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Sports Medicine Physician Salary

YOUR JOB SHOULD OFFER more than a paycheck. It should satisfy your desire to do good and make a difference. It should leave you invigorated, even after a long, busy day. And it should embody your, passion. If your current position lacks these qualities, it maybe time to move on. Changing your work might sound scary, but switching to a career in natural medicine can be one of the best decisions you'll ever make. You'll learn (and practice) what it takes to feel healthy and vibrant. You'll help others achieve the same. And you'll find yourself in a growing field with lots of job openings (many of them lucrative).

Your future patients are waiting for you; Americans make more than 600 million trips a year to natural medicine practitioners, which is more than they make to conventional doctors, according to a 1998 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association. More generally, employment in the health services industry is expected to increase by more than 25 percent through 2010--exceeding the average growth rate of all industries, according to government statistics.

We asked experts what it takes to train for and land a career in 10 popular fields in natural healing (depending on the profession, it may be easier than you expect). Use our guide and your passion to get a head start on your new job.

Find Your Best Field

Deciding what kind of healer you'd like to become takes a careful self-assessment. For example, would you thrive in an emerging field or a more accepted one? Would you mind touching your patients as a massage therapist or chiropractor would? For details on what to expect from 10 healing professions, read on. To learn more specifics about each career, like the salary you can earn, see "Natural Careers at a Glance," opposite.

Acupuncturist

Despite the needles involved, acupuncture is a much gentler science than you might think. Practitioners believe that people possess a life energy called qi, which may cause illness if blocked or unbalanced. To correct the flow of qi, acupuncturists insert hair-thin needles into specific points on the body; the needles cause little or no pain. Some acupuncturists prescribe herbal remedies as well. Most patients seek this therapy to resolve pain-related conditions like headaches and chronic back pain; acupuncturists also commonly treat digestive and gynecological ailments.

Today, acupuncture is among the most accepted fields in natural medicine, and it has the highest rate of conventional physician referral, according to a 1998 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Acupuncturists are licensed into states. (Licensing allows you to legally practice in your field, but in some states you can practice without a license; we'll get into more licensing details in the next section.) Some insurance companies cover acupuncture. To enroll in an acupuncture school, you'll need two years of college education, although some schools prefer that you have a bachelor's degree.

Ayurvedic Practitioner

If you feel strongly that personalization is what's missing from today's medical care, consider Ayurveda. Practitioners of Ayurveda, India's traditional health care system, believe that every patient has a unique constitution, so they tailor treatment to the patient, rather than to the disease. They rely on therapies like dietary changes, herbs, massage, and yoga. They also recommend detoxification diets and fasting to promote health. Ayurvedic practitioners address an array of ailments, especially chronic ailments like digestive or skin disorders.

Americans are just learning about Ayurvedic healing, and fewer than 500 Ayurvedic practitioners practice in this country. No states license Ayurveda, so practitioners may work as consultants or practice with another kind of degree. Insurance companies usually do not cover Ayurveda. Because it is so new in this country, requirements for Ayurvedic education programs vary widely. Most schools ask that new students have some college education.

Chiropractor

Chiropractors, or D.C.s, offer mostly hands-on care. D.C.s adjust joints in the back and the rest of the body to alleviate pain and heal injuries. They believe that overall health depends on the normal function and movement of vertebrae (which make up the spinal column). Many chiropractors also use acupressure (which involves applying pressure to specific points on the body), dietary supplements, herbs, and massage. Chiropractors often treat people with spinal ailments, sports injuries, headaches, or osteoarthritis. Some D.C.s also minister to general conditions like chronic fatigue.

This discipline is one of the most accepted of all the natural therapies. Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states. Insurance companies often cover all or part of chiropractic treatment. Most schools recommend a bachelor's degree, preferably in science, to enroll.

Herbalist

Herbalism can follow widely different career paths, making it a great choice for creative self-starters. You also need to love botany: All herbalists heal with plants in several forms (including liquid extracts, teas, and pills). You might become a folk herbalist who mainly uses mild remedies, sees few patients, and grows her own plants. Or you might opt to be a clinical herbalist and see many patients, some with serious conditions, and work in a clinic. Herbalists often remedy minor complaints like colds and chronic ailments like acne, arthritis, and premenstrual syndrome.

Mainstream America is just discovering herbal medicine. No state licenses herbalists, so many in this profession act as counselors or consultants or work with a licensed practitioner's diagnosis. Insurance does not cover therapy from herbalists. Most herb schools don't require post-secondary education to enroll.

