What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complementary medicine modality that has roots that go back over 2,500 years ago in China, making it one of the oldest systems of medicine.
The aim of this form of treatment is to build the body's immunity from potential illnesses and balance the energy flow running in the body's different meridians. TCM practitioners take a holistic approach to healing that attributes the imbalances in the body due to the imbalance of either the mind, body, spirit or emotions. It incorporates complementary health modalities like:
These practitioners provide treatment plans to assist people dealing with the following problems:
- Chronic pain
- Digestive issues
- Osteoarthritis
- Stress
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Respiratory issues
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Neurological disorders
- Insomnia
- Cerebral palsy
- Infertility
- Neuropathy
The Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA) and the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) are the two TCM industry associations that Sydney based practitioners can join.
Should you complete a TCM course?
Do you want a career where you get to help others improve their health and wellbeing in the long term through natural medicine? If you answered yes, then you should pursue a career within the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In order to succeed as a TCM practitioner, it is necessary that you possess the following soft skills:
- An interest in health and wellbeing is vital in order to be able to quickly understand and retain information regarding a wide variety of therapies and treatment methods.
- Good listening skills to be able to accurately assess the client's illness or problem.
- Strong and clear communication skills when advising clients on dietary and lifestyle choices.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills especially when evaluating a client's progress from the start till the end of implementing their treatment plan.
If you believe that there is a link between your career ambitions and interpersonal skills with those required by a TCM practitioner, continue reading to learn more about your study and professional opportunities in this field.
What are the course and study options for TCM practitioners in Sydney?
The minimum requirement to become a TCM practitioner in Sydney is that you have completed an undergraduate degree in a field related to TCM. Some of the course options available for you include:
- Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Sydney, you have the option to complete this course either on-campus or online. This will depend on your preferred learning pace and schedule.
Throughout your time studying, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice of TCM and how to conduct a clinical assessment. Furthermore, you will also look at important aspects within the professional practice such as ethics, counselling, legislative frameworks and small business management.
In the final two years, you will need to undertake supervised clinical practice training and an intensive internship at a teaching clinic. This will equip you with the practical skills required to collect and analyse information within a clinical setting.
To kickstart your journey to becoming a TCM practitioner today, you will need to find the perfect course. On this page, you will find a comprehensive list of TCM schools in Sydney where you can find more information about their course. If you have any further questions regarding their course duration, accreditation or term dates you can contact the educational institution directly.
What happens after you complete your TCM course in Sydney?
All TCM practitioners in Australia including Sydney are required to abide by the rules and regulations set by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). You will also need to register with the Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) to be a licensed practitioner. Once you register, you will be able to work specialising in TCM or in a multidisciplinary setting working in collaboration with naturopaths, physiotherapists or chiropractors.
You can also start your own private practice if you want a greater degree of control over your business management and how you work with clients. Natural Therapy Pages can also provide you with valuable assistance especially as you start out. To help drive traffic and subsequently, clients to your business, you can list your in-person TCM consultations or online services via the practitioner listing page.
Finally, if you want to expand your knowledge within the field of TCM, it is highly recommended that you complete a Master of Chinese Medicine or a Master of Applied Science. This will help you increase your employment opportunities and open you up to a career in research.
