Choosing a chiropractor is one of those decisions where the consequences only show up after you have started. The wrong choice costs you time, money, and sometimes makes your problem worse. The right choice changes your life. Here is how to evaluate a chiropractor before you make your first appointment.
1. Are They Licensed and in Good Standing?
Every practicing chiropractor in California is required to be licensed by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. You can look up any provider’s license status at chiro.ca.gov. Verify the license is active and check for any disciplinary actions. This takes about 60 seconds and tells you a lot.
2. What Is Their Specialty?
Chiropractic is a broad field. Some chiropractors focus on wellness and maintenance care. Some specialize in sports performance. Some focus on personal injury and post-accident rehabilitation. Some emphasize pediatric and prenatal care. There is no single “right” specialty, but the right specialty for you depends entirely on why you are coming in.
If you were just in a car accident, you want someone who handles personal injury cases regularly and who knows how to document for insurance claims. If you are an athlete, you want a sports-focused chiropractor, ideally one with CCSP certification. If you are bringing your kids in, you want a practice that sees a lot of families.
3. How Long Have They Been Practicing?
Years in practice are not everything, but they are something. A chiropractor who has been treating patients in your community for 20+ years has seen thousands of cases, developed clinical judgment, and built referral relationships with medical doctors, attorneys, and other specialists. That depth matters when your case is complex.
4. What Is the First Visit Like?
This is the most overlooked question. Some practices put you on the table within 5 minutes of arriving, with no real exam. Run from those.
A proper first visit should include a one-on-one consultation about your history and symptoms, a thorough physical exam (orthopedic and neurological), imaging only when clinically indicated (not by default on every patient), a clear report of findings explaining what they found and what they recommend, and a treatment plan you understand and agree to.
If a practice cannot tell you in advance what the first visit involves, that is a yellow flag. See our first visit page for an example of what to expect.
5. Do They Take Your Insurance?
Most major medical insurance plans cover chiropractic, but coverage varies wildly. Before your first visit, ask the front desk to verify your benefits. Specifically: how many visits per year, what your copay is, whether prior authorization is required, and whether deductibles apply. For personal injury cases, the office should be familiar with MedPay coverage and third-party billing.
6. What Is Their Approach to Long-Term Care?
Some chiropractors will tell you that you need lifetime weekly adjustments after a single problem resolves. There is no strong evidence supporting this for most patients. A reasonable practice will explain the acute treatment plan, define what success looks like, and offer (but not pressure) optional maintenance care once you are out of pain.
If a practice is trying to lock you into a 36-visit prepaid package on day one, ask hard questions. Reputable practices bill visit-by-visit or in small blocks with clear opt-out points.
7. Do They Communicate with Your Other Providers?
Good chiropractic care does not happen in a silo. If you have a primary care doctor, a specialist, an attorney, or a physical therapist, your chiropractor should be willing and able to communicate with them, share notes when appropriate, and refer out when something is outside their scope.
8. What Do Their Patients Say?
Read recent reviews on Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor. Look for patterns. One bad review is meaningless. A consistent theme across many reviews tells you something. Pay attention to how the office responds to negative feedback, which often says more than the reviews themselves.
About Premier Chiropractic
Premier Chiropractic of Stockton has been serving the Stockton and San Joaquin County community since 1994. Dr. Christopher Schlenger, DC and Dr. Jesus Cazares, DC (CCSP) handle personal injury, family care, sports performance, and general chiropractic. We hold a 4.7-star rating across 149+ reviews. Our office is bilingual (English and Spanish), and we offer same-day appointments for new patients.
Call (209) 477-7777 or visit our About page to learn more about our practice and team.