• Acupuncturist: This alternative health professional specializes in treating the ailments of patients by placing needles in targeted areas throughout the body.
• Yoga Instructor: Experts in yoga instruct others in the physical practice that promotes flexibility, balance, and peace of mind.
• Pilates Instructor: Pilates professionals use sophisticated strength and flexibility moves in order to improve power and coordination in the bodies of students.
• Chiropractor: Health experts in this specialty focus on diagnosing, treating, and helping to prevent ailments occurring to the musculoskeletal system and spine.
• Osteopathic Physician: These full-fledged doctors (earning an MD degree) use techniques like soft-tissue therapy and range of motion to help improve their patients' bodies holistically.
• Massage Therapist: These professionals use the power of massage to bring about relief, comfort, and healing in their clients' bodies.
• Alexander Instructor: Such a teacher guides students in their knowledge of Alexander technique, which helps to correct posture and body alignment.
• Feldenkrais Instructor: Those in this position guide learners in Feldenkrais technique, which improves patients' awareness of their bodies and the ailments currently afflicting them that they may not notice.

• Certificate or Diploma: 1-2 years to complete
• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 1-2 years to complete

In order to pursue an education in any specialty or particular discipline encompassed by alternative medicine, most schools expect applicants to have earned a high school diploma as a minimum requirement. Classes in science, math, business, and communication skills are incredibly helpful in students' high school preparation for this career path. In addition, some schools may require that you submit a TOEFL exam score to verify your mastery of English if it is not your first language. Many schools actually prefer that their students earn an associate or bachelor's degree before applying. There is no set expected major or discipline required in most cases. High school students who have earned credit(s) through the Advanced Placement program may use their test results to skip general school requirements.

Once in an educational program, the exact composition of students' coursework largely depends on the specialty they have chosen to target. Acupuncture students will study Oriental medicine and basic massage, for instance; chiropractic students will concentrate on kinesiology and anatomy. Students should determine the status of their school's accreditation before attending the program; the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges is an ideal organization with which schools should be affiliated. Master's level programs, as well as most bachelor's programs, will be sufficient to prepare students for exams for their certification and state licensing. (BLS)

Again, certification and licensure are largely dependent on the type of specialty within alternative health practice that a student chooses to concentrate on. Among the most well-regarded organizations providing certification are The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; The Yoga Alliance; the Pilates Method Alliance; the International Chiropractic Association; the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians; the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork; the American Center for the Alexander Technique; and The Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education. (BLS)

Salary for alternative healthcare professionals largely depends on the maturation of one's practice, as well as on quality of reputation. Many of those starting out may express dissatisfaction with their income at the outset of their health careers. However, excellent customer service, when coupled with a reputation for offering healthcare practices that are effective, is likely to see salary figures augment dramatically and consistently. Most of those in alternative health cite an annual salary of between $37,000 and $45,000. (BLS)

Due to the broad and sweeping nature of the breadth of careers that fall under alternative medicine's heading, there is no strictly conclusive data in terms of statistics on the employment prognosis for the field. However, the late 1990s and early 2000s showed a strong surge in the popularity of these treatment practices with patients, and the boom has not showed signs of letting up. Those who seek out excellent and accredited education in their chosen field are likely to reap the benefits of this new wave of popular approval with employment, and steady growth and development within that job. (BLS)

Herbalists specialize in the knowledge of herbal remedies and extracts that can bring about improved health in their patients and clients. This position demands not only comprehensive expertise of herbs' positive aspects, but also of the potential side effects of each plant on particular conditions and situations. Acupuncturists will often double as herbalists to promote a well-rounded practice. Hypnotherapists conduct therapy sessions that are supplemented with the use of hypnosis. They primarily concentrate on probing the subconscious life of their patients to determine its affect on their waking lives. These professionals are often enlisted to support the mental processes of women undergoing childbirth. Naturopaths make use of a wide assemblage of various alternative healthcare remedies, tailoring them for each patient. They can even sometimes advise the use of conventional methods alongside alternative means. Naturopaths can also be called on to make nutritional and dietary suggestions to ameliorate a patient's health circumstances.