You might be wondering, why do we need an ultimate guide to complementary and alternative medicine education? Before we get into the guide, I’m going to explain why.
You’re probably familiar with these conventional medical careers, right?
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Certified Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Physician’s Assistant (PA)
- Medical Doctor (MD, of all specialties)
- Osteopathic Doctor (DO, of all specialities)
- Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist’s Assistant
- Psychiatrist
Simply put, conventional (also known as allopathic) medicine is the field of health involving FDA approved diagnostics and the treatment of disease through drugs and surgery.
For the last century plus, it has been the primary form of healthcare available in the United States. This is one of the reasons why allopathic medical careers are so widely known and pursued.
In contrast, alternative medicine is the field of health involving health practices not related to the study of allopathic medicine, practice of drug therapy, or surgery.
It encompasses everything from chiropractic and massage therapy, to homeopathy, acupuncture and herbal medicine. Typically, but not always, alternative medicine practitioners do not believe in recommending or receiving allopathic medical care at all.
For quite some time, these two fields of health have been at war with one another.
Allopathic proponents call everything outside of conventional medicine “quackery”.
On the other side, alternative medicine enthusiasts believe and preach that the field of allopathic medicine is completely profit-driven, designed to poison people and keep them sick, so they have to keep coming back for treatment.
Recently, however, a subset of healthcare called integrative and complementary medicine has been spreading like wildfire in the United States.
“What’s that?”, you might ask.
Great question.
Integrative medicine is built on the concept that health is multidimensional.
With factors like genetics, socioeconomics, family, culture, religion, emotional wellbeing, and lifestyle (stress, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and substance abuse) each being an integral part of understanding and improving wellness.
Complementary medicine is a combination of allopathic and alternative medicine.
Typically it involves starting with the least toxic and invasive therapies available to address health issues. Such as nutritional or herbal supplements, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic, massage therapy, physical therapy, positive changes in diet and exercise, stress management, better sleep habits, and mental health therapy. Only if and when these interventions are not enough, would a person then be treated with drugs or surgery.
Complementary medicine combines the most evidence-based parts of alternative medicine with allopathic medical intervention when absolutely necessary.
With integrative and complementary health taking the United States by a storm, career opportunities are rapidly becoming available.
However, with that exciting growth follows the question, “How do you know if an integrative school, educational program, or career opportunity is legitimate?”
It’s easy to be swayed and confused by the marketing tactics of universities, especially nontraditional schools. Beyond that, the educational and licensure requirements of integrative and complementary professionals are not always regulated. Because of that, it can be difficult to know what education and credentials you really need to practice in your preferred field.
An important factor to consider is that in the United States of America, if you want your college degree or diploma to count as valid in the career world, it must be from an educational institution that is regionally or nationally accredited.
The US Department of Education (USDOE) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee both regional and national accreditation.
Regional accreditation is the gold standard for universities in the US.
Universities in the United States that are primarily state-owned and not-for-profit can obtain accreditation from one of the following six regional accrediting agencies.
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, and Washington D.C. - New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT - Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
AK, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA - Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
AR, AZ, CO, IO, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, NM, SD, WI, WV, WY - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, AL, TN, TX, VA
U.S. students in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America - Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
CA, HI
The Hawaiian territories of Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, the Pacific Rim, East Asia, and parts of the Pacific and East Asia
National accreditation is primarily for vocational and trade programs, distance learning, and religious universities that are typically for-profit and not state-owned.
Currently, the following national accrediting agencies are authorized by the USDOE and CHEA to offer national accreditation.
- Distance Education & Training Council (DETC)
- Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
- Council on Occupational Education (COE)
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, Accreditation Commission (TRACS)
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
- Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
- Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)
- Council on Occupational Education (COE)
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
* The University of the People and the American College of Health Sciences are two examples of universities nationally accredited by DEAC - National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCS)
- Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Like a degree from a regionally accredited college, degree from a nationally accredited college will be accepted by employers.
If your college degree or diploma is not from a university that is regionally or nationally accredited, it will not be accepted in the career world.
*In July 2020, the USDOE passed legislation that the USDOE will no longer make a distinction between regional and national accreditation. Both are considered institutional accreditation now, one in the same (source).
With that in mind, let’s dive in to my ultimate guide to complementary and alternative medicine education and careers.
Some of the below professions require you to start your own business, because the job demand is almost nonexistent. Others come with lots of employment opportunities, as long as you have the right education and credentials. It’s important to keep that in mind when you’re deciding the route you would like to go.
*If you’re interested in finding an integrative practitioner rather than becoming one, read this post.
