How to become a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist
Official title: Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Also called: Acupuncturist, Chinese medicine doctor, Registered acupuncturist, Chinese medicine herbalist, Doctor of chinese medicine, Doctor of oriental medicine, Medical qi gong practitioner, Chinese medicine practitioner, Oriental medical practitioner, Registered acupuncture practitioner, Doctor of traditional chinese medicine, Traditional chinese medicine practitioner
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.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
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.
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 36% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems; Medicine; Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing.
- Licence or registration: 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. 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.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $32,867 a year The middle half earn $17,200 to $52,800.
- About 8,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 10,400 are projected by 2033. (+28.4%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist?
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.
How much does a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $32,867 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $17,200 to $52,800.
Is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 28% by 2033, from about 8,100 to about 10,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or acupuncturist?
Not always. 59% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03