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Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

National Occupation Code (NOC): 32200

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists assess, treat and prevent diseases, conditions, disorders or imbalances of patients' using various forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or other holistic health approaches. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and health clubs.

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Job Duties for Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners

  • Diagnose within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits of treatments to patients
  • Prescribe and administer treatment such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), scraping (Gua Sha), cupping therapy, moxibustion, acupressure, and auriculotherapy
  • May prescribe and administer Chinese manipulative therapy (Tui Na), energy control therapy (Qi Gong) and laser therapy
  • May suggest home care instructions and provide information about life therapies including energy control therapy (Qi Gong), Chinese shadow boxing (Tai Ji Quan) and Chinese food cure recipes (Shi Liao)
  • Maintain patient records
  • Prescribe and administer treatment using raw or granule herbs and other medicines or dietary supplements
  • May collaborate with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for patients.

Acupuncturists

  • Diagnose symptoms, imbalances, physiological disorders and injuries of patients according to Chinese medicine traditions
  • Educate patients on risks and benefits of treatments
  • Develop and implement treatment plans including acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, scraping or electrical current
  • Evaluate and document patients' progress
  • May provide dietary and lifestyle advice including information on life therapies such as energy control therapy (Qi Gong)
  • May develop treatment plans in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Employment Requirements for Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a four to five-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.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Ontario and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.
  • Acupuncturists usually require completion of a three- to four-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.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required for acupuncturists in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, which includes completion of an approved registration examination.

Alternate Job Titles

  • Acupuncturist
  • Chinese Medicine Doctor
  • Chinese Medicine Herbalist
  • Chinese Medicine Practitioner
  • Doctor Of Acupuncture
  • Doctor Of Chinese Medicine
  • Doctor Of Oriental Medicine
  • Doctor Of Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • Medical Qi Gong Practitioner
  • Oriental Medical Practitioner
  • Registered Acupuncture Practitioner
  • Registered Acupuncturist
  • Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist
  • Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner And Acupuncturist
  • Chinese Medicine Doctor (CMD)
  • CMD (Chinese Medicine Doctor)

This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

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