1. Clinical Massage Therapist
If you’re looking for an affordable way to get into the integrative and complementary medicine field, massage therapy is a great way to go. It only requires a diploma plus licensure – from a program like this one by Midland’s Technical College – to begin your career. As a massage therapist, you can help people with everything from injuries to stress and chronic pain. Massage therapists can go on to become certified in a specialized type of massage, too, such as neuromuscular or craniosacral. The median salary is $52,850. You can start your own business to practice independently. If you prefer, though, you can also find job openings through businesses like spas, resorts, and chiropractic offices. If it interests you, you may want to learn how to use aromatherapy (essential oils) safely and effectively, which can help complement the massages you offer.
2. Doula
A doula is a professional who attends births to help coach, relax, and encourage the mother and co-parent throughout the birthing process (at both home births and hospital births). To practice as a doula, you would need several hours of clinical experience plus certification. Unlike a midwife, a doula doesn’t provide medical care, but acts more as a birth coach. The median salary is about $48,000. You’ll likely need to start your own business, but may also be able to work for a practicing midwife or birthing center.
3. Certified Professional Midwife
A certified professional midwife can attend home births or work in a birthing center. Unlike certified nurse midwives, they do not attend hospital births. The requirements include clinical experience/apprenticeship, passing the NARM Examination, and certification. When working with individual families who desire a home birth, a certified professional midwife will schedule several prenatal appointments, attend the birth, and schedule several postpartum follow-ups as well. If you’d like to become a CPM, the only hiccup in your career would be if your state does not allow CPM attended home births, because 14 states currently do not. You can check your state laws here. The median salary is $93,539.
The biggest problem with midwife legislation in the United States is that certified nurse midwives (who work in hospitals and doctor’s offices in the same role as OB/GYNs) cannot legally attend home births without the permission of a physician, which is not guaranteed to be granted. This makes home births rather difficult in the 14 states where certified professional midwives can’t legally attend the birth either. Too many unassisted and undercover midwife-assisted home births occur as a result. It’s a flaw in the system that seriously needs to be addressed.
4. Personal Trainer
A personal trainer works individually with clients of all types to help them reach and maintain their fitness goals through customized fitness coaching. As a personal trainer, you’ll be able to find jobs through gyms and fitness centers or work for yourself by establishing your own following and clientele. To practice as a personal trainer, you’ll need a minimum of an NCCA-accredited personal training certification, but you’ll have more employment opportunities if you also hold a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, too. The median salary is $62,377.
5. Health Coach
A health coach is a professional who works with clients to help them reach and maintain their health goals through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modification. As a health coach, you’ll be able to find jobs through doctor’s offices, major medical networks, agencies, and insurance companies. Doctors are referring their patients to health coaches more and more because the medical community has recognized the great need patients have for personalized care, which medical doctors do not often have the time to give. Work-from-home positions are frequently available. If you’d rather go the entrepreneur route, you can do that instead by establishing your own clientele.
One of the most rewarding parts of being a health coach is that you do not identify your clients’ problems for them and tell them what to do about it, like a physician. In contrast, you use motivational interviewing to help clients identify, discover, plan, and implement their own areas of improvement, health goals, and plan of action.
As a health coach, you provide credible and accurate information about nutrition, exercise, good sleep habits, and stress management techniques. You deliver hands-on health education that will be of practical use forever. Think grocery store tours, cooking classes, teaching clients how to decipher a nutrition label, meal planning ideas, and demonstrating how to eat healthier without breaking the bank. Through all this, you help clients become self sufficient. With your coaching, they can achieve better health and sustain positive lifestyle change. How rewarding is that?
To be a health coach, you need a bachelor’s degree in a health related field, plus certification. While you can start by just earning your health coaching certification and an associate’s degree, if you want to work for a company, most prefer or require a bachelor’s degree in a health related field, such as public health, exercise science, dietetics, or nursing. Be sure to choose a reputable certification program for the best job outlook. The National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) is the preferred health coaching certification among many employers. Health coaches usually have to take continuing education credits on an ongoing basis to be able to keep their certification current. In doing this, many coaches become specialized in one area, like nutrition or senior fitness.
Moreover, health coaching makes a great career change for current healthcare professionals looking for something less strenuous, part-time, or work-from-home. If that’s you, there’s no need to pursue a second degree in addition to your current health credentials. Simply earn your health coaching certification and start applying to jobs. The median salary is $49,569.
6. Nutritionist
The realm of nutrition education is murky at best.
You’ll find a plethora of nutrition “certifications” like this one, which won’t get you anywhere in your career and will only waste your time and money. If you were to pursue one of these nutrition certification programs, you would have to start your own business to practice, because you wouldn’t meet the requirements for any pre-existing job. You would also run the risk of getting into legal trouble for practicing nutrition without the appropriate license.
