Chiropractic school bound for Levittown
The state Department of Labor is projecting an increased need for licensed chiropractors, which is why the Northeast College of Health Sciences is opening a doctor of chiropractic program in Levittown this fall. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
A Seneca Falls-based chiropractic school is returning to Long Island and launching a doctorate of chiropractic program in Levittown.
Northeast College of Health Sciences received state permission last week to run a doctoral program on Long Island, where it operated under the name New York Chiropractic College in the 1980s.
The school aims to receive final approval to open a Long Island branch of its doctoral program at an upcoming meeting of the Council of Chiropractic Education, an accrediting group. Still, Northeast is already accepting applications and intends to enroll 25 new doctoral students annually, starting this fall, according to spokesperson Kelly O'Connor.
Chiropractors are trained to understand the spine and correct functioning of the nerve system, according to the state Education Department. They may adjust bones, use electrical stimulation, acupressure, massage, lifestyle guidance and other methods to treat issues related to the spine, including headaches, shoulder and neck pain and muscle spasms.
The doctoral program will be located at the Levittown Health Center building, which has been redeveloped and renovated, O'Connor said. The center, a Northeast affiliate at 70 Division Ave., will still be used by doctors and trainees to collaboratively provide chiropractic care, acupuncture and nutritional counseling.
Northeast said it's expanding the doctoral program to train more people for in-demand careers. The number of chiropractic positions in the state was about 2,720 in 2020 and is forecasted to reach 3,110 in 2030, according to state Department of Labor projections.
“New York state’s approval of our Long Island branch campus signifies not just a new physical location but a bold step forward in our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality health sciences education to all those called to the healthcare professions,” president Michael Mestan said in a statement.
Joanna Fasulo, a Patchogue chiropractor, said she isn't sure how much the field may grow, but she's confident there will be sufficient demand for new practitioners. She noted that chiropractors tend to specialize in various techniques and disciplines, which means they aren't drawing from the same pool of potential clients.
“There's room for more chiropractors on Long Island because there are so many ways that you can treat a patient,” said Fasulo, president of the Suffolk district of the New York State Chiropractic Association. “People are pediatric, they focus on children, and then there's sports chiropractors, and then there's doctors who focus more on nutrition.”
The entire doctoral program costs about $152,900, according to 2024-25 tuition rates on the school's website. On Long Island, entry-level chiropractors take home about $65,700 annually, and the median salary is more than $111,200, according to state Department of Labor data.
Chiropractors can't practice without a state license, which requires at least two years of college courses in sciences, four years at an accredited chiropractic college, and passing written and hands-on exams, according to the state Education Department, which issues licenses.
About 550 such license-holders have a primary address in Nassau, and 470 are licensed in Suffolk, according to the Education Department.
Sarina Trangle covers affordability and cost of living issues and other business topics. She previously worked as an editor and reporter at amNewYork.