Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals

(NOC 3125)

in All Health

These jobs include health professionals who diagnose and treat the diseases and injuries of patients. This includes doctors of podiatric medicine, chiropodists and podiatrists, naturopaths, orthoptists and osteopathic manual practitioners. They work in private practices, clinics and hospitals.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 105 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Health

  • Estimate 3550 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 6335 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$44,444

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Health

Hourly Pay

$16.70

Minimum

$26.60

Median

$43.30

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,740

Minimum

$43,853

Median

$88,944

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

These jobs include health professionals who diagnose and treat the diseases and injuries of patients. This includes doctors of podiatric medicine, chiropodists and podiatrists, naturopaths, orthoptists and osteopathic manual practitioners. They work in private practices, clinics and hospitals.

Job duties

Doctors of podiatric medicine:

  • Diagnose diseases, deformities and injuries of the human foot and communicate diagnoses to patients.
  • Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy, or prescribed medications.
  • May also perform surgery on the bones of the forefoot and the subcutaneous soft tissues of the foot.

Chiropodists and diploma or first-degree trained podiatrists:

  • Diagnose diseases, deformities, and injuries of the human foot.
  • Treat patients using braces, casts, shields, orthotic devices, physical therapy, and subcutaneous soft-tissue foot surgery.

Naturopaths:

  • Diagnose patients' diseases and disorders.
  • Employ natural methods of healing like acupuncture and acupressure, spinal manipulation, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal medicines, biochemical therapy, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, and counselling in their treatment.

Orthoptists:

  • Work alongside ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat eye disorders by performing specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients.
  • Prescribe treatment like eye exercises or patching regimens.

Doctors of osteopathic medicine:

  • Diagnose disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, and nervous systems.
  • Treat patients with manipulative therapy, medications, or surgery.

Sample job titles

  • chiropodist
  • doctor of osteopathy
  • doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)
  • foot specialist
  • naturopath
  • naturopathic doctor (ND)
  • orthoptist
  • osteopath
  • osteopathic manual practitioner
  • podiatrist

Skills

  • You should be interested in the health and well-being of others. An interest in science is also important. You must be patient, tolerant, and sensitive to the needs of others. Good coordination and manual dexterity are necessary. Physical stamina may be needed as well. You should like children if you are considering a career as an Orthoptist.

Job requirements

  • Doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M): a four-year doctoral degree program in podiatric medicine, available in the United States and in Quebec, normally following completion of a bachelor's degree program, is required.
  • Chiropodists and podiatrists: a three-year diploma program in chiropody (DCh) obtained in Canada or a first-degree program in podiatric medicine (D.Pod.M.) obtained abroad (United Kingdom) is usually required.
  • Naturopaths: a university degree in pre-medical science is required. Completion of a university program in naturopathic medicine, obtained abroad or a four-year program in naturopathic medicine from a private institute is required.
  • Orthoptists: a bachelor's degree and completion of a two-year accredited training program in orthoptics are required. Certification with the Canadian Orthoptic Council is required. Continuing education is required for recertification with the Canadian Orthoptic Council.
  • Osteopaths: a bachelor's degree is required for admission to an osteopathic manual practice program. Completion of a traditional osteopathic manual practice program is required.

Other considerations

  • With the exception of training for orthoptists and osteopaths, there are currently no training programs available in Nova Scotia for the jobs in this occupational group. Chiropodist and podiatrist titles are used interchangeably in some provinces, although the title podiatrist is becoming more common. The use of the podiatrist job title does not necessarily refer to doctors of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.). Orthoptists often work as part of a medical team which includes ophthalmologists, opticians and other ophthalmic medical personnel. Orthoptists may also be trained as ophthalmic technicians or technologists. Osteopaths may obtain a licence as general practitioners.

By the numbers

Quick look

135

employed in 2016

73.1%

employed full-time

73.1%

self employed

80.8%
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19.2%
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44.6

median age

Compared to: All Health

36,515

employed in 2016

75.7%

employed full-time

9.6%

self employed

83.6%
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16.4%
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43.5

median age

Where will I likely work?

38.5%

Halifax

$24,708 median annual income
23.1%

Annapolis Valley

$44,519 median annual income
15.4%

Southern

N/A
15.4%

North Shore

N/A
7.7%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

100.0%

Health care and social assistance

What is the age of Employment?

32.0%

45-54

25.0%

25-34

25.0%

35-44

18.0%

55-64

Compared to: All Health

24.0%

25-34

23.9%

45-54

21.9%

35-44

18.4%

55-64

7.7%

15-24

Top levels of education

48.1%

Bachelor

$36,652 median annual income
22.2%

Diploma Above Bachelor

N/A
14.8%

Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry

N/A
7.4%

Master

N/A
7.4%

College Diploma

N/A

Compared to: All Health

38.4%

College Diploma

$40,033 median annual income
27.1%

Bachelor

$61,668 median annual income
8.7%

Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry

$81,191 median annual income
6.8%

High school

$24,829 median annual income
5.1%

Master

$69,296 median annual income

Education & training

Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (DO)

University Program

These programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of osteopathic medicine, involving a combination of medical principles and procedures and osteopathic principles of holistic medicine and the relationship of the musculoskeletal system to general health. They include courses in the basic medical sciences, preventive medicine, family and community medicine, medical informatics, disease systems, organ and physiologic systems, osteopathic principles and practice, osteopathic manipulative treatment, musculoskeletal and skin systems, clinical specialty rotations, medical ethics, and professional standards and practice management.

Institutions providing this program

CEO (Osteopathic Studies) Inc.

Halifax, NS

Vision Science/Physiological Optics

University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of vision, visual processes, and related phenomena and clinical research and treatment modalities. They include courses in ocular anatomy and physiology, microbiology of the eye, electrophysiology, neurophysiology, corneal physiology, photochemistry, psychophysics, visual biophysics and motor systems, sensory mechanisms and photoreception, eye circulation and metabolism, geometric and physical optics, ocular development across the lifespan, visual stimuli and perception, colour vision, eye motility, biometrics and measurement techniques, visual pathology, and environmental issues.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Naturopath

Right to Title: This job is regulated in Nova Scotia. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional designation. Professional designation shows that the holder has met provincial standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.

Regulating body:
Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Lower Sackville, NS
Orthoptist

Special Requirements: Standards exist for this job in Nova Scotia. Certification or membership in a professional body may be required by employers, but a certificate is not needed to do this work.

Regulating body:
Canadian Orthoptic Council (COC)
Laurier Ste. Foy, PQ

Contacts

Canadian Orthoptic Council
Ste. Foy, QC
Canadian Osteopathic Association
Newmarket, ON
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Toronto, ON
Nova Scotia Association of Osteopaths
Truro, NS
Nova Scotia Podiatry Association
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Lower Sackville, NS