Acupuncture is often part of a holistic health program offered by schools that concentrate in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Licensing requirements vary widely by state, county and city. Some areas call for a three-year program combined with an examination; others mandate specific hours of training.
If you are interested in pursuing a career as an acupuncturist, try to find a school that's certified by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which regularly inspects schools. In general, ACAOM-certified schools provide a higher quality program and many offer Federal financial aid to students.
Most TCM schools will require bachelor's degree, with courses in anatomy, physiology and biology. A typical TCM program will cover basic and advanced acupuncture concepts, needle use and safely, blood borne pathogen procedures, and medical ethics. You'll cover herbal treatments, massage techniques, and other TCM practices. In most cases, you'll undergo at least two years of training. Upon completion, you may be asked to take a battery of examinations offered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which will allow you to become a licensed acupuncturist.
As a licensed acupuncturist, your pay will depend on the area where you practice and your service offerings. According to Payscale's Real-Time Salary Survey, www.payscale.com, the median yearly salary for acupuncturists with one to four years experience is $45,000.
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients.
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