How to become a traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturist
Official title: Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturist
Also called: Acupressurist, Acupuncturist, Chinese physician (acupuncturist), Acupressurist
Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist diagnoses, treats, and prevents disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. He/she may also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies.
Main tasks
- Conducting physical examinations of patients and interviewing them and their families to determine their health status
- Developing and implementing treatment plans using applications such as acupuncture, homoeopathic and herbal medicine
- Evaluating and documenting patients’ progress through treatment plans
- Providing health, nutrition and lifestyle advice
- Prescribing natural medicines, such as herbal, mineral and animal extracts, to stimulate the body’s capacity for self-healing
- Exchanging information about patients with other healthcare workers as needed to ensure continuing and comprehensive healthcare
- Conducting research into traditional and complementary medicines and treatments and disseminating findings such as through scientific papers and reports
How to become one
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) professionals are required to be registered with the TCM Practitioners Board (TCMPB) or its equivalent and possess a Practising Certificate (PC) in order to practise TCM in Singapore.
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 2 universities in Singapore
- Licence or registration: TCM physicians and acupuncturists must be registered with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board and hold a valid practising certificate. TCM physicians need an approved TCM qualification and must pass the Board's qualifying examination. Law: Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act 2000. Regulator: Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) (https://www.tcmpb.gov.sg).
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- 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 Chinese medicine acupuncturist?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) professionals are required to be registered with the TCM Practitioners Board (TCMPB) or its equivalent and possess a Practising Certificate (PC) in order to practise TCM in Singapore.
Will AI change the work of a traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturist?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Singapore Department of Statistics (Ministry of Health data): Registered Health Personnel (End Of Period), Annual (M870011) (SingStat Table Builder M870011), Singapore Open Data Licence, retrieved 4 October 2026
- Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat): Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) 2024 (SSOC 2024 (definitions and index updated 2026-06-24)), Singapore Open Data Licence, 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