Chiropractic Internships Abroad
Chiropractic Internships for Undergraduates and Chiropractic Students
01
IMA’s chiropractic internships for undergraduates and chiropractic students are a supervised look at clinical care abroad. You spend most weekdays observing the licensed clinicians at your placement. You see how they care for patients with back, neck and joint problems when time, staff and resources are short.
In the United States, a chiropractic internship usually means the supervised clinical training inside a Doctor of Chiropractic program. IMA’s program is different: a short placement abroad where you observe care in another health system.
Many interns are pre-chiropractic students. IMA runs its internships in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. Ask admissions which site and setting are open for chiropractic on your dates before you apply.
IMA was founded by two Johns Hopkins alumni, and its internship program was developed at Johns Hopkins University.
Healthcare Internship Program Philosophy
02Supervised Chiropractic Observation Abroad
Orientation comes first. Local clinicians explain the health system, clinic routines and safety. Then your placement begins, usually six to eight hours a weekday, in the setting confirmed in your acceptance email.
Program at a Glance
| Program at a glance | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Pre-chiropractic students, chiropractic students and licensed chiropractors |
| Clinical learning | Observation with licensed chiropractors and other healthcare professionals, clinical simulations and the Global Health Lecture Series |
| Your role | Supervised observation. Interns do not adjust, manipulate, examine or treat patients |
| Possible settings | Hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers and community health programs, as each site allows |
| Program length | From two weeks |
| IMA program sites | Mombasa, Kenya (English) and Cusco, Peru (Spanish). Admissions confirms the site for chiropractic |
| Cost | From $3,995 for two weeks, plus a separate $995 program deposit. Scholarships and interest-free payment plans are available |
| Support | Placement, pre-departure guidance, a gated residence, three meals a day, daily transport and staff on call 24/7 |
Discover what's included in our programs and facilities
03Clinical learning and mentorship. Your placement, orientation, the Global Health Lecture Series, clinical simulations and a Program Mentor.
Housing, meals and transport. A shared room in a gated program residence, three meals a day, airport transfers and private daily transport to your placement.
Preparation and support. Pre-departure guidance, $1,000,000 in travel medical insurance and staff on call 24/7 in country and in the United States.
Community and culture. Weekly community outreach and a weekly cultural activity. Optional treks cost extra.
Clinical Placement
In-Country Orientation
Dedicated Clinical Mentorship
Global Health Lectures and Clinical Simulation
Gated Residence With 24/7 Security
Three Daily Meals From an In-House Chef
Airport Transfers and Daily Transport
24/7 In-Country and U.S.-Based Support
Pre-Departure Support and Flight Guidance
Travel Medical Insurance ($1,000,000 Coverage)
Weekly Community Outreach
Weekly Cultural Activities
Program offerings vary by location. For specific inquiries, please contact [email protected].
Safety, Residences and Personal Spending
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Families usually ask about safety first, so here are the specifics. IMA’s program safety and security page has the full picture. The Parent’s Guide answers the questions families ask most.
Why Choose IMA for Your Chiropractic Internship?
05IMA runs supervised, ethical internships that respect patients and serve the host community. The program is the same whenever you come, but how it fits your year can change. Below, see how summer, gap year and chiropractic students use it and what you take home.
IMA lists four kinds of settings for chiropractic interns. Which ones you see depends on your site, your dates, your level of training and what the host sites allow.
Hospitals
Where the host hospital allows, you observe licensed clinicians who treat back, neck and joint problems. You watch and learn; you do not examine, adjust or treat.
Outpatient Clinics
You see how clinicians handle routine and long-term musculoskeletal complaints in outpatient care, and how they decide when to refer a patient on.
Rehabilitation Centers
Where available, you observe rehabilitation teams as they help patients regain movement after injury. Exercise plans and treatment come from licensed staff, not interns.
Community Health Programs
You join IMA’s community medical clinics and help teach hygiene and health lessons in local schools.
Your setting is confirmed in your acceptance email, and your Program Mentor builds your schedule with you.
SummerSummer Chiropractic Internships Abroad
IMA’s summer chiropractic internships abroad fit between spring finals and the fall term. Applications for Summer 2027 are open now. Summer places often fill months ahead, so apply three to six months before you want to start.
Mombasa takes interns all summer, with stays of 2 to 12 weeks. Cusco runs fixed summer sessions of two, three and four weeks. Admissions confirms which site can host chiropractic on your dates.
Most interns stay four to six weeks. A short stay still shows you how musculoskeletal care runs in another health system.
If you want research experience too, say so in your application. Interns can join ongoing research projects led by local medical teams, helping with data collection and literature reviews. See summer dates and fees.
Gap Year and GraduatesGap Year, Chiropractic Student and Licensed Chiropractor Internships
Mombasa runs year-round, so gap year students and recent graduates can go in fall, winter or spring. Stays run from 2 to 12 weeks.
