Chiropractic Assistant Job Description: Duties, Responsibilities, Template & Pay (2026)
A chiropractic assistant runs the front of a chiropractic office and, where state law allows, helps with therapies in the back. This page has a chiropractic assistant job description template you can copy, a plain answer to what a chiropractic assistant does, the state rules that decide which duties you can list, and the closest federal pay data, since the BLS does not publish a separate figure for this role.
What is a chiropractic assistant?
A chiropractic assistant (often shortened to CA) is the support staff member in a chiropractic practice who keeps patients moving through the office: checking them in, handling scheduling and insurance, preparing them for the doctor, and, in states and practices that allow it, applying therapies the chiropractor has ordered. In a small practice, one or two assistants often cover the whole office.
In federal data the role has no occupation of its own. It falls within medical assistants (SOC 31-9092): O*NET lists "Chiropractor Assistant" among the reported job titles for that occupation, so the BLS wage and employment figures on this page describe medical assistants as a whole, not chiropractic assistants specifically. They are the closest official benchmark, and that is how you should read them.
What does a chiropractic assistant do?
The job has two halves, and the most useful thing a posting can do is say how the time splits between them.
Front office. Greeting and checking in patients, answering phones, booking and confirming appointments, managing the recall list, verifying insurance and collecting copays, entering visit notes and charges in the practice software, preparing new-patient paperwork, and selling or explaining care plans and payment options if the practice uses them.
Clinical support. Rooming patients, taking vitals such as height, weight and blood pressure, setting up and running ordered therapies like electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, heat and cold packs, or traction, coaching patients through prescribed exercises, cleaning tables and treatment rooms between patients, and keeping supplies stocked. Which of these an assistant may do, and whether a certificate is needed first, is set by state law.
What a chiropractic assistant does not do. Adjustments and diagnosis belong to the licensed chiropractor. X-rays are a separate question: many offices take them, but who may operate the machine is regulated by the state, and in Oregon, for example, an assistant may take X-rays only if properly licensed to do so. Do not put X-ray duties in the posting until you have checked your state's rule.
Chiropractic assistant job description template
Copy this into your ATS or job board, replace the bracketed fields, and delete anything your state does not allow an assistant to do. It is written for a one- to three-doctor practice where the assistant covers both front desk and therapy.
Job title
Chiropractic Assistant [/ Front Desk and Therapy Assistant], [Full-time / Part-time] · [Practice name], [City, ST]
Summary
[Practice name] is hiring a chiropractic assistant for our [city] office. We see about [00] patient visits a day with [0] chiropractor(s) and [0] assistants. This role is roughly [60%] front desk and [40%] patient care. Hours are [Mon, Wed, Fri 8:00 to 6:00; Tue, Thu 2:00 to 6:00], [no evenings after 6:30], [no Sundays]. Pay is [$00.00 to $00.00] an hour, [plus a bonus for [new-patient visits / collections]]. No chiropractic experience needed; we train you, [and we pay for [state] chiropractic assistant certification].
Front office responsibilities
- Greet and check in patients; answer phones and messages
- Schedule, confirm and reschedule appointments; manage the recall and no-show list
- Verify insurance benefits and collect copays and payments
- Enter visit notes, charges and patient information in [practice software]
- Prepare new-patient paperwork and walk patients through intake forms
- [Explain care plans and payment options as directed by the doctor]
Patient care responsibilities
- Room patients and take vitals [as permitted in [state]]
- Set up and apply therapies ordered by the chiropractor, such as [electrical stimulation, ultrasound, hot and cold packs, traction], [after certification where [state] requires it]
- Coach patients through prescribed stretches and exercises
- Clean and prepare tables and treatment rooms between patients
- Keep therapy supplies stocked and equipment clean
- [Take X-rays only if you hold the license [state] requires]
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Friendly, organized, and comfortable on the phone and with a computer
- Able to stand, bend and help position patients through the day
- Available [the office schedule above]
- [Able to meet [state] chiropractic assistant certification requirements within [00] days of hire]
- [CPR certification, or obtain within [00] days; we pay]
Preferred
- Experience in a chiropractic, physical therapy or medical office
- Front desk, scheduling or insurance verification experience
- [Current [state] chiropractic assistant certificate or FCLB CCCA]
- [Spanish and English]
Pay and benefits
- [$00.00 to $00.00] an hour; review at [90] days
- [Certification and continuing education paid]
- [Free chiropractic care for you and your family]
- [Paid time off], [paid holidays], [health coverage at [00] hours a week]
How to apply
[Apply in two minutes from your phone / text CA to [000-000-0000]]. We reply within [one business day] and interview [this week].
