32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists

Lead statement

Traditional Chinese medical practitioners are practitioners of natural healing who provide an alternative form of health care to patients.

Main duties

• 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
• May collaborate with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for patients.
• Diagnose symptoms, imbalances, physiological disorders and injuries of patients according to Chinese medicine traditions
• Educate patients on risks and benefits of treatments
• Develop and implement treatment plans including acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, scraping or electrical current
• Evaluate and document patients' progress
• May provide dietary and lifestyle advice including information on life therapies such as energy control therapy (Qi Gong)
• May develop treatment plans in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Employment requirements

• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a four to five-year diploma program in traditional Chinese medicine from a private instituteorcompletion 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 instituteorcompletion 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.

Example job titles

Chinese medicine doctor (CMD) · traditional Chinese medicine practitioner · Chinese medicine practitioner · doctor of Chinese medicine · medical Qi gong practitioner · doctor of Oriental medicine · Oriental medical practitioner · Chinese medicine herbalist · doctor of traditional Chinese medicine · registered traditional Chinese medicine herbalist · traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and acupuncturist · registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioner · doctor of acupuncture · acupuncturist · registered acupuncture practitioner · registered acupuncturist

Wages (per year)

Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.