Practitioners of Natural Healing
(NOC 3232)
in All HealthPractitioners of natural healing provide alternative health care to patients using traditional Chinese medicine techniques and other forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or reflexology to promote, maintain and restore the holistic health of patients. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, or are work for clinics, health clubs and spas.
Job Outlook
Undetermined
Read more
Compared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
N/A
Minimum$15,188
MedianN/A
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.70
Minimum$26.60
Median$43.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Practitioners of natural healing provide alternative health care to patients using traditional Chinese medicine techniques and other forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or reflexology to promote, maintain and restore the holistic health of patients. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, or are work for clinics, health clubs and spas.
Job duties
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners:
- Diagnose the diseases, physiological disorders, and injuries of patients.
- Treat them using raw herbs and other medicines, dietary supplements, or acupuncture.
Acupuncturists:
- Diagnose symptoms, physiological disorders, and injuries of patients.
- Treat them by the insertion of acupuncture needles or through stimulation techniques like acupressure, moxibustion, cupping or electrical current.
Herbalists:
- Assess patients and advise them on the use of herbs to treat conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, skin disorders, and stomach ailments.
- May cultivate herbs and manufacture and sell herbal compounds.
Osteopathic manual therapists:
- Diagnose, treat, and manage musculoskeletal and other related disorders of the body's structure by moving, stretching, and massaging a patients' muscles and joints to correct biomechanical dysfunctions.
Homeopaths:
- Assess illnesses and treat them by administering, in chemical or herbal form, a small dosage of a remedy made from natural substances or by suggesting lifestyle changes.
Reflexologists:
- Apply gentle finger pressure to specific spots on the clients' feet or hands to promote relaxation and better health and well-being.
Sample job titles
- certified rolfer
- herbal practitioner
- holistic practitioner
- homeopath
- homeopathic physician
- hypnotherapist
- reflexology therapist
- registered acupuncture practicioner
- shiatsu therapist
- traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Skills
- Compassion, sensitivity, and a desire to help people are important. Workers in these jobs need to have an interest in working with people on a one-to-one basis and a willingness to make direct physical contact with clients. You should be able to communicate with clients and inspire trust, put people at ease, be observant, and notice a client's symptoms and response to treatment. Maturity and good judgement are essential. It is important to understand and practice professional ethics.
Job requirements
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require a three- to four-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.
- Acupuncturists usually require a three-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.
- Reflexology Therapists must be registered with a recognized professional association for their clients to be reimbursed for the cost of reflexology services through their health care benefit plans.
- Other jobs in this group usually require completion of training programs specific to their type of practice and some supervised practical training.
Other considerations
- Hours of work vary depending on the therapist’s practice, but generally include evenings and weekends. Those who are self-employed may need to have business licenses, police security clearance, and CPR and First Aid training. Advancement in these jobs usually takes the form of building a larger client base.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$14,101 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
N/ANorth Shore
N/ASouthern
N/ACape Breton
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Other services (except public administration)
Manufacturing
Retail trade
What is the age of Employment?
35-44
45-54
25-34
65+
55-64
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
College Diploma
$16,065 median annual incomeBachelor
$24,424 median annual incomeDiploma Above Bachelor
N/ALess than high school
N/AHigh school
N/ACompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Acupuncture
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of acupuncture, a Chinese system of healing based on the use of pulse diagnosis, acupuncture point selection, and needle insertion to treat imbalances in the state of bodily health or Qi. They include courses in basic Western medical sciences, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, diagnostic techniques, patient observation and communication, acupuncture points and point selection, auricular and scalp acupuncture, moxibustion, acupuncture technique, acupuncture of extremities, pain management, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.
Institutions providing this program
Bedford, NS
Traditional Chinese Medicine
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of Chinese herbal medicine, a system based on the use of nutrition, natural products, and prescribed medical formulae to treat imbalances in the state of bodily health as defined in the Nei Ching Su Wen and other authorities. These programs include courses in the basic Western medical sciences, history and theory of Chinese medicine, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, Chinese herbology, herbal prescription preparation, herbal patent medicine, herbal pharmacology, Chinese internal medicine and gynecology, febrile diseases, food therapy, practice management, and professional standards and ethics. point selection, and needle insertion to treat imbalances in the state of bodily health or Qi. They include courses in basic Western medical sciences, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, diagnostic techniques, patient observation and communication, acupuncture points and point selection, auricular and scalp acupuncture, moxibustion, acupuncture technique, acupuncture of extremities, pain management, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Professional Designation: Professional designation exists and shows that the holder has met the standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.