Careers in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Become a licensed acupuncturist, Tuina therapist, or Oriental
medicine doctor when you choose to pursue some of the unique careers
in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Boasting rich, ancient medical traditions rooted in Eastern
philosophies, principles and applications --- careers in traditional
Chinese medicine offer individuals fascinating perspectives in natural
medicine and energy healing including the Five elements, meridian
therapy, yin and yang, Chi, Tai Chi, Qigong, and more.

Dependent upon which one of the Oriental medicine career paths you
choose to pursue, you can expect between a few months to a few years'
training and education. For example, if you are primarily interested
in Eastern massage techniques, there are some careers in traditional
Chinese medicine like Tuina therapists, acupressure practitioners, and
meridian therapy practitioners. While no two healing arts schools
offer the exact same curricula in these fields, individuals can
anticipate educational programs that range between 200 and 1,000+
hours. In addition to earning your diploma or certificate of
completion, there are some training courses that meet national
certification requirements in which you may be eligible to earn.

Professional careers in traditional Chinese medicine like Oriental
medicine practitioners must be substantiated by three to four years of
in-depth training in an accredited *acupuncture and Oriental medicine*
program. In many cases, these 3,000+ training hours consist of
academic and clinical studies in biomedicine, Chi cultivation,
Oriental massage (i.e., Shiatsu, acupressure, and/or Tuina), theories
of TCM, acupuncture theory and practice, Chinese herbology, and
associated professional studies.

Individuals, who have successfully completed all educational and
training requirements to become a licensed Oriental medicine
practitioner, find that these careers in traditional Chinese medicine
offer a plethora of healing services to clients and patients. Some of
the many natural health services that Oriental medicine practitioners
provide include treatments in acupuncture, herbal remedies, Eastern
bodywork, Tai Chi and Qigong, moxibustion, cupping, and holistic
nutritional counseling, among others.

High-level careers in traditional Chinese medicine like Doctors of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (D.A.O.M.) can be achieved through
educational commitment and a sincere desire to help in healing. This
is one of the highest degrees awarded to TCM practitioners, and is one
profession that requires a substantial amount of academic and
practical training.

In order to become a successful D.A.O.M., interested individuals
should carefully research prospective acupuncture schools or Oriental
medicine colleges to determine if they are accredited by the ACAOM
(Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine),
tuition costs, program length, and what prerequisites are necessary to
apply. These particular *careers in traditional Chinese medicine*
typically require a minimum of Master's level training in acupuncture
and Oriental medicine prior to enrollment (into a D.A.O.M. program).

According to the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine), over eight million U.S. adults have used
alternative medicine like acupuncture to help in healing. As natural
healing medicines like TCM, massage therapy, and acupuncture continue
to grow in demand, students who have chosen careers in traditional
Chinese medicine can anticipate both personal and professional rewards
for a lifetime.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about
these or other TCM occupations, let professional training within
fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy,
acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Reiki, and others get you started!
Explore *careers in traditional Chinese medicine* near you.

Careers in Traditional Chinese Medicine

© Copyright 2008

The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

*NOTICE:* Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant
websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included;
and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

_By: *CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd*_

*About the Author:*

*Resource Box:* CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web
Consultant for *HolisticJunction.com* [1], _in association with
CollegeSurfing.com_ - Educational Resources for *Careers in
Traditional Chinese Medicine* [2], *Acupuncture* [3], and other unique
training programs.

Links:
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[1] http://www.holisticjunction.com
[2] http://www.holisticjunction.com/categories/HAD/chinese-medicine.html
[3] http://www.holisticjunction.com/categories/HAD/acupuncture-and-oriental-medicine.html