Alternative medicine is becoming more popular, with a surge in schools offering courses in acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage, and more. Choosing the right school requires research and understanding of career goals. CAM practitioners focus on the whole person, and accreditation is important.
As there has been a general shift in focus in the way people think about and manage their health care needs, there has been an increase in professions that are considered alternative medicine. Alternative medicine or complementary options have been around for centuries, but recently there has been a surge in institutes of higher learning that are considered schools of alternative medicine. Choosing the best alternative medicine school requires extensive research and a solid understanding of your interests and career plans.
Careers in complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, encompass a wide variety of holistic theories and techniques for the treatment and prevention of medical conditions. Alternative medicine techniques and options are generally not considered part of conventional medicine practices. However, recently many health insurance companies have been more open to the idea of alternative medicine and have begun to approve certain procedures and treatment options that they have not recognized in the past.
The theory behind CAM professions is the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Some alternative medicine schools offer career paths to include things like acupuncture, herbal medicine, energy healing, massage and aromatherapy. These professionals believe in empowering the patient to overcome obstacles and maintain a healthy life without relying solely on traditional medical professionals.
There are many traditional and distance or online venues to achieve your desired level of education. Alternative medicine schools may offer programs ranging from certification to degree-based education. Degrees can range from a Bachelor of Science to a Doctorate. Typically, those who choose a master’s or higher require you to take a licensing exam before you can legally practice. However, licensing requirements differ from state to state. There are even some areas that do not regulate alternative medicine practitioners.
One of the biggest decisions when looking at alternative medicine schools is deciding whether alternative medicine is a good fit for you. Alternative medicine practitioners see each patient as an individual. They also see the body as a whole. CAM practitioners often tend to an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual needs rather than just treating their patient’s disease process or injury.
When deciding on which alternative medicine schools suit your needs, accreditation must be taken into consideration. While specific accreditation for complementary and alternative medicine does not yet exist, the school of choice must generally be accredited. General accreditation must come from the United States Department of Education, or the USDE, or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, CHEA, or both. This accreditation guarantees the quality of education as well as the alternative medicine school educators.
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