How Can I Become a Holistic Doctor?
Explore the career requirements for becoming a holistic doctor. Get the facts about education requirements, certification options and relevant salary information for this field.
What Does a Holistic Doctor Do?
A holistic doctor diagnoses and treats patients by incorporating both conventional Western medicine and natural healing concepts into their practice. They may work as generalists or specialize in a specific area of the medical field, such as oncology or internal medicine. In many cases, they care for patients in conjunction with healthcare professionals who specialize in conventional medicine, such as nurses, as well as nontraditional care providers, like acupuncturists or chiropractors.
Read the following chart to learn more about this career.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Doctorate of Medicine (MD) or Osteopathy (DO)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Traditional or osteopathic medicine, holistic methods and practices, integrative medicine</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Licensure</b></td><td> Physician's license required</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td>National medical certification, American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) board certification</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Training Required</b></td><td>Conventional medical training, including residency with focus on integrative medicine</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Outlook (2020-2030)</b></td><td> 5% (for physicians, surgeons, all others)*, 12% (for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all others)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Average Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$208,000 (for physicians, surgeons, all others)*, $84,430 (for health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all others)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatIsAHolisticDoctor"> What Is a Holistic Doctor?</h3><p>Holistic medicine weaves traditional Western medicine with alternative natural healing modalities and a perspective on health that encompasses the whole patient. A holistic doctor, or holistic physician, lets the patient have autonomy over his or her own health and believes that the body is capable of healing itself under the right conditions. The conditions that cause disease are more significant to a holistic doctor than the symptoms alone. A Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) with some training in holistic medicine could become certified as a holistic doctor.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatMustIStudy"> What Must I Study?</h3><p>As an aspiring holistic doctor, you'll begin on the same career path as a conventional doctor. You might study premed during your first four years of college to prepare for medical school. Volunteering at a hospital or clinic can familiarize you with the healthcare field.
</p><p>After earning your bachelor's degree, you will need to attend medical school for four years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). You will be required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) to be accepted. For the first two years of medical school, you will study the natural sciences, ethics, psychology and laws governing medicine. You will work in a hospital or clinic for the second two years, practicing under the guidance of a physician. Following medical school, you'll begin a residency.
</p><p>You could obtain the experience in integrative medicine that you'll need for certification through an elective rotation or a specialized residency program. An integrative medicine elective rotation in the final year of graduate school or during your residency would give you a foundation of knowledge of integrative medicine and a focus within integrative medicine. A residency program with an emphasis on integrative medicine might incorporate stress management and coping strategies into a holistic wellness curriculum.
</p><h3 id="section---HowDoIBecomeCertified"> How Do I Become Certified?</h3><p>To practice as a physician, you'll first have to become licensed. For M.D.s, this means passing the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination. If you're an osteopathic physician, you'll need to pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination.
</p><p>The American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine assigns standards for doctors who have knowledge of holistic medicine. If you choose to take the ABIHM's certifying exam, you would be listed on their website as an integrative holistic physician. By becoming board certified, you let patients and other medical professionals know that you have strong knowledge base in integrative holistic medicine.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatSalaryCanIExpect">What Salary Can I Expect?</h3><p>There is no national data specifically available for holistic medical practitioners; however, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage for 'physicians, surgeons and all other' in 2020 was $218,850. Also, <i>PayScale.com</i> in December of 2021 reported that family physicians with a degree in osteopathic earned a median salary of $221,000, but it is important to note that data was collected from less than 10 individuals.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>There are many jobs available for physicians with a wide range of specializations. If you are interested in holistic health, you could also consider a career as a psychiatrist. They treat patients with psychological disorders, so their work often integrates concepts of both physical and mental health. To become a psychiatrist, you would need to get a medical degree and complete a psychiatry residency. Alternatively, if you are interested in studying innovative medical treatment options, you might want to consider a career as a medical scientist. You could have the opportunity to pursue your research interests within the field of holistic health in a laboratory setting at a university, academic medical center or research institution. For a top job in the field, you need to have a Ph.D.</p>