Karin F. Moscatelli, DC
Academically, the French Institute of Chiropractic (IFC) is very much identical to other chiropractic institutions around the world.
Its program is geared to produce the most highly qualified independent practitioners possible, who dispense safe and efficient chiropractic care. After passing the French Baccalaureate (grade 13 or junior college level), a student is admitted to the full-time six year course equivalent to 6,000 hours of study. He must also present with an admissions score of 500 at the TOEFL (USA) or with a Lower Cambridge Certificate of English.
A letter of recommendation by a chiropractor (a recognized member of the Association Nationale Francaise de Chiropractic) allows the student to begin his first year of the "Propedeutique Joseph Janse" -- a 1,000 hour basic science program preparing him to enter any college of chiropractic. During this time he will be introduced to all the basic sciences including mathematics, physics, genetics, embryology, and comparative anatomy, as well as psychology and the history of chiropractic and medicine. The student must also perfect his knowledge of English in the English language laboratories at the Centre Beaubourg (Paris) where his progress is monitored by two exams per trimester, by the same examiner.
During the following four years, he will master the clinical sciences including 300 hours of radiology, as well as 300 hours of human dissection during two summer months (between his third and fourth years) at National College. His knowledge of biomechanics and the study of all the chiropractic sciences including palpation, postural analysis, all chiropractic techniques, and peripheral articular techniques is monitored by continuous proficiency exams. Up until this point, all studies are equivalent to any French faculty of medicine and conform to prerequisites laid out by the CCE (Europe) -- equivalent to CCE, U.S. and Canada.
In October 1989, the fifth year chiropractic student will enter his sixth and final year, consisting of clinic internship and six months as a paid assistant in a chiropractic office. He will have the possibility to participate in investigative projects and must successfully defend a thesis in front of a professional European jury.
The Board of Education (Europe) will then deliver his Doctor of Chiropractic degree, and the French Institute of Chiropractic can then present him with his "certificate" of successful completion of studies.
The final year candidate for graduation is also strongly encouraged to write the exams of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (U.S.A.). The IFC also offers the possibility for postgraduate studies.
Consequently, a French-trained chiropractor may be considered at par with a colleague anywhere in the world.
