Occupational Profiles

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners perform some or all of the following duties:

• Diagnose the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients
• Treat them using raw herbs and other medicines, dietary supplements or acupuncture.

Acupuncturists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Diagnose symptoms, physiological disorders and injuries of patients
• Treat them by the insertion of acupuncture needles or through stimulation techniques such as acupressure, moxibustion, cupping or electrical current.

Herbalists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assess patients and advise them on the use of herbs for the treatment of conditions such as arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, skin disorders and stomach ailments
• May cultivate herbs and manufacture and sell herbal compounds.

Osteopathic manual therapists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal and other related disorders of the body's structure by moving, stretching, and massaging a patients' muscles and joints to correct biomechanical dysfunctions.

Homeopaths perform some or all of the following duties:

• Assess illnesses and treat them by administering, in chemical or herbal form, a small dosage of the illness itself or by suggesting lifestyle changes.

Reflexologists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Apply gentle finger pressure to specific spots on the clients' feet or hands to promote relaxation and better health and well-being.

• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners usually require completion of a three- to four-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.
• Acupuncturists usually require completion of a three-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 Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
• Osteopathic manual therapists require completion of a four- to five- year college program in osteopathy.
• Homeopaths usually require completion of a three-year diploma program in homeopathy.
• Registration with a regulatory body is required for homeopaths in Ontario.
• Other occupations in this unit group usually require completion of training programs specific to their type of practice and some supervised practical training.