Other Types of Doctors

Along with the medical doctors who treat patients for various problems, there are other doctors who treat other parts of the body. Doctors such as chiropractors and optometrists go to a different type of post graduate school than a medical doctor does. At these different schools, the student is trained only in the area of interest. These types of doctors are not qualified to treat illnesses of the body like an MD is. Typically, these other types of doctors attend a four year college or university and obtain a natural science, or pre-professional degree. This degree is comprised of courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. They then take an entrance exam, depending on the type of school they want to enter. Then they go on to post-graduate training which can be two to four years in length. After post-graduate school they usually take an exam to become certified in the field.

Chiropractor, DC

Chiropractors treat conditions of the back including the spine, spinal cord, muscles, and nerves. They also treat the neck, and legs depending on the situation. A lot of chiropractors own their own practice. Some of them work with other chiropractors, or for rehabilitation centers. They also employ office staff members to assist them and perform clerical work. Chiropractors make an average pay of $65,000 dollars per year.

Optometrist, OD

Optometrists, or ODs, are doctors that deal with the eye and vision. They can perform a number of vision tests in the office and then prescribe a certain type of glasses for you to wear. They also deal with more serious problems of the eye such as cataracts and glaucoma. Optometrists also work mainly out of private practices, but are also employed by some retail stores such as Wal-Mart and Sears. At their offices, optometrists employ assistants, and front desk workers as well. The ODs make about $90,000 dollars a year on average.

Audiologist, Au. D

Audiologists are doctors who treat people that have trouble hearing, or balance problems. These doctors can treat people by providing them with a specialized hearing-aid, or other types of sound related treatment. Usually, patients of the audiologists come back again and again over many years for checkups, and replacement of equipment. Audiologists make around $55,000 dollars a year.