Acupuncturist

Acupuncturists are Holistic Healthcare Practitioners who treat illnesses and provide anesthesia by inserting needles at specific points in a person’s body. This practice was adopted from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which works on “qi”, or the natural energy force flowing through our bodies. Needles are inserted into “meridians”, helping to improve the flow of qi, increasing a patient’s general feeling of well being and reducing their pain. Acupuncturist certification classes offer detailed and high quality instruction at developing the necessary skills to work in this field.

Acupuncture training programs typically involve formal schooling of some sort, including hands-on experience working in the field. Many schools do not require that applicants have an undergraduate degree, but the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) only offers accreditation to schools that require at least two years of undergraduate study (from a community college or a traditional university) before entering their acupuncture degree programs. Some schools also strongly prefer (and thus will only accept) students that already have a bachelor’s degree in related field.

Most acupuncture certification courses last around three years, with tuition and other costs ranging from between $6,000 to $12,000 per year. Financial aid programs and other assistance in the form of scholarships, loans, and grants are widely available to help cover the costs of acupuncture education, so don’t let money be the limiting factor in determining your ability to pursue a career in this exciting and lucrative industry!

And don’t forget that even though Acupuncture may seem more along the lines of voodoo magic than a legitimate field of professional healthcare, it has become quite popular with mainstream audiences in recent years, and can be an incredibly rewarding financial career option. In fact, some Acupuncturists have even filled extremely high profile positions, like serving as the official Team Acupuncturist for the New York Yankees or the San Francisco Giants Baseball Organizations.

Job Outlook

According to the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance, the number of acupuncturists nearly tripled in the last decade: from 5,525 in 1992 to 14,228 in 2000. The 2008 to 2018 decade is anticipated to show similar results as holistic healthcare and alternative medicine continues to grow in popularity. The numbers of of people graduating from advanced acupuncture courses does not currently appear to be large enough to outpace demand for their skills.

Training and Qualifications

Masters and Doctoral degree programs are available in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with specifically focused acupuncture programs relatively widely available. As mentioned above, Acupuncturist Degree Programs can often be completed in as few as 3 to 4 years, including the required clinical experience necessary for passing State Certification Requirements.

Advancement

Most graduates from Acupuncture Certificate Programs are self-employed, meaning that their advancement is largely dependent upon their success at building up a clientele base. Acupuncturists may advance by being hired into lucrative positions (like with major sports teams, or at prestigious pain treatment centers), or by receiving advanced training and specializing in certain aspects of the field (such as Veterinary Acupuncture). Some Acupuncture classes are even available to teach skills required to treat very specific ailments or injuries, allowing further specialization and the possibility of charging higher hourly rates.

Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect earning data on Acupuncturists because there are so few of them in the workforce. However, the American Association of Oriental Medicine claims that Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine specialists charge an average of between $40 to $70 per one hour session.

Learn More

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