Chiropractic assistant duties, written for a posting
The duty list is where candidates decide whether this is a reception job, a clinical job or both. A candidate who wants patient contact skips an ad that reads like front desk only, and a receptionist skips one full of therapy terms she does not recognize. Say the split.
- Give the volume. Patient visits a day and the number of doctors and assistants. Twenty visits and sixty visits are different jobs.
- Name the therapies. List the ones your office actually uses. "Therapy duties" is vague; "set up e-stim and ultrasound, apply ice and heat" is a job someone can picture.
- Name the software. Candidates with practice-management or EHR experience look for a system they know.
- Give the hours. Chiropractic offices often run split days with early mornings and evening hours on some days. Say which days and the latest finish.
- Say what you train. Many chiropractic assistants come from retail, hospitality or reception. "No chiropractic experience needed" opens that pool.
Certification and state rules
There is no single national requirement for chiropractic assistants. What an assistant may do, and whether a credential is required first, is set state by state, usually by the state board of chiropractic examiners. Two examples show the range:
Oregon certifies chiropractic assistants through the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Applicants complete 12 hours of initial training (eight hours of lecture and four hands-on), pass the NBCE chiropractic assistant exam, obtain BLS/AED/CPR certification within the first year, and renew each year with six hours of continuing education. Under OAR 811-010-0110, a certified assistant may provide physiotherapy, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy and take vitals, may not provide those therapies before receiving the certificate, may not perform physical examinations, initial histories, adjustments or X-rays (unless properly licensed for X-rays), and must be directly supervised with the chiropractor on the premises.
The FCLB CCCA. The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards offers the Certified Chiropractic Clinical Assistant (CCCA) credential. Candidates must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, and qualify through 24 hours of training (from a PACE provider or another provider) or 2,000 hours of experience. The exam has 100 items in 75 minutes and must be proctored by a licensed individual, and the credential renews every two years with six hours of continuing education.
Requirements: what to keep, what costs you applicants
| Requirement | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chiropractic experience | Usually not needed. The front-office half transfers from any reception or customer service job, and the therapy half is trained in-office (plus any state course). Requiring chiropractic experience shrinks a small pool further. |
| Certification | Required only where your state requires it, and even then often obtainable after hire. If your state allows a window, write "or obtain within 90 days" (or whatever window your state allows) rather than making it a knockout. |
| Medical assistant training | Helpful, not necessary. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education for medical assistants as a group, but many chiropractic offices hire without it. |
| Insurance and billing | Valuable, and worth paying more for. If you want it, say so and put it in the pay range rather than the requirements. |
| Physical demands | Say it: standing, bending, helping patients on and off tables, moving therapy equipment. |
| Schedule | Split days and evening hours are common. State them exactly; an ad that hides them loses the hire after the first week. |
How to customize it by practice
Small family practice
One assistant often does everything. Lead with the variety and the relationship with patients, and be honest that the front desk is most of the day.
High-volume or multi-doctor clinic
Split the posting into front desk and therapy assistant roles if you can. Candidates choose between them, and a clear title fills faster than a combined one.
Integrated or rehab-focused clinic
If the practice works alongside physical therapists or massage therapists, describe the rehab floor and exercise coaching. That attracts candidates studying exercise science or heading toward a physical therapist assistant career.
Where to find chiropractic assistants
Many good chiropractic assistants have never held the title before. The candidates are front desk workers, dental and medical office staff, fitness and gym staff, and students in exercise science or medical assistant programs. Many of them are not looking at job boards at all, which is why social ads on Facebook and Instagram work for this role: the ad reaches them where they already spend time.
Boostpoint's 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark has no role family for chiropractic assistants, so we don't quote a role-specific cost. Across all 891 managed campaigns the median was $13.88 per applicant, and the apply experience explained 70% of the variation in cost between campaigns. Keep the application short: availability, office or healthcare experience, and certification status if your state requires it. Employment ads on Meta run under the special ad category, so there is no targeting by age, gender or ZIP code and the radius must be at least 15 miles.
Hiring for the whole office? See the medical assistant, receptionist and physical therapist assistant job descriptions, medical assistant interview questions, and healthcare recruiting for the hiring side.
