Admission Information

Admission to the Programs

NWHSU admits individuals of good character who are qualified by previous education and experience to meet its academic challenges and rigor in order to become a practitioner.

Applications for admission, as well as current tuition and fees, are available online at www.nwhealth.edu or they may be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions. The application for admission must be accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee of $50. It is the responsibility of the applicant to read this catalog and comply with all provisions and instructions.

New students are admitted at the beginning of each trimester of the academic year in January, May, and September.

Persons who have been convicted of a misdemeanor of a violent or sexual nature or any felony will be prohibited from professional health care practice in many jurisdictions. Northwestern Health Sciences University may deny admission to admitted students with such convictions. However, incidents from criminal background checks that occurred more than five years ago will not be considered in the admissions process. The University reserves the right to conduct a criminal background check on all accepted and enrolled students.

Entrance Requirements

The following minimum requirements for admission apply to all candidates seeking admission to the College of Chiropractic and are consistent with the standards set forth by the Council on Chiropractic Education:

Total credits and cumulative GPA
- 90 semester credits at bachelor’s level: A minimum of 90 semester (135 quarter) credits at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency. Remedial or developmental courses will not be accepted. All final decisions regarding applicable coursework are determined by the Dean of the College of Chiropractic.
- 24 semester credits in the Life and Physical Sciences: A minimum of 24 semester credits (36 quarter credits) in the Life and Physical Sciences. Of these 24 semester credits (36 quarter credits), at least half must include a lecture and lab component.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on the best 90 semester credits (Standard Track): A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the best of the 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits) completed. The best 90 credits must include the 24 semester credits (36 quarter credits) of Life and Physical Sciences.Custom Track: Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale on the best of the 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits) may be admitted under a Custom Track Plan and will work closely with an academic advisor. Students who do not meet other requirements should consult the Office of Admissions for further options under the Custom Track Plan.
NOTE: A maximum of 16 of the 90 semester credits (24 of the 135 quarter credits) may be earned in a certificate or vocational/technical AAS program from an accredited institution. These credits will be considered pass/fail and will not raise or lower the minimum cumulative GPA.

No more than 20 of the 90 semester credits (30 of the 135 quarter credits) may be completed through awarding credit for prior learning such as CLEP or AP examinations, credit for military training, and other college equivalency options (e.g., Straighterline, Sophia Learning, etc.) that are based on recommendations established by the American Council of Education (ACE) and only in courses other than required science courses.
Prerequisites
Required courses in the Life and Physical Sciences:

For success in the Doctor of Chiropractic program, these courses are required:
- General Chemistry 1 (with lab) - Principles of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry or Introductory Chemistry
- Biology 1 (with lab) - Animal, Vertebrate or General Biology, Zoology, Anatomy, Physiology or Microbiology
Students who do not meet prerequisite requirements should consult the Office of Admissions for further options under the Custom Track Plan.

Recommended additional courses:

The Doctor of Chiropractic program has a rigorous curriculum, including the basic sciences. These additional science courses are strongly recommended for a student's successful progress:

Chemistry 2 (with lab) - General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry or Introductory Chemistry, Nutrition, and Pharmacology
Biology 2 (with lab) - Animal, Vertebrate, General Biology, Zoology, Anatomy, Physiology or Microbiology
Physical Sciences: Physics 1 (with lab) and/or Physics 2 (with lab), or Biomechanics
Biochemistry (with lab)
General Education: English, Speech, Communications and Psychology

Other science courses may qualify, including Human Anatomy, Cell Biology, Cell Physiology, Immunology and Genetics. Students may check with one of our admissions representatives to review science prerequisites.

The importance of basic science courses:

We want you to be successful in the Doctor of Chiropractic program at Northwestern Health Sciences University. Basic science courses, including Biology, Physics, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, are foundational for the understanding of chiropractic science and the application of chiropractic methods.

To successfully progress through our rigorous chiropractic curriculum, it is very important to have a solid foundation in the basic sciences. In our experience, we have found students who enroll in the College of Chiropractic having taken the proper sequence of basic sciences courses as prerequisites are more likely to perform well in their coursework.

