Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of acupuncture, a Chinese system of health care and healing based on the use of pulse diagnosis, acupuncture point selection, and needle insertion, as well as herbs and other Asian treatment modalities. Includes instruction in basic Western medical sciences, Asian philosophy, Chinese medical anatomy and physiology, Chinese herbs, diagnostic techniques, patient observation and communication, acupuncture points and point selection, acupuncture techniques, acupuncture treatment of disease, pain management, practice management, and professional standards and ethics. Examples: [Acupuncture], [Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine], [Oriental Medicine]
Featured schools near , edit
Types of Degrees Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Majors Are Earning
Students pursuing Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.
| Award Level | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Certificate | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 930 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 554 |
What Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Majors Need to Know
Programs in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates commonly enter.
Knowledge Areas
Coursework in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
- English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
- Psychology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
- Biology — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*
Skills
Skills developed in a Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
- Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
- Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
- Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
- Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
- Service Orientation — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
Abilities
Innate abilities most relevant to Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:
- Problem Sensitivity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
- Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
- Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
- Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
Common Job Activities
Day-to-day, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates report doing:
| Activity | Frequency / Importance |
|---|---|
| Assisting and Caring for Others | 4.7 / 7 |
| Documenting/Recording Information | 4.6 / 7 |
| Getting Information | 4.5 / 7 |
| Making Decisions and Solving Problems | 4.4 / 7 |
| Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge | 4.2 / 7 |
| Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships | 4.2 / 7 |
| Performing for or Working Directly with the Public | 4.1 / 7 |
| Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events | 3.9 / 7 |
| Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others | 3.9 / 7 |
| Analyzing Data or Information | 3.8 / 7 |
Technology Skills Used on the Job
Most frequently-cited tools used by Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine professionals:
| Tool / Software | Category | In-Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | — |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | — |
| Trigram Software AcuBase Pro | Medical software | — |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | — |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | — |
| Qpalm Acupuncture | Medical software | — |
| Qchart | Medical software | — |
| QPuncture II | Medical software | — |
| Word processing software | Word processing software | — |
| AcuPartner Professional | Medical software | — |
| Miridia Technology AcuGraph | Medical software | — |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | — |
Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*
Sample Job Titles
Real job postings for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates include:
- Acupressurist
- Herbalist
- Acupuncturist
- Naturopath
- Naturopathic Doctor
- Auricular Therapist
- Acupressure Therapist
- Auricular Acupuncturist
- Acupuncture Physician
- Acupuncture Doctor
- Chinese Medical Doctor (Chinese MD)
- Licensed Acupuncturist (LAC)
- Oriental Medicine Provider
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor
- Chinese Medicine Doctor
What Can You Do With a Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Degree?
Graduates with a degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine commonly enter the following occupations:
| Occupation | Job Growth | Median Salary | 25th–75th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acupuncturists | 5.2% | $102,425 | $79,642–$125,208 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 1.0% | $138,809 | $116,859–$160,758 |
| Orthoptists | 4.8% | $135,811 | $108,351–$163,270 |
| Naturopathic Physicians | 6.6% | $138,086 | $113,456–$162,716 |
Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*
Education Typically Required
Across the occupations open to Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:
| Education Level | Share of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.3% |
| Master’s degree | 27.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 25.5% |
| First professional degree | 5.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.2% |
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Who Is Earning a Degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine?
Gender Distribution
This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 77.3% of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine degrees.
| Gender | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,148 | 77.3% |
| Men | 337 | 22.7% |
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates is as follows:
| Race / Ethnicity | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| White | 558 | 37.6% |
| Asian | 539 | 36.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 57 | 3.8% |
| Black or African American | 46 | 3.1% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 5 | 0.3% |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 11 | 0.7% |
| Two or More Races | 61 | 4.1% |
| Race Unknown | 125 | 8.4% |
| International Students | 83 | 5.6% |
See minority definition below.
How Much Do Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Graduates Earn?
College Scorecard reports median earnings of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,185 |
| 4 years | $30,904 |
| 5 years | $35,897 |
By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $35,897 — roughly 15% above the 1-year mark.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Is a Degree in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Worth It?
Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine graduates earn a median of $30,904 four years after completion — about 19% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.
ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.
Related Programs
You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:
Explore Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine by State
Alabama
California
District of Columbia
Idaho
Kansas
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
New York
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Utah
West Virginia
Alaska
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Oregon
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin
References
The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
More about our data sources and methodologies.
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.