How Do I Become a Homeopathic Practitioner? - Programs & Licensing

<p>Homeopathic practitioners embrace health care as a holistic approach to the whole individual. Holistic health care encompasses the body, mind, and spirit to maintain well-being and optimal health. A homeopathic practitioner can be a homeopath, naturopathic doctor, chiropractor, or acupuncturist to name a few. While some homeopathic practitioners practice homeopathy exclusively, others have professional licenses in conventional medicine and acquire further education or training to add on to their existing practices. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Homeopath</th><th>Naturopathic Doctor</th><th>Chiropractor</th><th>Acupuncturist</th></tr> <tr><td><b>Degree Required</b> </td><td> Diploma or certificate</td><td> Doctoral degree </td><td> Doctor of Chiropractic degree </td><td> Master's degree</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Educational Field of Study</b> </td><td> Homeopathy </td><td> Naturopathic medicine </td><td> Chiropractic </td><td> Acupuncture and oriental medicine</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities/Skills</b> </td><td> Problem-solve, research, analyze, diagnose, treat, prescribe, refer, and consult </td><td> Problem-solve, research, analyze, diagnose, treat, prescribe, refer, and consult </td><td> Assess and treat patients by the manipulation of the spine and musculoskeletal system </td><td> Insertion of needles at various points on the body to treat medical problems.</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Licensure</b> </td><td> Varies by state</td><td> Required: the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX) </td><td> Required </td><td> Varies by state</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)*</b> </td><td> 5% for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other (slower than avg.) </td><td> 5% for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other (slower than avg.) </td><td> 11% (faster than avg.) </td><td> 5% for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other (faster than avg.)</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Annual Wage</b> </td><td> $82,420 for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other (2020)* </td><td> $62,204 (2021)** </td><td> $61,565 (2022)* </td><td> $55,942 (2021)**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatIsHomeopathy">What Is Homeopathy?</h3> <p>Homeopathy, also known as homeopathic medicine, has been used for centuries. Homeopathic remedies are composed of natural sources such as animal, mineral, vegetable, and plant. One of the core principles of homeopathic medicine is 'like cures like.' This means that the homeopathic practitioner will prescribe a remedy that causes the same symptom the patient is currently experiencing in an attempt to enhance the body's healing processes. Another principle of homeopathic care is minimal dosing. Minimal doses of natural remedies are used to reduce side effects, but maximize therapeutic effect. Additionally, homeopathic practitioners use only one solution at a time to monitor, assess effectiveness and side effects of treatment. This one-treatment-at-a-time approach eliminates medication interactions and decreases the chances of potential side effects. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTypeOfPersonMakesAGoodHomeopathicPractitioner">What Type of Person Makes a Good Homeopathic Practitioner?</h3> <p>A person who has a genuine interest in people, a desire to help others, and an interest in health and the human body is an excellent candidate to become a homeopathic practitioner. A homeopath is curious, open-minded, and is a strong analytical and intuition-based thinker. A homeopathic practitioner wants to heal through means of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being while incorporating holistic modalities to achieve optimal health. </p> <p>Specific skill sets can benefit homeopathic practitioners. For example, a knowledge base of anatomy, biology, and conventional medicine can help in pursuing a homeopathic career. Or, if you plan on being self-employed, a knowledge base of business skills can also be an asset. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheTypicalDutiesOfAHomeopathicPractitioner">What Are the Typical Duties of a Homeopathic Practitioner?</h3> <p>Responsibilities of a homeopathic practitioner will vary depending on your career choice, but some tasks are universal to homeopathic providers. Most practitioners will have patient consultations, assessments, care planning, prescribe treatments, administer treatments, and manage daily schedules. Other duties can include consulting with other health care professionals, referring clients to other specialists, and maintaining continuing education requirements. Additionally, the self-employed homeopathic practitioner will have to perform business-related activities such as marketing, promotion, booking clients, record-keeping, managerial administration, and financing. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatProgramsAreAvailableToPracticeHomeopathicCare">What Programs Are Available to Practice Homeopathic Care?</h3> <p>Different levels of programs are available to those interested in homeopathy. Introductory courses allow an individual to learn about the fundamentals of homeopathy. Some courses are geared towards personal use, such as homeopathy for one's family and friends, and some are geared toward professional use. Introductory courses vary in length from 40 hours to more than triple that. Classes might be campus-based or online; a certificate of completion is typically awarded. </p> <p>To practice as a homeopathic practitioner, one must continue after the introductory course to complete additional courses such as integrative medicine and philosophy, totaling about two to four years of part-time hours. Depending on the institution, online (including real-time) and classroom formats are available. Most educational institutions require clinical training hours in addition to academic work. Completion of the program allows an individual to practice as a professional practitioner and earn the practitioner certificate. </p> <p>Students who need or want additional clinical training, such as to meet the minimum supervised clinical hours necessary to earn the Certified Classical Homeopath (CCH) certification or to refresh their skills, may enroll in a clinical homeopathy program. Entry into these programs typically requires a test to assess students' homeopathy knowledge. Once enrolled, they will manage their own cases. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatLicensesAreNecessaryToPracticeAsAHomeopathicPractitioner">What Licenses Are Necessary to Practice as a Homeopathic Practitioner?</h3> <p>Laws and regulations regarding licensure for homeopathic practitioners vary by state. However, licensure is typically not required, except in states requiring a license to practice alternative medicine in general and in cases where homeopathy is an add-on to an existing medical practice. For example, doctors will need a license to practice medicine and a few states additionally require these doctors to have a homeopathy license on top of that. It is important to check individual state and federal requirements to practice homeopathic care on others legally. </p> <p>Homeopathic practitioners may choose to become certified to show patients that they meet a high standard of care. The Council for Homeopathic Certification offers the CCH certification. To qualify, one must complete 500 classroom hours in an ACHENA-accredited or -approved school and pass the CCH exam. Within two years of passing the exam, certification candidates must complete clinical requirements, including a minimum of 140 hours of supervised work.</p>