The graduate-level basic science courses you will be taking in your first and second trimesters are very demanding. The stronger your undergraduate background in the basic sciences, the more confident and capable you will be in meeting these challenges.

Prerequisite offerings at Northwestern Health Sciences University:

For prospective chiropractic students who are interested in completing their undergraduate science prerequisites: NWHSU offers several foundational science and general education courses through the College of Health and Wellness to assist students in satisfying entrance requirements. Several of the courses are offered in an accelerated format which allows students to complete a full year of courses in only one trimester (15 weeks).

Qualifications

All students must meet both our academic standards and our technical standards in order to be admitted, progress through, and graduate from the College of Chiropractic. These qualifications assist you in advancing the curriculum and clinical training in the Doctor of Chiropractic program.

Academic standards

Academic standards refer to acceptable demonstrations of competency in various disciplines, before admission and after, as judged by faculty members, examinations, and other measurements of performance.

For detailed information about academic standards, refer to the Academic Policies section of the University Catalog.

Technical standards

Technical standards refer to the essential aptitudes and abilities that allow chiropractic students to perform in a modern healthcare environment in a variety of ways. Students must demonstrate the capacity/ability on their own, with reasonable accommodations, in these areas of competency:

Perception/Observation - vision, hearing, tactile and abilities
Communication - speaking, reading and writing
Gross and Fine Motor Coordination
Cognition - conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
Professionalism, Behavioral and Social Attributes

To review the specific criteria for these areas of competency, refer to the Technical Standards Guide (pdf).

All students, with or without reasonable accommodation, must carry out laboratory assignments, including microscopic work and X-ray interpretation. Qualified persons with disabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, must be able to pass oral, written and practical examinations, and meet all of the clinical requirements of the University.

It is in the best interests of both the student and the University to assess the degree of limitation caused by disability. However, the University will make the final determination of whether or not an individual meets all qualifications for study at the University. The University accommodations process is found under “Student Life.” Additionally, questions regarding qualifications or accommodations should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs.

Responsibility of Applicant

It is the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of the entrance requirements and ensure that those requirements are met prior to enrollment. If it is determined at any time that requirements are not met in full, the student will not be allowed to enroll or to continue at NWHSU.

Minnesota Immunization Requirement

All students, even exempted students, must submit an immunization form.

Minnesota State Law (M.S. 135A.14) requires proof that all students born after December 31, 1956, and enrolled in a public or private post-secondary school in Minnesota be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, measles (rubeola, red measles), mumps and rubella (German measles) - allowing for certain specified exemptions (see below).

The law requires that NWHSU has proof of a student’s compliance by having a Minnesota Immunization Form in their file and available for review by the Minnesota Department of Health and the local community health board.

Any non-exempt student who does not submit the required information within 45 days after first enrollment cannot remain enrolled at NWHSU.

Exemptions

You must submit an online immunization form. However, if you meet one of the following exemptions, you are not required to provide immunization information on the form:

You were born on or before December 31, 1956
You graduated from a Minnesota high school in 1997 or later
You are a transfer student - or graduated - from another Minnesota college or university (post-secondary school)
You have a medical or conscientious exemption (see "Special instructions" for the Minnesota Immunization Requirement)

Required Immunizations

Diphtheria/Tetanus (Td or Tdap) - must be within 10 years of your enrollment date at NWHSU
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) - 1 dose after age 12 months (2 doses recommended)

Application Procedure

The first step in the application process is to submit a fully completed application for admission. Applications are available online at https://www.nwhealth.edu/admissions/portal-login/. The application must include:

A properly completed application for admission;
An application processing fee of $50. This fee is non-refundable;
Official transcripts from all colleges attended sent directly to the Office of Admissions at Northwestern Health Sciences University from those colleges. High school transcripts are not required;
Names, email addresses, and mailing addresses of three references. NWHSU will send character reference requests to those persons listed on the application as references. Those persons should complete and return the reference to the University. Relatives are not accepted as references;
A completed essay (see application form for instructions).

