This is why the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps (CDC) promotes the principle of “Schools Before Laws.” National legislation is ultimately essential, but it cannot precede the cultivation of a domestic professional base. For that, we need faculty.
Will You Respond to This Call for Leadership?
There is a global demand, particularly in Asia, the Far East, Africa, and Latin America, for chiropractic educators with the credentials, experience and willingness to help launch and staff new academic programs. In the Philippines and India, for example, CDC-supported efforts have already secured interest and administrative alignment from host universities. These institutions are prepared to begin chiropractic programs as early as the next academic year, pending faculty appointments.
In East and West Africa, the CDC is assisting the chiropractor leaders in their efforts to secure a viable working plan to establish chiropractic education programs in universities that have begun to show serious interest.
What is needed now is the formation of an international faculty pool: experienced chiropractors with academic credentials who are open to short- and long-term teaching assignments abroad. These educators will not only deliver coursework, but also help shape institutional culture, train future faculty and contribute to the profession’s long-term viability in underserved regions.
The CDC also is interested in chiropractic practitioners who wish to practice and teach abroad and is making available a Chiropractor Educator Certificate course to help teach a practitioner without teaching experience.
Assignments are primarily English-medium. While local language engagement enriches the experience, it is not a barrier to instruction. Faculty members may teach for multi-year terms, ideally rotating across one or more programs to build continuity and cross-cultural fluency.
Professional Rewards and Cultural Enrichment
While compensation varies by region and institutional capacity, the cost of living in host countries is significantly lower than in North America or Europe. In addition to the financial feasibility, the opportunity to engage deeply with new cultures, contribute to foundational healthcare development, and leave a professional legacy represents an uncommon and meaningful chapter in one’s academic career.
Those who participate will gain more than a teaching post; they will help create the conditions for chiropractic to become self-sustaining in regions where it is needed most. For seasoned clinicians and educators alike, this represents not only a professional opportunity, but also moral imperative aligned with our profession’s global mission.
You are invited to express your interest. The CDC is presently seeking to identify individuals interested in contributing to these emerging academic environments. No formal commitment is required at this stage; only a declaration of interest, so that you may be contacted as opportunities develop and programs prepare to launch. To join the international faculty pool or to learn more about teaching in one of our emerging partner institutions, visit: https://fareastchirorecruit.com/registration-chiropractic-faculty-pool/.
The goal of the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps is to double the global number of chiropractors by the end of the 21st century, targeting the developing nations. Let us collectively move the profession forward – not only in number, but also in purpose, reach and impact.
