Alberta chiropractors can assess and diagnose, treat with their hands, order and interpret X-rays, and refer you on to specialists. They cannot prescribe medication and cannot give injections such as cortisone. Knowing where the line sits saves you a wasted appointment, so here it is plainly.
What can a chiropractor legally do in Alberta?
Chiropractic is a regulated health profession here, governed by the Chiropractors Profession Regulation under Alberta’s Health Professions Act, with the College of Chiropractors of Alberta as regulator. Within that scope, a chiropractor takes a history, performs a physical examination, forms a working diagnosis, and treats musculoskeletal problems using manual methods — spinal manipulation and mobilization, soft tissue techniques, and exercise or activity advice.
The scope also includes ordering and reading plain-film X-rays, and referring directly to medical specialists when something needs a different set of eyes.
Can a chiropractor give you a cortisone shot?
No. Corticosteroid injections are outside chiropractic scope in Alberta. If a cortisone injection is what your problem needs, you need a physician — usually your family doctor, a sports medicine physician, or a specialist depending on the joint.
I mention this because it’s one of the more common questions people arrive with, and I’d rather you knew before booking. If I think an injection is worth considering, my job is to say so and point you at the right person, not to improvise.
Can a chiropractor prescribe medication?
No. Chiropractors in Alberta don’t have prescribing authority. That includes muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories beyond general over-the-counter advice, and anything requiring a prescription pad.
What I can do is discuss what’s available over the counter in general terms, and coordinate with your physician if medication seems like part of the answer.
Can a chiropractor order an MRI or X-ray?
X-rays, yes — requisitioning and interpreting plain-film radiographs is part of chiropractic scope in this province. Advanced imaging is more nuanced and depends on the facility and the clinical picture.
Here’s the practical catch worth knowing before you ask: imaging ordered by a chiropractor in Alberta is generally not covered publicly. Global News reported in 2020 on the province’s decision that diagnostic imaging ordered by chiropractors and physiotherapists would not be publicly funded. So if I order an X-ray, expect to pay for it or claim it, and expect me to have a good reason.
Most of the time I don’t need one. For ordinary mechanical back and neck pain without red flags, imaging rarely changes what we do, and it can make people more worried rather than better.
What should send you somewhere other than a chiropractor?
Part of primary contact responsibility is screening for the things that aren’t mine to treat. I’ll stop and refer for:
- Progressive weakness, or numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Unexplained weight loss, night pain that wakes you, fever with back pain
- Suspected fracture, or significant trauma
- Chest pain, or sudden severe headache unlike anything you’ve had
- Pain that hasn’t shifted at all after a fair trial of care
That last one matters. If several weeks of appropriate treatment hasn’t moved anything, continuing is not persistence, it’s a failure to reassess.
How do I check what a specific chiropractor is permitted to do?
The College of Chiropractors of Alberta maintains a public register showing current registration and any restrictions on a practice permit. Some activities require additional certification beyond baseline registration, and the register is where that’s recorded.
If you want to talk through whether your problem is in scope before committing, that’s a reasonable thing to ask at a first visit with a St. Albert chiropractor — and part of what the new patient examination is for.
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor give you a cortisone shot in Alberta?
No. Corticosteroid injections fall outside chiropractic scope of practice in Alberta. A physician, such as your family doctor or a sports medicine specialist, would need to provide one. A chiropractor can refer you for assessment.
Can chiropractors prescribe medication?
No. Chiropractors in Alberta do not hold prescribing authority for any medication, including muscle relaxants and prescription anti-inflammatories. They can discuss over-the-counter options in general terms and coordinate with your physician.
Can a chiropractor order an X-ray in Alberta?
Yes. Requisitioning and interpreting plain-film radiographs is within chiropractic scope in Alberta. However, imaging ordered by a chiropractor is generally not publicly funded in the province, so expect to pay or claim it through benefits.
What can a chiropractor diagnose?
Chiropractors in Alberta are primary contact practitioners who independently take a history, examine, and form a working diagnosis for musculoskeletal conditions. Part of that role is recognising problems outside their scope and referring on.
What to remember
Alberta chiropractors diagnose, treat with their hands, order and read plain X-rays, and refer to specialists. They do not prescribe medication and cannot give cortisone injections. If a chiropractor ever seems reluctant to tell you where their scope ends, treat that as the answer to a different question.
Have a question of your own?
Bring it to a first visit. Both clinics — St. Albert and West Edmonton — show live availability online.
Sources
- Alberta Queen’s Printer, Chiropractors Profession Regulation, Alta Reg 277/2006, retrieved 2026-09-08, kings-printer.alberta.ca
- Government of Alberta (alis), “Chiropractor: certifications in Alberta”, retrieved 2026-09-08, alis.alberta.ca
- College of Chiropractors of Alberta, public register and practice permit information, retrieved 2026-09-08, theccoa.ca
- Global News, “Diagnostic imagery ordered by chiropractors, physios won’t be covered in Alberta”, 2020, retrieved 2026-09-08, globalnews.ca
This article is general information, not medical advice, and it can’t account for your individual situation. If your symptoms are severe, sudden, or new, contact your physician or seek urgent care.