Writing the ad version
On a phone, the ad has about three lines to earn the tap. Put the hourly pay, the office hours, "no chiropractic experience needed, we train" if true, and one benefit that sets you apart, such as paid certification or free care. Sample headlines:
- Chiropractic assistant, front desk and patient care, we train you
- Love helping people? Join our chiropractic team, no experience needed
- Chiropractic assistant: paid training, free adjustments, no Sundays
For more on the format, see healthcare job ad templates.
What chiropractic assistants earn
The BLS does not publish a wage for chiropractic assistants alone. The closest official figure is the medical assistant median of $45,690 a year in May 2025, across 833,900 medical assistants. That group includes clinical medical assistants in physician offices and hospitals, so treat it as a reference point, not a chiropractic rate, and check local postings before setting your range.
The BLS projects medical assistant employment to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 109,700 openings a year. Chiropractic offices compete with physician practices, urgent care and dental offices for the same front-office and clinical support candidates, so a clear pay range, a real schedule and paid certification carry a lot of weight.
Frequently asked questions
What does a chiropractic assistant do?
A chiropractic assistant checks in patients, answers phones, schedules appointments, verifies insurance and collects payments, and enters visit information in the practice software. Where state law allows, the assistant also rooms patients, takes vitals, applies therapies ordered by the chiropractor such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound or hot and cold packs, and coaches prescribed exercises. Adjustments and diagnosis are done by the chiropractor.
What are the duties of a chiropractic assistant?
Front office duties include greeting and checking in patients, scheduling and recalls, insurance verification, payments and data entry. Patient care duties include rooming, vitals, setting up and applying ordered therapies, exercise coaching, and cleaning and preparing treatment rooms. Which clinical duties an assistant may perform, and whether certification is required first, depends on the state.
What is a chiropractic assistant?
A chiropractic assistant, or CA, is the support staff member in a chiropractic office who handles front desk work and, where permitted, helps with therapies under the chiropractor's supervision. In federal data the role falls within medical assistants (SOC 31-9092); O*NET lists "Chiropractor Assistant" among that occupation's reported job titles.
What should a chiropractic job description include?
For a chiropractic assistant, include the split between front desk and patient care, patient visits per day, the therapies used, the practice software, the exact office hours, the hourly pay range, the state certification requirement and whether you pay for it, and a short way to apply. For the chiropractor role itself, the posting also needs the state license requirement.
Do chiropractic assistants need to be certified?
It depends on the state. Oregon, for example, requires assistants to be certified by the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners before providing physiotherapy, electrotherapy or hydrotherapy. The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards also offers the CCCA credential. Check your state board before writing requirements.
Can a chiropractic assistant take X-rays?
Only where state law allows it. In Oregon, a chiropractic assistant may not take X-rays unless properly licensed to do so. Rules differ in other states, so confirm with your state board before listing X-rays as a duty.
How much do chiropractic assistants make?
The BLS does not publish a separate wage for chiropractic assistants. The closest figure is the May 2025 median for medical assistants, the group that includes the title: $45,690 a year. Local pay for chiropractic offices can differ, so check postings in your market.
How do you hire a chiropractic assistant?
Recruit from front desk, dental and medical office, fitness and customer service backgrounds, say you train, and state the pay and hours clearly. A short mobile application and a same-day reply help, and social ads on Facebook and Instagram reach candidates who are not searching job boards for the title.
Other job description templates
- Medical assistant job description
- Receptionist job description
- Physical therapist assistant job description
- Physical therapist job description
- All job description templates
Hiring a chiropractic assistant?
Boostpoint Attract runs your openings as Facebook and Instagram job ads, with the creative made for you, so you reach front-office and healthcare candidates who are not browsing job boards. Add Boostpoint Connect to text every applicant as soon as they apply.
Sources, read 29 September 2026: employment, projections (2025 to 2035), openings, typical entry education and May 2025 median annual wage for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092) and employment of chiropractors (SOC 29-1011) from BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 and BLS, May 2025 median annual wage; reported job titles from O*NET OnLine, Medical Assistants 31-9092.00; Oregon certification requirements from the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners and OAR 811-010-0110; CCCA requirements from the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards. Cost-per-applicant figures: Boostpoint 2026 Social Job Advertising Benchmark, 891 campaigns and 1,334 campaign-months.