An Education in Acupuncture

Today, people are more aware of their health and well-being than ever before. People are becoming more aware of how various drugs and traditional medical practices affect their bodies. Because of this, people are embracing alternative holistic forms of medicine in droves, demanding the healing powers in natural therapies that work with the body. These include practices such as chiropractic therapy, herbal medicines, and acupuncture. Acupuncturists have been found throughout history, dating as far back as 200 B.C. Many people mistakenly believe that this medicinal art form is oriental in origin. On the contrary, historians have found evidence of acupuncture practice in South Africa, ancient Egypt, Brazil, and even the Eskimos in Alaska have exercised its use. Acupuncturists today are thoroughly trained through classroom courses. Acupuncture is more than the insertion of needles in someone’s skin. Skilled acupuncturists must be knowledgeable in holistic therapy, needle manipulation and locations, the functions of acupuncture, and the various methods regarding technique. There are about fifty accredited schools in the United States that offer acupuncture programs. A student of acupuncture should expect to put in approximately 3,000 hours of study over a three to four year span. This education includes both classroom learning and clinical training, where the student performs supervised acupuncture on patients. Like traditional medicine these hours come only after a student has already attended a minimum of four semesters (two years) of college coursework and earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. Most students of acupuncture have earned degrees in areas such as nursing, medical assisting, anatomy, etc. before going on to study acupuncture. When finished with the educational requirements, a student of acupuncture will have obtained a Master’s Degree, and be ready for their career. All practicing acupuncturists must be licensed by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Just like a traditional medical doctor, acupuncturists must pass a state-issued exam in order to practice this trade. To do this, aspiring acupuncturists must attend accredited colleges for acupuncture. An entry-level acupuncturist can expect to earn anywhere between $30,000 and $50,000 annually depending on the location. A well-trained, well-established acupuncturist can bring in over $100,000 annually. Most acupuncturists operate as independent business owners and manage their own personal clinic. Some work with traditional medical doctors and hospitals, while others may choose to team up with holistic medical professionals and offer a well-rounded holistic approach to healing and pain relief. Whatever path an acupuncturist chooses, he or she can be assured that this career with such a deep and extensive past will be around well into the future. rnDISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised on HolisticJunction.com. Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by HolisticJunction.com. Notice to Publishers: You may use this article on Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active. Failure to retain links is expressly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted extensively by law.