Career Overview
Practitioners of natural healing provide complementary forms of care to promote, maintain and restore the overall or holistic health of patients. They use a variety of treatments including acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, herbology, homeopathy and reflexology.
Duties
Acupuncturists:
- Diagnose diseases, physical disorders, imbalances and injuries
- Treat patients by inserting needles
- Use stimulation techniques that include heat, light (including laser), acupressure, magnets, suction and electric currents
- Work within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine
- May suggest exercises and offer food guidelines
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners:
- Diagnose diseases, physical disorders, imbalances and injuries
- Treat patients using acupuncture and Chinese herbology
Herbalists:
- Use herbs to treat arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, skin disorders, stomach problems and other conditions
- Use plant-based foods to promote healing and wellness
- May grow, manufacture and sell herbal compounds
Traditional Chinese medicine herbalists:
- Diagnose diseases, physical disorders, imbalances and injuries
- Prescribe and mix herbal formulas to treat patients
- Work within the framework of traditional Chinese medicine
- May suggest healing Chinese recipes
Homeopaths:
- Assess illnesses
- Treat patients by giving a small dose of a herbal or chemical remedy made from natural substances
- Suggest lifestyle changes
Reflexologists:
- Assess clients’ physical, mental and emotional health
- Apply gentle pressure with fingers to reflex points on the hands, feet, ears and face
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
2,400% Employed Full Time
26%Many practitioners of natural healing work in private practice, including group or team practices. Some have home-based or mobile businesses. Others are employed by health clinics, extended care facilities, rehab centres, health clubs or spas.
They may work regular business hours, evenings or weekends. Most work environments are quiet and soothing.
Practitioners must keep treatment areas clean and take other safety measures to protect their clients and themselves from infection. They may feel strain from standing or sitting during treatments. They also risk injury when lifting and moving tables and other equipment.
Career Pathways
With additional education and training, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners may become doctors of traditional Chinese medicine. In this advanced role, they deal with more complex medical needs.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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Job Titles
Education, Training and Skills
Qualifications vary depending on the area of practice. In general, practitioners of natural healing must complete a training program and gain supervised practical experience.
Requirements for acupuncturists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and traditional Chinese medicine herbalists are more specific since these streams are regulated.
Acupuncturists usually require:
- A three-year diploma in acupuncture
- Some university undergraduate studies in liberal arts and science
- Work experience under the supervision of a registered acupuncturist or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require:
- A four- to five-year diploma in traditional Chinese medicine, majoring in acupuncture and herbology
- Some university undergraduate studies in liberal arts and science
- Clinical training under the supervision of a registered traditional acupuncturist, traditional Chinese medicine herbalist or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Traditional Chinese medicine herbalists usually require:
- A three-year diploma in traditional Chinese medicine, majoring in herbology
- Some university undergraduate studies in liberal arts and science
- Clinical training under the supervision of a registered traditional Chinese medicine herbalist or traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Acupuncturists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and traditional Chinese medicine herbalists must be registered with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. Throughout their careers, they must keep their skills current.
Workers coming to B.C.
Practitioners of natural healing who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.
Workers who trained outside of Canada
Practitioners of natural healing who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Health/Medical - General
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
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Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
2,400Employment by Region
Region | Employment (2022) | % Employment of this Occupation |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 90 | 2.1% |
Kootenay | 90 | 3.4% |
Mainland/Southwest | 1,710 | 65.1% |
North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.3% |
Northeast | N/A | 0.6% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 250 | 8.8% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 370 | 18.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)
1,170Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)
Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
Mainland/Southwest | 800 | 1.8% |
North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
Northeast | N/A | N/A |
Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 0.4% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 180 | 2.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
Industry | Job Openings (2022-2032) |
---|---|
Health Care and Social Assistance | 149,700 |
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 46,100 |
Retail Trade | 115,500 |
Educational Services | 64,500 |
Construction | 72,700 |
Insights from Industry
In addition to acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy and reflexology, practitioners of natural healing use a range of lesser-known holistic practices including:
- Acupressure – stimulating points on the body to change energy flow
- Aromatherapy – using essential oils to relax clients and enhance the effects of other treatments
- Rolfing – manipulating soft tissue to release stress, improve movement and reduce pain
- Shiatsu – using touch to balance energy flow
Resources
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Acupuncture Canadawww.acupuncturecanada.org
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British Columbia Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioners (ATCMA)atcma.org
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Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA)carb-tcmpa.org
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Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada (CMAAC)www.cmaac.ca
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College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA)www.ctcma.bc.ca
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Natural Health Practitioners of Canadawww.nhpcanada.org
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Small Business BCsmallbusinessbc.ca
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United Acupuncturists and TCMP Association of British Columbia (UAABC)www.uaabc.com