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Occupation Details

Acupuncturist



Fact Sheet

Monitoring a patient's pulse

Acupuncturists treat disorders and illnesses by inserting fine needles into the skin to stimulate the body's defence mechanisms.

Duties and Tasks

Acupuncturists may perform the following tasks:

  • diagnose health problems through discussions with the patient, by checking the patient's pulse and by observing their colour, face and body features, nails, tongue and temperature variations in different parts of the body
  • choose the places at which needles should be inserted based on a thorough knowledge of body systems
  • insert needles under the patient's skin and move or manipulate them depending on the nature of the health problem
  • apply massage or heat treatment using a slowly smouldering herb called moxa to warm and stimulate the acupuncture point

Quick Facts

School subjects that include some aspect of BIOLOGY provide a useful background to these jobs. In some cases a biology-related subject is a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Use of precision or semi-precision tools or instruments or deft hand movements are required for these occupations. Included are jobs where poor co-ordination or incomplete use of hands or fingers may make tasks dangerous or difficult to undertake. Jobs requiring full use of hands/fingers are excluded.\par
These jobs require you to be able to see clearly to examine items close-up. It covers jobs where poor vision e.g. tunnel vision, could make the work place unsafe or the job difficult to undertake, e.g. draftsperson working with detailed drawings; checkout operator reading dockets; work requiring good hand-eye co-ordination for working with precision or semi-precision tools.
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed area protected from the weather. Jobs requiring mainly indoor work are excluded.
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing skills.
Included are jobs providing health care diagnosis and treatment, such as general medicine, pharmacy, optometry, radiography, speech therapy, dental health, etc. Also covered are community and welfare services, such as social work, family and children services, and counselling, and personal services such as hairdressing and funeral services.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH IDEAS to investigate or seek solutions to scientific, technical, social or other issues. Activities include observing, researching, analysing and interpreting results. The ability to develop theories, apply logic and explore abstract ideas in a specialist area of knowledge is important.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH PEOPLE, to help, inform, teach or treat them. Activities include discussing personal issues, listening to people's problems, and providing advice, instruction, information or treatment to meet their needs.
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree, or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study, such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.

Work Conditions

Acupuncturists normally work on their own, but may also work within an established clinic in which other traditional forms of health care are practiced, such as naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine.

Personal Requirements

  • patient, tactful and compassionate
  • able to gain the confidence of their patients
  • good with hands

Related Jobs

Chiropractor
Osteopath

Related Courses

Victoria

See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Inserting needles to aid in the treatment of a patient