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Acupuncturist - Job outlook

Kaiwero Ngira Hauora

Acupuncture needles inserted in a patient's ear.

What are the chances of getting a job?

Acupuncturists registered with the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists have good chances of finding a job. Demand for acupuncturists has increased dramatically in New Zealand since the late 1990s, because there is greater acceptance and awareness of the benefits of natural health therapies. This demand is expected to keep growing.

New Zealand’s ageing population is also contributing to demand for acupuncturists, as people seek their services for the prevention or treatment of age-related illnesses.

Acupuncture graduates have option of running their own business

Opportunities for acupuncture graduates are also good because they have the option of self-employment, and can set up their own clinics throughout New Zealand.

What types of employers can I work for?

Acupuncturists can work for:

hospitals and public practices
private practices
themselves in private practice (self-employment)
schools or teaching institutions as teachers or community educators training other acupuncturists.

Where can I do this job?

Acupuncturists work throughout New Zealand. However, according to the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists, most work in the Auckland region.

Other significant regions where registered acupuncturists work are:

Waikato
Hawke's Bay
Wellington
Canterbury.

What is happening in this job?

In 2007, acupuncture was approved as a recognised health profession under the Health Practioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. This means that acupuncture practitioners are recognised as primary health care workers in line with nurses, osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors. As a result, acupuncturists must now get set qualifications to practise in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health is in the process of determining what these qualifications and competence standards will be. They have advised that the qualification is likely to be a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Acupuncture), which will include 500 hours of supervised clinical training. This will be introduced in 2009.