Selection of Candidates

The Admissions Committee seeks to matriculate students who best suit the philosophies and goals of the University, which include providing an education in the scholarly and humane aspects of healthcare and fostering the development of leaders who will advance practice and knowledge. Northwestern Health Sciences University seeks to select students who have strong academic records and who demonstrate the motivational and personal characteristics suitable for a career in the medical field. Willingness to provide service and a caring attitude are important characteristics of a future healthcare provider.

The University employs a rolling admissions process. Therefore, early application could increase the applicant’s probability for acceptance. Students are strongly encouraged to apply at least nine to 12 months prior to the first day of their first academic term.

The University encourages campus visits for all applicants and reserves the right to require an interview.

Tuition Deposit Policy

Applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision regarding their application following receipt and review of all information and materials. Upon notification of acceptance, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $300 is required to secure a place in the program. The tuition deposit will be applied to the first trimester tuition.

First trimester students who have been accepted and paid their $300 tuition deposit must pay the balance of their first trimester tuition by the end of the third week of classes. If the student has been awarded financial aid for the first trimester at NWHSU, then those funds will be credited against the student’s NWHSU account. It is important to note that because of the limited space available in each class, scheduling priorities and the cost of education, the institutional refund policy does not apply to the $300 tuition deposit.

Transfer Students

A student wishing to transfer from another Chiropractic program must:

Have official academic transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions (including colleges, universities, vocational/technical schools and PSEO credits) sent directly to Northwestern Health Sciences University. To request an official transcript, contact the Registrar's Office at your prior institution(s). Transcripts from any previous graduate-level work in addition to the previous chiropractic institution(s) are also required.
Meet all of Northwestern Health Sciences University’s College of Chiropractic prerequisites at the time of application.
Provide in the application contact information for at least two faculty members at the other chiropractic institution(s) previously attended who can provide completed online recommendation forms.
Provide a letter from the registrar at the previous chiropractic institution(s) indicating that the student is in good academic standing and would be eligible to continue studies at that institution.

Credit for Prior Learning

Students who believe they have already mastered learning objectives or course competencies in a particular course, but cannot meet the transfer requirements, may request credit for prior learning, per the Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Assessment Policy.

Non-Program Students

Non-program students are welcome to apply to take certain courses and typically must meet both the course and admissions requirements and must have completed the prerequisites for the courses for which they are applying. Those persons interested in applying should contact the Office of Admissions for further details. A plan of study, including purpose and rationale, may be required as part of the application process. Approval may be granted by the Admissions Committee and/or at the discretion of the Dean, subject to space availability.

International Students

Northwestern Health Sciences University welcomes the diversity that international students bring to the University community. The University is a non-residential campus, therefore, no housing is available to students, foreign or otherwise. Individuals in F-1 student status are not eligible to seek employment off campus. All classes at NWHSU are taught in English. Matriculants from foreign countries must meet the same educational requirements as students matriculating from the United States. The student should note the entrance requirement and application procedure sections. The student must also fulfill the following:

Step 1. Complete the application. Follow the instructions on how to apply above.

Step 2. Verify English competency. English language competency must be demonstrated by providing one of the following:

Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL® iBT) total score - 80 or higher and TOEFL iBT speaking score - 26; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language paper-based examination - score of 540 or higher; or
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall band score - 6.5 (Academic Format) and IELTS spoken band score - 8.0

We reserve the right to request proof of English proficiency of any applicant.

Step 3. Proof of financial resources:

Provide evidence of financial resources to complete a minimum of at least one year of education. Official bank statement indicating sufficient funds is required. Proof of financial resources must be current within 9 months of your enrollment date.
Submit International Certificate of Finances 2024-2025

Step 4. International transcript evaluation. International transcripts need to be evaluated by World Education Services®. Official copies of the course-by-course evaluation must be forwarded directly to both NWHSU and the student.

To obtain a WES application:

Submit an online WES application for free

NWHSU reserves the right to request a transcript review by an evaluation service for any courses completed outside of the United States. As an international student, you must be aware of the licensure requirements in the country in which you wish to practice. We recommend you contact the licensing board in your country for that information.

Educational Requirements of Non-US Citizens

Please contact the Office of Admissions for guidance and the most current information on education requirements. Northwestern Health Sciences University reserves the right to request a transcript review by an evaluation service for any courses completed outside of the United States.