How to become a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Official title: Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Also called: Chinese medicine doctor, Chinese sinseh, Sinseh, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) specialist, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapist, Chinese medicine doctor, Sinseh
Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner conducts examinations, makes diagnosis and prescribes herbs or other medicines for treatment of various kinds of diseases and disorders of the human body. He/she advises patient on regimen necessary to preserve or restore health.
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
- Median pay: $51,468 a year. The middle half earn $29,424 to $85,440 a year.
- 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 practitioner?
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.
How much does a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $51,468 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $29,424 to $85,440.
Will AI change the work of a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?
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
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, 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