How to become a traditional and complementary medicine professional
Official title: Traditional and complementary medicine professionals
Also called: Acupuncturist, Ayurvedic practitioner, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, Homeopath, Naturopath, Unani practitioner
Traditional and complementary medicine professionals examine patients, prevent and treat illness, disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments and maintain general health in humans by applying knowledge, skills and practices acquired through extensive study of the theories, beliefs and experiences, originating in specific cultures.
Main tasks
- Conducting physical examinations of patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status
- Developing and implementing treatment plans for physical, mental and psychosocial ailments using applications such as acupuncture, ayurvedic, homeopathic and herbal medicine
- Evaluating and documenting patients’ progress through treatment plans
- Providing health, nutrition and lifestyle advice to individuals, families and communities
- Prescribing and preparing traditional medicines, such as herbal, plant, mineral and animal extracts, to stimulate the body’s capacity for self-healing
- Exchanging information about patients with other health care workers as needed to ensure continuing and comprehensive health care
- Conducting research into traditional and complementary medicines and treatments and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 9 universities in Hong Kong
- Licence or registration: Registering body: Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong. Law: Chinese Medicine Ordinance (中醫藥條例), Cap. 549. Summary by Peernovo; check the body's current rules.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
- About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a traditional and complementary medicine professional?
Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.
Do you need a degree to become a traditional and complementary medicine professional?
Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a traditional and complementary medicine professional?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
- Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
- Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026