Until 1994, Scandinavian students seeking a chiropractic education began with one year of basic science studies at Odense University.
But to pursue their chiropractic education, students had to bear the financial hardship of study abroad at a CCE accredited chiropractic college in England, Canada, or the United States.
Since Sept. of 1994, Odense University has offered its chiropractic students a three-year bachelor's degree. Last September, on the university's 30th anniversary, the Danish minister of education announced the establishment of a fully state-funded five-year chiropractic program leading to a master's degree in clinical biomechanics. The new Danish chiropractic program will accept 50 students a year; half of those students will be coming from the Nordic climes of Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
After completion of the five-year course, which includes a five month internship at a new specialized hospital for back pain patients, and completion of a one-year postgraduate course, the graduating DCs will be fully authorized to practice by the Danish health authorities.
"The new research-based chiropractic education at Odense University will strengthen the important co-operation between medical doctors, physiotherapists, and chiropractors, benefitting back pain sufferers," said Troels Gaard, DC, president of the Danish Chiropractors' Association.
Dr. Gaarde noted that Odense will play a prominent role in future spinal research and education because of the link between Odense University Hospital and the new back pain center where MDs, DCs, and PTs will work together. The Nordic Institute for Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, where spinal research is ongoing, is located in Odense, which will further enhance the research environment.
About 300 chiropractors practice in Denmark, treating a quarter of a million patients a year our of a five million population. The chiropractic profession is legislated by the Danish government, which reimburses DCs about 20 percent on chiropractic treatment.
