Alternative Medicine Careers on the Rise

Posted April 04, 2017 by Christy Wood, Campus President

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the fastest growing health care professions in the United States today. Increasingly, Americans are allocating their health care dollars toward holistic health and alternative medical treatments, services and products.

Alternative Medicine-Careers-Miami-Florida

The prospects for finding a job in the field of acupuncture and Oriental medicine are excellent for the foreseeable future. Employment in the alternative therapy and holistic medicine fields, which include acupuncture, massage therapy, podiatry, chiropractic care and more, grew by nearly 50 percent between 2002 and 2012.

Training in alternative medicine careers

Education programs for alternative medicine careers train students to practice as primary health care providers. Students complete courses in the following areas:

  • Chinese medicine
  • Acupuncture
  • Herbology
  • Tui na
  • Qigong

Students receive comprehensive training in the foundational knowledge of TCM and the skills needed to work competently in a private practice.

Workplace options for alternative medicine

Acupuncture physicians work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, treatment centers, private practices and community health centers.

For high school graduates who decide not to attend a traditional four-year college or for those who are seeking training for a second career, massage therapy is one of the most rewarding experiences in the health care field. Massage therapists also have a variety of work environments to choose from, including medical facilities, spas, resorts and private practices.

The outlook on massage careers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that massage therapy employment is expected to grow faster than average through 2024 as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.

Find your career niche at Acupuncture and Massage College, which offers a certification in Japanese Shiatsu massage. The College offers a comprehensive massage therapy program that teaches a wide range of massage therapy modalities in the classroom.

For information about AMC’s Oriental Medicine and Massage Therapy programs email our admissions department.

Four Steps to Changing Career Paths

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