Oriental Medicine Doctor

Duties & Responsibilities:

Oriental medicine treats a variety of ailments including headaches, back pain, arthritis, or other illnesses by identifying patterns of imbalance within a body’s energy levels and working to readjust fluids or tissues in order to keep the body in balance and relieve pain. Oriental medicine techniques include acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, and herbal supplements that are applied to specific body parts or tissues. Practitioners must be able to evaluate a patient’s symptoms and identify what organs or tissues are causing the ailment, and come up with a customized plan that incorporates oriental herbs and practices into a treatment.

Salary:  Starting at $61,000

Education:

Most states require students to work as an intern or apprentice for a specific number of hours in order to qualify for certification, and then have them take an examination to become certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Most training is obtained during an internship or apprenticeship, and many students who work as intern often get hired in as a full-time practitioner once their certification is obtained.