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| Category: Alternative Medicine Schools |
Date published: September 16, 2008 |
A Few Reasons why you should Pursue Education in Alternative Medicine
by CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd
 Stuck in a dead-end job and looking for an innovative approach to your professional future? Graduating high school and not sure what to do with your life? While there are several vocational routes you can take, it's important that you choose your career direction wisely. By raising your personal expectations, you can begin to explore the prospects of one of the many healthcare fields in alternative medicine. Once you do, you'll discover that these specialized alternative health disciplines can be both personally and professionally rewarding.
Some popular complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) careers include fast-growing professions like massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and herbal medicine, among others. Primary reasons for the expansion of these CAM therapies include public interest, consumer demand, research, and the vast construction of alternative medicine schools throughout these United States. In fact, there are literally hundreds of accredited massage therapy schools, almost 20 chiropractic colleges, and over 50 acupuncture and Oriental medicine schools in the U.S. alone. Additionally, a recent survey conducted by the American Hospital Association (AHA) made an interesting discovery -- of the hospital respondents, 37 percent are currently providing one or additional complementary and alternative medicine therapies to patients.
If Oriental medicine like acupuncture intrigues you, then it's wise to note a few things -- there are roughly 25,000 licensed acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners here in the United States. In addition, experienced practitioners can earn annual incomes between $30,000 and $60,000; however, there are a number of these alternative medicine practitioners who earn well above $100,000 yearly. The trick, however, is to find and enroll in one of the Oriental medicine or alternative medicine schools that can suit your academic needs. In these advanced alternative medicine studies, you can anticipate a course that may take up to four+ years to complete.
Professional bodywork is yet another career track you can explore. Licensed massage therapists work in diverse work settings including hospitals, hospice facilities, cancer treatment centers, neonatal hospital units, spa-wellness clinics, rehabilitation centers, and health retreats, among others. In addition to concentrated massage therapy programs; there are many alternative medicine schools that offer this program of study among their holistic health courses. While typical massage classes are roughly about 500 hours in length, the unique opportunity in this discipline is that adult learners can usually take part-time or evening courses to fit demanding, work schedules.
Chiropractic is yet another alternative medicine program offered at one of many chiropractic colleges. Like other CAM therapies, chiropractic healthcare is growing every year. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, an estimated 20 percent of American adults have had some form of chiropractic care. As well as earning respect in the medical community, doctors of chiropractic (D.C.) have great opportunities to earn a lucrative income. However, training in this alternative medicine system is extensive and generally requires prerequisite education equivalent to a four-year degree; this, in addition to four years of concentrated chiropractic studies.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about alternative health education, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore alternative medicine schools near you.
Sources:
HolisticJunction.com
AHANews.com
ACA (American Chiropractic Association)
CCAOM (Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
A Few Reasons why you should Pursue Education in Alternative Medicine
©Copyright 2009
Media Positive Communications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Former staff writer for HolisticJunction.com, Educational Resources for Healing Arts Schools, Natural Healing Schools, and other Alternative Medicine Schools.
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
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