To practice as a nutritionist in the United States legally, the education and credentials required depend on your state of residence.
- Almost all US states license Registered Dietitians, a type of nutrition professional who must complete an ACEND-accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree in dietetics and a 1200 hour ACEND-accredited dietetic internship and pass the CDR examination to be licensed to practice dietetics and medical nutrition therapy. Similarly, Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTR) complete an ACEND-accredited associate’s degree, 450 supervised practice hours, and pass the CDR examination. Alternatively, they can complete an ACEND-accredited bachelor’s degree and take the CDR examination with no supervised practice hours. NDTRs can practice dietetics and medical nutrition therapy under a Registered Dietitian, or own their own.
On the flip side, only about 1/4 of US states require a person to become a Registered Dietitian to practice as a nutritionist.
So, what if your state doesn’t require the Registered Dietitian credential to practice as a nutritionist? In that case, there are two possible options – which, again, depend on your state.
2. About 1/4 of US states require licensure for nutrition professionals, but offer several other pathways for licensure in addition to Registered Dietitian. These alternate pathways include Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN), and American Society of Nutrition (ASN). The requirements for qualification include a regionally accredited master’s or doctorate degree in a nutrition-related field and 900-1000 hours of clinical experience, plus passing the association’s exam. These can be good alternative options for people who don’t want to focus their clinical experience on hospital work and medical nutrition therapy.
3. About 1/2 of US states license Registered Dietitians, but don’t require or offer licensure for nutritionists.
(What’s the difference? Registered Dietitians are the only nutrition professionals able to go by the title Registered Dietitian/RD or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist/RDN. They are exclusively licensed to practice dietetics and medical nutrition therapy – the treatment of disease with a prescribed diet plan).
This means that in these states, a person can go by the title “nutritionist” and practice nutrition counseling without licensure. You will still need to pursue an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree in a nutrition-related field, to gain the knowledge and credibility you need to practice in the field. It might be worth it to pursue board certification through an organization like the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP), in addition, to boost your credibility. They require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree or higher in nutrition (from an approved school), 1200 hours of supervised clinical experience, and the passing of their examination, plus continuing education units to renew your certification every two years.
Again, if you go this route, be sure to avoid the titles Registered (or Licensed) Dietitian or Dietitian Nutritionist (RD, RDN) in your practice. You can practice nutrition counseling, but you must avoid the practice (or appearance of the practice) of medical nutrition therapy.
You can check your state laws on the practice of nutrition here and here.
Note: The coursework in an ACEND-accredited dietetics degree is not especially focused on integrative or functional medicine, so if you decide to go the route of becoming a Registered Dietitian and you’re interested in practicing functional nutrition, you might want to pursue additional training in functional medicine (see the functional medicine doctor section in this article, below).
The difference between a health coach with a nutrition focus and a nutritionist is that coaches provide general nutrition education and guidance to empower clients to discover, hone, reach their own health goals, while nutritionists can deliver personalized nutrition plans to their clients.
As an Registered Dietitian or nutritionist, you’ll be able to find a job in many medical establishments, community programs like WIC, or through agencies, health insurance networks, and major healthcare networks. Work-from-home positions are often available. Alternatively, you can open your own practice. The median salary for a Registered Dietitian is $64, 434 and for a nutritionist, $64,100.
7. Mental Health Professional
Approximately 7% of adults in the United States suffer from diagnosed depression (NIMH, 2017a) and 18% from diagnosed anxiety (NIMH, 2017b).
While the mental health profession is technically part of traditional medicine as well, it’s an essential part of an integrative health care plan, so I included it here.
With mental illness starting to get the recognition and treatment it deserves, therapists are absolutely crucial in the holistic and integrative wellness space. Chronic stress and mental illness can negatively influence person’s life so severely and in so many different ways, and even cause a decline in physical health, so the importance of therapy as a holistic treatment modality cannot be overstated.
A therapist works with clients with a wide range of mental health conditions from anxiety and depression to PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and OCD, helping their clients achieve a greater quality of life through improved mental health. They often specialize in just a few mental health conditions, rather than all of them, which helps clients get a more individualized therapy experience. To practice as a therapist, you can become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), clinical licensed psychologist (PsyD) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
To become an Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), you need to complete a master’s degree in counseling, obtain provisional licensure, complete two years of clinical experience, and pass the licensing examinations.
The requirements for becoming a clinical licensed psychologist (PsyD) include completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, a regionally-accredited doctoral degree in psychology, 4000 hours of supervised clinical experience, and passing the EPPP examination for licensure.
