One of the most important questions that you should ask yourself before starting any career path is what opportunities you will have once you obtain your degree. An acupuncture degree is no different. Luckily, practitioners of acupuncture have plenty of job opportunities, and as the field becomes more and more popular, opportunities are likely to grow.
Here are just some of the things you can do as an acupuncturist once you obtain your degree.
Work In a Private Practice
One of the most common career paths until now for people who hold an acupuncture degree is working in a private office or practice. Most people looking for acupuncture treatments seek out practitioners who have their practice offering Chinese or holistic medicine. You can work in someone else’s practice while you gain valuable experience, or open up your own.
Running your practice is a valuable experience and offers you freedom that traditional jobs may not. However, it comes with the same challenges as running any other business.
In a Hospital or Clinic
As acupuncture is becoming increasingly accepted, even by practitioners of Western medicine, more and more positions are opening up in institutions of traditional medicine such as hospitals and clinics. Look for hospitals with integrative medicine programs, which usually combine different holistic techniques with accepted Western medicine. These departments tend to hire acupuncturists.
As for clinics, search for open positions in community, integrative, or pain management clinics, as those tend to hire acupuncturists. Your university may also have a job board and careers program that can connect you to those opportunities.
