Chiropractors receive a doctoral education that emphasizes musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. In the United States, the general chiropractic curriculum consists of four academic years, averaging 4822 hours and ranging between 4400-5220 hours, depending on the individual school curriculum. Entrance requirements currently include a minimum of two years of undergraduate education in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, English/ Communication, and Humanities. Several colleges are in the process of implementing a bachelor’s degree minimum entrance requirement. Six State Licensing Boards currently require a bachelor’s degree in addition to the doctor of chiropractic degree for state licensure.

As of 1996, there were are sixteen accredited chiropractic colleges in the United States. Two other accredited chiropractic colleges have formed since that time, for a total of eighteen chiropractic colleges in the US as of 2007. Ten other countries have schools or colleges of chiropractic, totaling 16 colleges between them. These countries include Australia, Brazil, Cananda, Denmark, France, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. All together, there are 24 chiropractic colleges throughout the world.

Specifically regarding Dr. Neely, he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Western States Chiropractic College in 2001. His pre-doctoral studies included a Bachelors of Science degree from The Evergreen State College in 1994, followed by further pre-med studies from 1997-98.