Future Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) need to complete a master’s degree in social work (MSW), two years of supervised clinical experience hours, and pass the licensing examination.
The median salary for an LPC is $52,225, for an LCSW is $72,212, and for a PsyD is $105,800.
8. Chiropractor (DC)
A Doctor of Chiropractic, commonly referred to as a chiropractor, performs spinal manipulation on patients to address spinal subluxation and restore proper alignment. In short, these techniques often help relieve pain and restore lost mobility and nervous system function.
To practice as a chiropractor, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a science field, complete a doctor of chiropractic degree, and obtain state licensure. Each US state differs in what licensed chiropractors are allowed to do as part of their practice.
Additionally, many chiropractors go on to become board certified in functional medicine or another speciality like functional neurology to extend the services they offer.
Most chiropractors open their own practice eventually. But at first, some may want to work with an established chiropractic office as they’re getting started in their career. The median salary is $153,600.
9. Functional Medicine Doctor
A functional medicine doctor is one (MD, DO, ND, or DC) who chooses to pursue board certification in functional medicine. This widens the the scope of their practice to include integrative and complementary therapies such as diet and nutrition, dietary supplements, herbal medicine, and potentially also including homeopathy and energetic healing modalities, but not always. To become a functional medicine doctor, you’ll need to first become an MD, DO, ND, or DC and then get board certified. A functional medicine doctor, depending on his or her degree, may be able to find a job within an established practice. Many, though, open their own practices and see their own patients. The median salary is $181,378.
Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Physician’s Assistants (PA-Cs), Registered Dietitians (RDs), other nutritionists with a bachelor’s degree or higher, health coaches with a bachelor’s degree or higher, B.S. in exercise science degree holders, and Registered Nurses can become board certified functional medicine, too.
Two options for board certification in functional medicine:
1. American Board of Functional Medicine
2. The Institute for Functional Medicine
10. Naturopathic Doctor (ND)
Unlike an MD or DO, an ND doesn’t attend traditional medical school, but instead goes to naturopathic school after obtaining their bachelor of science. Naturopathic doctors typically work with integrative and complementary treatment methods such as diet and nutrition, dietary supplements, herbs, homeopathy, and energetic healing first and prescribe drugs and surgery only when absolutely necessary. Like an MD or DO, they are licensed to practice medicine. But because naturopathic medicine is still in the baby stages of gaining acceptance in the United States, most NDs do not act as primary care physicians.
There are only 5 accredited schools of naturopathy in the United States, most of which are on the west coast. So to pursue this career, you will likely have to move out of state to attain your degree. You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a science field, then complete a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from one of the above schools, and lastly pass the NPLEX exam to get your license.
The only caveat is that not every state in America licenses naturopathic doctors. If your state doesn’t license NDs, you will have to get licensed by a state that does before practicing in your preferred state. As an ND, you may be able to find a position within an established practice, but you should expect to have to start your own practice. The average salary is $95,642.
11. Homeopathic Doctor (D.Ht.)
Homeopathy is one of the most controversial professions in the realm of natural health. While the allopathic medical community is slowly accepting some types of integrative and complementary health therapies, they consider homeopathic medicine to be 100% pseudoscience. Because of that, as a homeopathic doctor, you won’t be able to find a job in a healthcare setting. There’s a tiny chance you might be able to work for an established functional medicine doctor’s office with the right credentials and experience, but it wouldn’t be wise to bet on it.
Practices like these are few and far between, and the business owners are picky about who they work with.
Of course, I’m not trying to dissuade anyone who’s passionate about the benefits of homeopathy and energetic healing from pursuing a career in it. Only explain the limitations of the homeopathic doctor credential.
Homeopathic doctors practice homeopathy, which is a specific type of energy medicine. Homeopathic medicine is made of substances that would cause unpleasant symptoms or even be poisonous in larger doses, but have been diluted with water or sugar until no molecules of the original substance remain. Proponents of homeopathy claim that the energetic imprint of the substance is left on the water or sugar, and that the more diluted the homeopathic medicine is, the stronger it is. Homeopathic doctors then prescribe remedies based on the “like cures like” hypothesis – choosing a remedy that (undiluted) would cause the same symptoms in a healthy person as the symptoms their patient is currently experiencing.
To become a homeopathic doctor, you would need to obtain a medical degree such as DO or MD and then apply for homeopathic diplomate status. The median salary is approximately $86,418.
12. NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, or Oriental Medicine (Acupuncturist)
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) offers diplomates in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, and Oriental medicine. To qualify for certification, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree, and after that, 3-4 years of ACAOM-accredited graduate education in acupuncture and/or Chinese herbology. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy in which very thin needles are inserted at the meridian points of the body to restore blocked energy.