Students in a Doctor of Chiropractic program can use a break between terms. Licensed chiropractors can join too, as learners rather than practitioners.
Note that you pay to attend. This is not a paid job or a funded fellowship. Pick dates that clear your exams and any job start date.
Study AbroadChiropractic Study Abroad and Academic Credit
This study abroad program is built around clinical settings, not a classroom. Many IMA interns have used a program like this to meet degree requirements or earn academic credit.
IMA works with your school and supplies what it asks for. That can include proof of clinical hours, letters that outline your duties and faculty evaluations.
Talk to your advisor before you enroll, so the approval is settled first. Advisors can start with IMA’s page for university and pre-health advisors.
A Typical DayA Day During Your Chiropractic Internship
Your day starts at the residence with breakfast from the in-house chef. A private program vehicle takes you to your placement. Most interns are there from about 8 AM to 4 PM.
You spend six to eight hours with your assigned team. You watch how clinicians examine patients and plan care, and you note questions for later. In the afternoon you may attend a lecture, a debrief or a community activity.
Evenings are for dinner at the residence and time with other interns. Weekends are free for treks or extra clinical time. In Cusco you arrive on a Saturday, have orientation on Sunday and start on Monday.
Keep a journal as you go. Record dates, settings, who supervised you and what you learned, but leave out anything that could identify a patient.
Certificates and HoursCertificates, Hours and Chiropractic School Applications
Every intern who completes the program receives a certificate of completion. Interns who show professionalism and commitment can request a letter of recommendation. Licensed healthcare professionals or senior IMA mentors write those letters.
IMA’s records list your role, shifts and total hours, validated by its U.S.-based Medical Director. Each school decides how to count them.
In the United States, the chiropractic internship is a stage inside a Doctor of Chiropractic program. The Council on Chiropractic Education accredits those Doctor of Chiropractic programs. Its standards require at least 1,000 hours of supervised training in the clinical workplace.
IMA’s program is not that internship, and it does not count toward those hours. It is a way to see chiropractic and rehabilitation care in another health system before or during your training.
After a four-year doctoral program, chiropractors must pass national board exams before they are licensed. The American Chiropractic Association explains the training and what chiropractors do.
Support continues after you fly home. Alumni get help with applications, letters of recommendation and choosing programs. IMA alumni come from more than 1,250 universities.
Hear From Our Alumni
Don’t just take our word for it—listen to the experiences of our past healthcare and pre-health interns. Our alumni have pursued successful careers, using the skills and knowledge gained during their internships to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Here are some of our alumni's success stories:
Tyra Dennis
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Kayla McBride
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Grace Munoz
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Ija Mumford
East Africa [Mombasa, Kenya]
Alumni Experiences & Testimonials
Five words. That’s it. The ultimate definition of short and sweet. At the end of each week during debriefing, we were asked to present the group with five words that encompassed our experience in our respective departments. Every Friday, this…
Chiropractic Internship Locations and Fees
07IMA runs its internships in two cities: Mombasa on the coast of Kenya and Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. IMA matches each chiropractic applicant to a placement, so admissions confirms which site hosts you.
IMA’s Program Sites
| Country | City | Main teaching hospital | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Mombasa | Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital | English, with daily medical Swahili lessons |
| Peru | Cusco | Hospital Nacional Adolfo Guevara Velasco | Spanish |
Mombasa is IMA’s largest and longest-running site, and it runs in English year-round, with daily medical Swahili lessons in clinical conversation and terminology. Coast General is Kenya’s second-largest public hospital, with 750 beds.
Cusco runs in Spanish, and you need at least two years of Spanish study. Its main site is a 250-bed teaching and referral hospital. Cusco suits students who want primary care and community health.
Chiropractic interns may be placed outside these hospitals, in clinics or community programs. Your exact setting is confirmed in your acceptance email.
Program Fees
These are IMA’s published program fees in U.S. dollars. The third column adds the separate $995 program deposit to the two-week fee. Prices checked September 21, 2026.
| Location | 2 Weeks | 2 Weeks Plus $995 Deposit | 4 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 8 Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa, Kenya | $3,995 | $4,990 | $4,995 | $6,395 | $7,895 |
| Cusco, Peru | $3,995 | $4,990 | $5,995 | Not offered | Not offered |
Every program fee is exclusive of the separate $995 program deposit. The deposit covers screening and processing, your housing reservation, confirmation of your placement and your pre-departure materials.
Fees for other lengths of stay are on the program dates and fees page.
The fee does not include international airfare, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, visa or entry costs or travel outside the program. Optional laundry, the required IMA-branded scrubs and personal spending money are also extra.
IMA offers flexible, interest-free payment plans, and Program Mentors give specific guidance on the plans available for your program dates. IMA also offers need-based and merit-based scholarships. It points interns to outside scholarships, fundraising sites such as GoFundMe and FundMyTravel and financing through Uplift.