Homeopath

If your current job has sharpened your ability to ask questions and dig deeper, you could have a bright future as a homeopath. Homeopaths spend one to two hours during the first visit getting to know a patient. They believe that a person's unique constitution (including physical and mental characteristics) and her symptoms--not her disease--determine the right remedy for an ailment. Homeopaths use highly diluted remedies made from plants, animals, or minerals, which they believe strengthen the body's ability to heal itself. They address a long list of physical and emotional ailments, including allergies, asthma, depression, and attention deficit disorder.

Homeopathy is widely practiced in South America, Asia, and Europe. However, it's still not widely practiced in the United States. Only three states (Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada) license homeopaths, and you need to have a medical degree, like an M.D. or N.D., to be licensed. Some homeopaths act as consultants and recommend rather than prescribe remedies. Licensed homeopathy is often covered by insurance; unlicensed homeopathy is not. Schools' requirements vary from two or more years of college to a bachelor's degree with the equivalent of a pre-med major.

Massage Therapist

Massage therapists knead patients' muscles and other soft tissues mostly with their hands. They believe that increasing blood flow to these areas aids recovery from an illness or injury, reduces pain, and promotes relaxation. As a massage student, you learn how to apply pressure with your body weight, so you don't need to have a Herculean physique. But you should be comfortable touching a variety of bodies, points out Whitney Lowe, a Bend, Ore.-based massage therapist and chair of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Practitioners often treat athletes, people with pain conditions like arthritis, and those seeking stress relief.

More than half of all states license massage therapists, but insurance coverage is limited (for example, a massage might be covered as part of physical therapy, but not typically on its own). Most massage schools don't require post-secondary education to enroll.

Naturopathic Physician

Naturopaths, or N.D.s, function much like family physicians, but they use herbs, homeopathy, and nutritional supplements, and they usually don't prescribe drugs and don't perform surgery.

The popularity of naturopathy is growing. "The number of N.D.s in the country has darn near doubled in five years," points out Richard A. Dent, dean of enrollment services at Bastyr University, one of this country's few naturopathic schools, in Kenmore, Wash. Twelve states license naturopaths. Because courses are similar to those at conventional medical schools, you'll need a college degree with the equivalent of a pre-med major to enroll.

Nutritionist

Nutritionists and registered dietitians (or R.D.s, nutrition students who have met specific requirements of the American Dietetic Association) create diet plans and recommend vitamin, mineral, and other supplements to help patients regain, or maintain their health. As a nutritionist, you might assist people who are overweight or have diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. It's a perfect career choice if you view food as the simplest path to health.

All states license registered dietitians, but only a handful license nutritionists. Many insurers cover therapy from R.D.s; however, therapy from a nutritionist is rarely covered. To enroll in a program to become a nutritionist or an R.D., you need two years of college to a bachelor's degree with a nutrition or similar major.

Osteopathic Physician

The training of osteopathic physicians, or D.O.s, resembles that of conventional medical doctors. But there's a profound difference: Osteopathic physicians view health holistically and they use a manual technique called osteopathic manipulation to align the body's muscle-and-bone system. They believe that balancing this system helps the body to heal itself and reduces the need for conventional drugs and surgery. They also attempt to correct the cause of an illness, rather than just treating symptoms. Because D.O.s perform all kinds of medicine, from surgery to family practice, they see a wide range of patients.

D.O.s are licensed in all 50 states, and their services are covered by insurance.

To become an osteopathic physician, you will need a bachelor's degree with the equivalent of a pre-reed major.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Do you believe in balance, moderation, and harmony? Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners consider these attributes central to good health. They use bodywork (like massage), dietary changes, acupuncture, and therapeutic exercise like tai chi or qi gong and usually prescribe herb formulas rather than a single herb (as Western herbalists do).

About 40 states license this profession. Insurance may cover TCM in the states where it is licensed. The same schools that provide acupuncture degrees prepare you to practice traditional Chinese medicine, but programs vary. To enroll in a school, you'll need two years of college education, although some schools prefer that you have a bachelor's degree.

Shop for the Strongest School

You may need as little as one year of school to switch to a career in natural medicine. Follow these steps to get a great education.

1. Know Your State's Requirements.

To practice medicine legally, you need a license from your state. (States generally define "practice" as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing treatments.) Holding a license increases the likelihood that your patients will receive insurance coverage and that conventional doctors will refer patients to you. If you want to become licensed, check out your state's requirements by calling the health department, and then look for a school whose curriculum prepares you to meet those requirements.

One wrinkle: Some states don't license some professions, like herbalists and naturopaths. If you live in one of these states, you may still be able to practice, but you should check state laws to determine your rights. No state places restrictions on educating people to take care of themselves. Therefore, some healers who can't get a license act as counselors or consultants and recommend, rather than prescribe, remedies.