Because of the positive outcome so many acupuncture patients have had, Physicians often recommend acupuncture for chronic pain patients as an alternative to drug therapy. Acupuncturists may also integrate the use of traditional Chinese herbology into their practice. As an acupuncturist, you may be able to find a position with an established acupuncturist practice, but you should expect to start your own business and grow your clientele. The average salary is $89,060.
13. Clinical Herbalist
Herbalism may be the most unregulated, misunderstood, and under-taught field in the realm of natural health. An herbalist possesses a vast knowledge of the chemical properties of plants (roots, bark, leaves, whole plant, seeds, and berries), their traditional use, and medicinal value.
You’ll often see medical articles recommending that laypeople consult a qualified herbalist before trying herbal medicine on their own.
What does that even mean, though, when there is no regulation or standard of education in the field of herbalism?
In short, the education you should get as an herbalist really depends on the branch of herbal medicine you want to work in.
For Traditional Chinese Medicine, you would need to get your master’s or doctorate degree in TCM and apply for NCCAOM diplomate status, as seen above in the acupuncture section.
For Ayurvedic Medicine, you would typically need to get your master’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and then join a professional organization such as NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association). If you want your degree to count in the United States, it’s important to go with a degree program that is regionally or nationally accredited, but if that is not an important factor to you, there are also Ayurvedic educational programs that aren’t accredited. You can find a comprehensive list of both accredited and unaccredited/traditional study programs here. Not many accredited colleges offer master’s degrees in Ayurvedic medicine, but the following do:
– Mount Madonna Institute
– Maharishi International University
For Western Herbal Medicine, the process usually begins with an education program, either from a regionally or nationally accredited university that can award degrees, or from an unaccredited, more traditional herbal school or apprenticeship. You can find a comprehensive list of apprenticeships, traditional educational programs, and accredited degree programs here. Again, if you want your degree to count in the United States, it’s important to go with a program that is regionally or nationally accredited. A master’s degree is the highest standard for clinical practice. The following universities offer accredited degrees in Western Herbal Medicine:
– American College of Healthcare Sciences – Associate of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine with Herbal Studies Specialization Track, Bachelor of Science in Integrative Health Sciences with Herbal Studies Specialization Track, Master of Science in Herbal Medicine
– Bastyr University – Bachelor of Science in Herbal Sciences
– Hill College – Associate of Science in Biology with Holistic Wellness Pathway
– Maryland University of Integrative Health – Master of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine
After finishing an education and/or degree program, the next step is to complete an internship for clinical experience. Finally, a practicing Western Herbalist can apply for American Herbalist Guild Registered Herbalist status. AHG requires 800 hours of herbal education and 400 hours of clinical experience, 2 professional references, 3 case studies, and knowledge of 150 medicinal plants (chemical constituents, herbal actions, botanical and common names, and clinical indications) to apply.
If you’re fascinated with the study and application of plant medicine, you might be interested in becoming an herbalist. The most important thing to know is that you will HAVE to start your own business.
Even functional medicine doctors and crunchy mothers who swear by essential oils are often unaware of the scope of herbal medicine. Because of that, there are virtually no jobs in the field and you will have to forge your own path.
You can use your herbal education to grow a career through seeing clients individually, becoming an herbal educator, making and selling your own herbal products, blogging about herbal medicine, or a combination of them all.
Be prepared for your career growth to take time. Practicing as an herbalist will be discouraging at times because the market is so limited, even though the medicinal potential in plants is so great.
Educational programs and titles to avoid –
Certified Holistic/Natural Health Practitioner (This credential takes only 1-2 years to earn at a nontraditional, unaccredited school and people who practice under this designation can get into legal trouble for practicing medicine or nutrition without a license.)
Nutrition Consultant (Or any nutrition program that claims you can legally practice nutrition counseling with only a certificate. These people can get into legal trouble for practicing without the appropriate license. The one exception is nutrition specialist continuing education courses for certified health coaches.)
Traditional Naturopath (This credential can be earned in as little as two years with no prerequisite education requirements at a nontraditional, unaccredited school. Yet graduates often claim the title ND and practice as though they have a doctorate degree. They can get into legal trouble for practicing medicine or nutrition without a license.)
Certified Aromatherapist (An aromatherapy certificate can be a nice add-on for some professions, like massage therapy. Most of the time, though, MLMs give these meaningless credentials to their reps and then consumers think it’s a valid title they can trust.)
(Any MLM) “Coach” or “Consultant”
