About The Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment Acupuncturists Career

According to The Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment, The Acupuncturists Career falls into the SII Realistic Theme Code Category. The Strong Interest Inventory® has been used for the better part of a century to help individuals pursue a career which they will enjoy and feel satisfied with. One to three Theme Code Categories are assigned to individuals who have completed The Strong Interest Inventory® Assessment. This is done by analyzing and assessing these individuals’ personal preferences and interests in many different personal and professional areas. Lists of careers are recommended to them which coincide with their assessed Theme Code(s). Realistic Theme Code careers generally involve using one’s body to achieve a goal. Individuals who score highly in this category also tend to enjoy solving specific problems or understanding how and why things work in particular ways. Such individuals are generally highly intelligent and enjoy working individually or in small groups.

Acupuncturists treat minor medical symptoms and disorders using needles and small electrical currents. They take medical histories and lifestyle information from patients, identify the correct anatomical points for insertions based on the patient’s anatomy and insert needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, or pellets during treatment. They may also advise the use of nutritional supplements, herbal preparations, or other kinds of ingested medications, depending on the individual. They may recommend and perform heat or cold therapy, or other techniques like acupressure or shiatsu, both of which are practiced in the far East. Additionally, Acupuncturists evaluate treatment after the process, and recommend new or modified future treatments to facilitate patients’ continued improvement. They also educate patients on topics related to health, including yoga, stretching, exercise, relaxation techniques, and meditation. Finally, in order to remain in operation, Acupuncturists adhere to local, state, and federal guidelines, and also maintain and follow standard quality assurance processes. This may include maintaining detailed records of healthcare plans and services, adhering to standards of sanitation and performance code, and reporting any problems to medical professionals.

Acupuncturists use a range of tools and technologies in their trade. Some are meant for actually administering treatment to patients, such as acupuncture magnet pellets or seeds, needles, bandage scissors, electric vibratos, blood pressure monitors, foot rollers, lancets, stethoscopes, tuning forks, reflex hammers, sterilizers, surgical scissors, tweezers, and vacuum pumps. Other tools are used for setting the mood or changing the room’s temperature, including heating or cooling packs and systems, or vaporizers. When Acupuncturists create their own medications or supplements, they utilize spice grinders or mortar and pestle sets. Like medical doctors, they organize their patients using many different pieces of software, including electronic health record software, Acubase Pro Software, and Microsoft Excel.

Acupuncturists require a knowledge of medicine and dentistry, including symptoms, treatments, preventative health care measures, and diseases. In addition, they need to be confident in customer and personal service, as well as therapy and counseling, as they often provide emotional as well as physical support. Finally, an ability to communicate in written and spoken English, as well as other languages spoken by their patients, is absolutely essential. In addition to these skills, Acupuncturists need to be able to solve complex problems, identify nuanced problems, make quick, confident decisions, and understand their patients’ experiences and perspectives. They need to have strong hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity and be confident in themselves and their decisions. Because of the high medicinal value of this career, Acupuncturists often have a graduate degree, either a Master’s Degree, or at times a Ph.D.

Acupuncturists salaries can be well over $180,000 annually, especially in states like Texas and Wyoming where alternative medicinal practices are popular. In others, like New York and California, the best-paid acupuncturists salaries are significantly lower, though still high, often closer to $120,000. In all of these states, the lowest Acupuncturists salaries are closer to $40,000 annually, though Florida is slightly lower than the national average—dipping into the $37,000 range. However, employment rates for Acupuncturists is rising in much of the country and is over 50% in Oregon. Georgia and West Virginia are notable exceptions to this trend.

Below are some employment trends for Acupuncturists:

• Median Salary: $36.37 hourly, $75,640 annually
• Employment: 56,800 employees
• Projected growth (2018-2028): Much faster than average (11% or higher)
• Projected job openings (2018-2028): 3,400

[Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections]

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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections Onetonline.org