With healthcare costs skyrocketing, more and more people are turning to preventative care and holistic medicine in order to stay in tip-top shape and minimize their health risks. Wellness careers are seeing an upswing, as demand for well-trained holistic and alternative professionals increases.
Wellness Careers Require the Right Training
- Everest University: Brandon
Everest College: Gardena
Carrington College: Albuquerque
Paths for Wellness Careers
There are many wellness careers you can pursue, from alternative medicine to physical therapy:
Oriental medicine is a form of wellness treatment based on Chinese and other eastern philosophies. Oriental medicine practitioners may offer a range of therapies, including dietary therapy to minimize intake of allergens and toxins, as well as Tui na, a form of massage used to encourage energy flow and motion in patients.
Acupuncture is a form of Oriental medicine, and is one of the most common forms of alternative medicine. Acupuncturists use of needles at different strategic points of the body in order to facilitate the flow of energy throughout the body, as well as the release of toxins.
Massage therapists apply pressure to soft tissue in order to alleviate pain and provide stress relief. Massage therapy seeks to maximize circulation and relax the muscles being worked. There are over 80 different forms of massage treatment, and massage therapists – or masseuses – often specialize in one or more of these modalities.
Yoga is another popular form of alternative treatment that focuses on breathing exercises, physical postures, and meditation. Yoga instructors lead groups and classes in learning and practicing the various postures and progressions, offering expertise and advice, and monitoring students to ensure nobody is putting too much stress on their bodies.
Physical therapists are a critical part of the wellness field, and are the most mainstream of all the careers listed here. Physical therapists help individuals with disabilities or who are recovering from injuries or trauma to improve their mobility while alleviating pain. Physical therapists evaluate patients’ conditions and often work with physicians in order to devise a course of treatment.
Salaries for Wellness Careers
Salaries for practitioners of oriental medicine and accupuncturists will vary greatly depending on the type of treatment they provide and the area in which they practice. However, according to a survey by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncturists and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the average annual salary for certified oriental medicine providers was around $60,000.
Massage therapists and masseuses, likewise, earn a broad range of salaries. The median hourly wage nationally for the profession, however, is around $16, with most earning between $11 and 24 per hour. With full-time hours, that works out to an annual salary range for most workers between $22,000 and $48,000.
Yoga instructors and fitness trainers earn a median salary of around $30,000, with most earning between $20,000 and $46,000. The highest ten percent earn over $62,000.
Salaries for physical therapists are among the highest for wellness careers, with the median annual salary falling around $66,000, and most earning between $55,000 and 78,000.
Education for Wellness Careers
College training is necessary in order to practice both oriental medicine and acupuncture. While it is possible to find employment in certain markets with a bachelor’s degree, in order to be certified a student must earn a master’s degree from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Further, practitioners must be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
Massage therapists in most states have to meet licensing and certification standards in the vast majority of states (including the District of Columbia). These regulations vary by state and locality. However, most include the completion of a lengthy college-level program, most requiring around 500 hours of study to complete.
The largest nationally-recognized accreditation body for yoga schools, the Yoga Alliance, requires at least 200 training hours in anatomy, philosophy, and technique. Some yoga instructors have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in exercise science kinesiology, or physical education as well.
Physical therapists’ educational requirements are governed by the accrediting body of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), called the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In order to practice as a physical therapist in the U.S., students need at least a master’s degree, though of the 212 accredited schools, only 12 award master’s degrees, while 200 have doctoral programs.
Featured Degrees in Wellness Fields
Outlook for Wellness Careers
Oriental medicine and acupuncture have been gaining in both acceptance and popularity over the last few years, and there are few signs of this trend slowing. The American Association of Oriental medicine (AAOM) estimates that the number of practitioners of oriental medicine, including acupuncturists, will increase by about 10 percent a year for the coming years.
Massage therapy, likewise, has been growing in recent years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of massage therapists will increase by 19 percent by 2018, much faster than the national average for all occupations.
Employment for all fitness workers and trainers, including yoga instructors, is expected to grow rapidly, with a nearly 30% increase in job openings. With the increasing focus on health and fitness, more and more people are seeking out well-trained and experienced instructors.
Likewise, physical therapists will see their employment prospects grow by around 30% as well in the coming years. Thanks to changes in restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services, more patients are seeking the treatment. Additionally, the growing elderly population is in great need of physical therapy services in order to maintain flexibility and minimize health risks.