Considering another healthcare field? This program is one of IMA’s medical internships abroad, listed below. Students weighing chiropractic against related paths can compare the physical therapy internship and the occupational therapy internship.
Students still in high school can join IMA’s healthcare internships for high school students.
A comprehensive program designed for undergraduate students aiming to enter medical school. Interns gain exposure to various medical fields, participate in clinical rounds, attend lectures, and engage in community health initiatives.
Tailored for students aspiring to become physician assistants, this internship provides clinical experience across multiple fields, including primary care, emergency medicine, and surgery. Interns work under the guidance of experienced PAs and physicians.
This program offers nursing students and pre-nursing students the chance to work in diverse healthcare settings, gaining hands-on experience in patient care, medical procedures, and community health projects. Interns are mentored by experienced nurses and healthcare professionals.
Designed for students and professionals in dietetics and nutrition, this internship involves working with dietitians in hospitals and clinics to promote community health through nutrition education, dietary planning, and public health initiatives.
This program is aimed at students and professionals in occupational therapy, providing hands-on experience in helping patients recover and improve their ability to perform daily activities. Interns work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and community health settings.
Interns in this program work alongside physical therapists to assist patients in recovering from injuries and improving mobility. The internship includes clinical rotations, rehabilitation programs, and community health projects.
Focused on psychology, psychiatry, and social work, this internship allows students to work in mental health clinics, hospitals, and community health centers, providing support and treatment to individuals with mental health issues.
This program offers pre-CRNA students, graduate nurse anesthesia students, and licensed CRNAs the chance to work in anesthesia departments in hospitals, gaining hands-on experience in anesthesia administration and patient monitoring.
Designed for pre-optometry students, graduate optometry students, and licensed optometrists, this internship involves working in eye clinics and hospitals to diagnose and treat eye conditions, conduct vision screenings, and provide patient care.
This program provides students and professionals in radiologic technology with experience in medical imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Interns work in hospitals and imaging centers, gaining practical skills in diagnostic imaging.
This program is designed for pre-midwifery students, graduate midwifery students, and licensed midwives/nurse-midwives. Interns work in bustling international healthcare environments, providing prenatal care, managing labor and delivery, and addressing postpartum issues under the mentorship of experienced midwives and healthcare professionals. Interns also participate in public health education and community health initiatives, focusing on improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Consult
Program Fees
The Program Fee covers accommodations, meals, in-country transportation, hospital shadowing, and cultural immersion activities. It does not include international airfare, visa fees, or personal expenses. Review the location and duration options below to determine the best fit for you.
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Preparing for Your Chiropractic Internship Abroad
Pre-chiropractic students, chiropractic students and licensed chiropractors can apply. Admission is by application and interview.
Your application includes:
- The online form with short written responses
- A current resume or CV
- Unofficial transcripts
You need English proficiency, and a placement in Cusco also needs at least two years of Spanish. The program is open to citizens of every country, and there is no set minimum GPA. Clinical experience helps but is not required for undergraduates.
Two weeks costs $3,995 in Mombasa or Cusco, plus a separate $995 program deposit. Fees vary by location and length of stay.
IMA offers flexible, interest-free payment plans, and Program Mentors give specific guidance on the plans available for your program dates. IMA also offers need-based and merit-based scholarships.
Every intern in Kenya needs an entry visa, which IMA processes once your flights are booked. Most U.S., Canadian and European citizens need no visa for Peru.
Mombasa, Kenya runs year-round for stays of 2 to 12 weeks, in English. Cusco, Peru runs fixed sessions, in Spanish. Admissions confirms which site hosts chiropractic interns on your dates.
Submit personal details, resume, unofficial transcripts, and written responses online.
Participate in a one-hour interview to assess suitability.
Receive a decision within two weeks, completing the admissions process.
Apply Now
OPEN FOR 2027IMA reviews applications for its chiropractic internships as they arrive, and places often fill months ahead. Start with the online form.
Chiropractic Internship FAQs
International Medical Aid Internship Opportunity
International Medical Aid provides an exceptional opportunity for students pursuing healthcare and pre-med internships abroad. By offering hands-on clinical experience, cultural competency, and exposure to global health and healthcare policy, IMA sets its interns apart as competitive and well-rounded medical school candidates.
We encourage students to apply or contact us with any questions they may have about the program. With a commitment to safety, cultural immersion, and academic excellence, IMA offers an unparalleled opportunity for students to gain invaluable experience and make a meaningful impact in their field.
We welcome questions about our programs and respond within 24 hours.
Thank you for your request
We appreciate your interest in our program. Our team will review your message and get back to you as soon as possible. If you have any urgent questions, feel free to reach out to us directly at our contact information provided on our website.