Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

Strong job outlook

Overview
Employment prospects
Education and training

Overview

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists assess, treat and prevent diseases, conditions, disorders or imbalances of patients' using various forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or other holistic health approaches. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and health clubs.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners

  • Diagnose within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients

  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits of treatments to patients

  • Prescribe and administer treatment such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), scraping (Gua Sha), cupping therapy, moxibustion, acupressure, and auriculotherapy

  • May prescribe and administer Chinese manipulative therapy (Tui Na), energy control therapy (Qi Gong) and laser therapy

  • May suggest home care instructions and provide information about life therapies including energy control therapy (Qi Gong), Chinese shadow boxing (Tai Ji Quan) and Chinese food cure recipes (Shi Liao)

  • Maintain patient records

  • Prescribe and administer treatment using raw or granule herbs and other medicines or dietary supplements

  • May collaborate with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for patients.

  • Acupuncturists

  • Diagnose symptoms, imbalances, physiological disorders and injuries of patients according to Chinese medicine traditions

  • Educate patients on risks and benefits of treatments

  • Develop and implement treatment plans including acupuncture acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, scraping or electrical current

  • Evaluate and document patients' progress

  • May provide dietary and lifestyle advice including information on life therapies such as energy control therapy (Qi Gong)

  • May develop treatment plans in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Job titles

  • acupuncturist
  • Chinese medicine doctor
  • Chinese medicine herbalist
  • Chinese medicine practitioner
  • doctor of acupuncture
  • doctor of Chinese medicine

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition

Annual salary

Low

$35,592

Median

$35,592

High

$71,000

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

Strong job outlook

British Columbia

295

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • Acupuncturists usually require completion of a three- to four-year diploma program in acupuncture from a private institute or completion of some university undergraduate studies in science and training in a related health care discipline or work experience under the supervision of a registered acupuncturist.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for acupuncturists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Ontario and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a four- to five-year diploma program in traditional Chinese medicine from a private institute or completion of a program in traditional Chinese medicine from recognized medical schools abroad.

Additional information

  • No additional information

Certification requirements

Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists in B.C.

  • Registration with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia

Registration with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia

Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification. To practice as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in B.C., must to register with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. Eligibility is achieved by completing a recognized education program in B.C., gaining two years of liberal arts or sciences study, writing registration examinations, and gaining standard first aid and CPR-C certifications.

Visit website

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

Explore programs related to this career offered at post-secondary institutions in B.C.

Learn more

Other careers

Other practitioners of natural healing

Practitioners of natural healing provide health care to patients using various...