Acupuncturists use needles to help heal patients.
An acupuncturist is a professional who practices acupuncture, an ancient Chinese traditional healing method, according to Education-Portal.com. This alternative medicine field involves eliminating tension and pain using pressure points in the body and sharp needles. Many acupuncturists are self-employed and do contract work for traditional doctors and alternative medicine centers, reports DegreeDirectory.org.
Duties
In an acupuncture job, professionals are responsible for using needles to stimulate various points on the body to help release a person’s energy and foster healing of various ailments, according to SchoolsInTheUSA.com. These ailments might include headaches, arthritis or asthma, reports StateUniversity.com. Acupuncturists first must be able to diagnose a patient’s problem and determine the cause. They gather this information by taking a pulse or observing a patient’s breathing patterns, for example.
Other Tasks
After providing treatment, acupuncturists can suggest exercises and diets that will further help patients feel better. They also must sterilize reusable needles. In addition, acupuncturists should possess knowledge of Western medicine and be willing to refer patients to traditional doctors for x-rays or other necessary diagnostic tests. Those who operate their own practices also hire and train staff and oversee their businesses’ finances.
Skills
Solid verbal and interpersonal communication skills are critical in an acupuncture job. Acupuncturists also must have good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity. They must be extremely accurate to avoid causing unnecessary pain to patients or injury to organs. These health care professionals must be organized, detail-oriented and ethical as well. Acupuncturists additionally must be physically fit for lifting patients to treatment room tables.
Education
Individuals who work in the acupuncture field typically receive formal training in certificate programs that last three months or even bachelor’s degree programs that last four years. Programs are available at universities as well as alternative medicine centers and schools. Courses in an acupuncture job training program cover topics such as an introduction to physical examinations, point locations and herbal medicine. In addition, students can take advantage of supervised clinical experiences in the field. Most states require acupuncturists to have three to five years of experience in the industry and pass an exam to obtain a license through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Projection
Employment in the health care industry, which includes jobs for alternative medicine providers such as acupuncturists, is projected to climb 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. The outlook for acupuncture jobs remains positive as this alternative medicine field becomes more popular and insurance companies cover more alternative medicine procedures, according to DegreeDirectory.org. Average acupuncturist salaries in 2010 were $40,000, reports SimplyHired.com.
Tags: alternative medicine, also must, alternative medicine centers, alternative medicine field, health care, medicine centers, medicine field