Acupuncture

Duties and Responsibilities:

Acupuncturists are taught to treat the entire individual, as opposed to the normal Western medical practice which only treats a specific illness or condition. The course of the treatment is determined by the patient’s mental, physical, and emotional condition. Aside from providing acupunctural therapy, practitioners also help the patients attain wellness and balance in their lives.

Salary:

The salary for acupuncturists averages an annual wage of $49,844. The salary after ten years of practice reaches $133,700 a year. Acupuncture is a job recognized to have a high salary among 9 other medical professions.

Education:

Licensed acupuncturists usually have a master’s degree or post-baccalaureate credentials from schools credited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Acupuncture training requires 1,500 – 2,000 hours in most programs and takes about 3-4 years to complete. Graduates have to pass a qualification exam offered by NCCAOM and any further state licensing requirements.

Reflection:

I don’t believe I would like to be an acupuncturist out of interest in the profession. The only thing that really captures my attention about this career is the fact that it has a high-paying salary, particularly after a decade of practice in the field. I’m not really a great fan of needles and such, so I’m not entirely sure I’d actually be comfortable inserting needles into other people. It’s kind of unsettling to even see the pictures online, and I’d much rather not see the needle insertion in person.