About the job
Practitioners of natural healing provide alternative health care to patients using traditional Chinese medicine techniques and other forms of treatment including acupuncture, herbology or reflexology to promote, maintain and restore the holistic health of patients. They usually work in private practice, including group or team practices, or are employed by clinics, health clubs and spas.
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners diagnose the diseases, physiological disorders and injuries of patients and treat them using raw herbs and other medicines, dietary supplements or acupuncture.
- Acupuncturists diagnose symptoms, physiological disorders and injuries of patients and treat them by the insertion of acupuncture needles or through stimulation techniques such as acupressure, moxibustion, cupping or electrical current.
- Herbalists 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 and may cultivate herbs and manufacture and sell herbal compounds.
- Homeopaths diagnose illnesses and treat them by administering, in chemical or herbal form, a small dosage of the illness itself or by suggesting lifestyle changes.
- Reflexologists apply gentle finger pressure to specific spots on the clients' feet or hands to promote relaxation and better health and well-being.
- Rolfers systematically manipulate various parts of the body such as the legs and shoulders in order to realign the structure of the body and reduce chronic pain and stress.
- certified rolfer
- herbalist
- holistic practitioner
- homeopath
- homeopathic physician
- hypnotherapist
- reflexology therapist
- registered acupuncture practicioner
- shiatsu therapist
- traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
Compassion, sensitivity, and a desire to help people are important. Workers in these jobs need to have an interest in working with people on a one-to-one basis and a willingness to make direct physical contact with clients. You should be able to communicate with clients and inspire trust, put people at ease, be observant, and notice a client's symptoms and response to treatment. Maturity and good judgement are essential. It is important to understand and practice professional ethics.
- 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.
- 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.
- Reflexology Therapists must be registered with a recognized professional association for their clients to be reimbursed for the cost of reflexology services through their health care benefit plans.
- Other jobs in this group usually require completion of training programs specific to their type of practice and some supervised practical training.
Hours of work vary depending on the therapist’s practice, but generally include evenings and weekends. Those who are self-employed may need to have business licenses, police security clearance, and CPR and First Aid training. Advancement in these jobs usually takes the form of building a larger client base.
Labour Market Information
This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Practitioners of Natural Healing may either be working full-time or part-time hours. Furthermore, the jobs may either be permanent or temporary positions, as both are common.
The median employment income for 29% of Practitioners of Natural Healing who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $25,584. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Occupation | Estimated employment in 2018 | Estimated change in employment between 2017 and 2019 | Estimated openings due to growth and retirements, 2017-2019 | Estimated rate of unemployment in 2018 | Estimated hourly earnings in 2015 (learn more) | Estimated annual earnings in 2015 |
Practitioners of Natural Healing | 170 | x | x | x | Minimum: N/A Median: N/A Maximum: N/A | Minimum: N/A Median: $15,188 Maximum: N/A |
Occupations in Health | 36,515 | Strong growth | 4,385 | Low | Minimum: $16.38 Median: $25.50 Maximum: $41.00 | Minimum: $10,740 Median: $43,853 Maximum: $88,944 |
Practitioners of Natural Healing | Compared to: Occupations in Health | |
Percent employed full-time | 43% | 77% |
Percent self-employed | 0% | 10% |
Area of Employment | Practitioners of Natural Healing | Compared to: All NS Occupations | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Southern | 5% | x | 12% | $30,581 |
Northern | 18% | x | 16% | $33,660 |
Cape Breton | 5% | x | 13% | $32,974 |
Halifax | 50% | x | 47% | $41,209 |
Annapolis Valley | 29% | x | 13% | $32,958 |

Age | Practitioners of Natural Healing | Compared to: All Health |
% Employed | % Employed | |
15-24 | N/A | 1% |
25-34 | 18% | 15% |
35-44 | 45% | 28% |
45-54 | N/A | 31% |
55-64 | 18% | 20% |
65+ | 27% | 5% |
Median Age | 44 | 44 |

Gender | Practitioners of Natural Healing | Compared to: Occupations in Health |
% Employed | % Employed | |
Female | 82% | 84% |
Male | 18% | 16% |
Education | Practitioners of Natural Healing | Compared to: All Health | ||
% Employed | Median Annual Income | % Employed | Median Annual Income | |
Less than high school | x | x | 1.1% | $27,581 |
High school | x | x | 6.9% | $24,119 |
Trades certificate | x | $47,360 | 5.0% | $31,728 |
College certificate or diploma | 45.2% | $38,580 | 39.4% | $36,693 |
University certificate or diploma | x | x | 4.8% | $50,769 |
Bachelor's degree | 29.0% | x | 27.6% | $57,186 |
University advanced certificate or diploma | x | x | 2.3% | $61,833 |
Master's degree | 6.5% | x | 5.1% | $87,808 |
Doctorate | 6.5% | x | 0.7% | $70,843 |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry | 6.5% | x | 7.2% | $83,000 |
Total | 100% | 100% |
Hourly earnings data are from the Labour Force Survey by Statistics Canada. Data are not available for all occupations. Hourly earnings are calculated based on usual hours worked per week. This is how an annual salary, for instance, gets converted to an hourly rate. The data include full and part-time workers along with new and experienced workers. Self-employed workers are excluded.
Annual employment income data reported in the Work Prospects section, are from the 2011 National Household Survey by Statistics Canada. Much of the data (around 70%) came directly from tax records. The data relates to the year 2010 and includes total wages and salaries and net income from self-employment.
Employment Requirements & Contacts
Training Paths & Education
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of acupuncture, a Chinese system of healing based on the use of pulse diagnosis, acupuncture point selection, and needle insertion to treat imbalances in the state of bodily health or Qi. These programs include courses in basic Western medical sciences, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, diagnostic techniques, patient observation and communication, acupuncture points and point selection, auricular and scalp acupuncture, moxibustion, acupuncture technique, acupuncture of extremities, pain management, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals to provide relief and improved health and well-being based on Chinese medical principles through one or more of the traditional bodywork therapies of Asia. These programs include courses in acupressure, AMMA; Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang, Five Element Shiatsu, Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Japanese Shiatsu, Jin Shin Do; Body-mind Acupressure; Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Anma Therapy, Thai massage, Tui na, Zen Shiatsu, Qigong, Okazaki; Restorative Massage, principles of Western and Chinese medicine, patient counselling and observation, practice management, applicable regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
This instructional program class comprises any program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of Chinese herbal medicine, a system based on the use of nutrition, natural products, and prescribed medical formulae to treat imbalances in the state of bodily health as defined in the Nei Ching Su Wen and other authorities. These programs include courses in the basic Western medical sciences, history and theory of Chinese medicine, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, Chinese herbology, herbal prescription preparation, herbal patent medicine, herbal pharmacology, Chinese internal medicine and gynecology, febrile diseases, food therapy, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.
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