2. Check for Quality. The quality of schools varies widely. Experts recommend choosing an accredited school when possible. Accreditation is granted by agencies recognized by the federal Department of Education. It helps ensure a good education and means that a school is likely to stay around. "The last thing you want to do is go to a school that goes out of business two years into your three-year program," points out Jack Miller, L.Ac., a San Diego-based acupuncturist, TCM practitioner, and president of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. All the naturopathic, osteopathic, and chiropractic schools in this country are accredited or pursuing accreditation. For acupuncture and TCM, massage, and nutrition, you'll find a dizzying array of both accredited and unaccredited schools. Whether or not a school has accreditation, make sure it satisfies any licensure requirements for your state and check that instructors have several years of practice and teaching experience. Also visit it ahead of time to be sure that you feel comfortable with its atmosphere, and ask to speak with graduates.

3. Consider Location. Depending on your field of interest, you might have to move to go to school. Acupuncture and TCM and massage schools are widely available in most states. In fact, more than 500 massage schools span the United States, making it the most convenient education opportunity. Dozens of herb, homeopathic, and nutrition schools also exist. But future Ayurvedic practitioners, chiropractors, and osteopaths each have fewer than 20 schools nationwide to choose from. And only five naturopathy schools exist in the United States and Canada. To locate natural medicine schools, contact professional associations (see "Natural Careers at a Glance," page 86) or visit www.naturalhealers.com, a searchable site devoted to natural medicine education.

4. Be Wary of Correspondence Courses. Getting educated by mail, often called distance learning, may seem ideal if you're time-pressed or live far from a school. However, our experts warn that there are no shortcuts to getting a quality education. You will need the clinical experience and classroom interaction that most established programs provide. "I can't imagine any correspondence course could prepare you to be a doctor," says Cambridge, Mass.-based naturopath and acupuncturist Shiva Barton, N.D., L.Ac. Apprenticeships and mentorships in lieu of a degree are not suitable for most careers because they often lack the necessary academic focus. You may, however, choose to study your prerequisites with correspondence courses.

Start Working Your Dream Job

A passion for natural medicine can also put bread on the table--some natural healers pull in six figures. Once you graduate, consider these tactics to ensure that your practice thrives.

1. Scout Out Towns. Check out the local business listings in the locations you're considering for your practice. For example, you may be tempted to stick close to your school after you graduate, but you'll likely find heavy competition, warns David Molony, L.Ac., an acupuncturist and vice president of the American Association of Oriental Medicine in Catasauqua, Pa. For instance, Santa Fe, N.M., and Portland, Maine, have similar populations, but Santa Fe's two acupuncture schools have flooded the city with 134 licensed acupuncturists while Portland, which has no acupuncture school, has only 15. In cities you'll have a larger patient pool and can charge more for your services than in small towns. Of course, you'll have a higher cost of living and overhead in urban areas, so consider those factors, too.

2. Weigh Your Practice Options. You'll need to decide whether to practice alone or with other healers. You'll probably earn more in a private practice, but starting one could cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and it typically takes six months to three years before a practice becomes profitable. Joint partnerships offer support from your colleagues, increased referrals (if you work in a clinic), and shared overhead, health insurance, malpractice insurance, and other costs. Licensed professionals must purchase malpractice insurance and unlicensed healers should buy professional liability insurance, both of which will cover them if a patient sues. If you own an office, including a home office, you'll also need general "slip and fall" liability insurance. If you work from home, check your local zoning requirements to make sure this is allowed in your neighborhood.

3. Promote Yourself. Word of mouth will get you the most patients quickly. To get those first few clients, give free lectures at your local library and natural food store, write health columns in your local paper, and offer free or discounted visits to new patients via ads and raffles, recommends Dana Ullman, M.P.H., owner of Homeopathic Educational Services in Berkeley, Calif. Work 40 hours a week even if you don't have any clients. "If you don't have a patient, you should be looking for one," says acupuncturist Molony. Also collaborate with local practitioners. "When I started 30 years ago, I was the only acupuncturist in the state of Vermont," says Harriet Beinfield, L.Ac., an acupuncturist and TCM practitioner now in San Francisco. "I made alliances with several physicians and chiropractors, and they referred the patients they hadn't been able to help to me. And then those people told other people."

4. Consider Joining an Association. "It's in your self interest to join professional organizations because their purpose is to advocate for your profession," says Beinfield. They offer networking and continuing education opportunities, and they lobby for legislation changes that benefit your field and your patients. Membership adds to your credibility because you have to meet standards to join; this is especially helpful for Ayurvedic practitioners, herbalists, and other professionals who can't get licensed. Some organizations, like the American Massage Therapy Association, offer group rates on professional liability insurance. The only downside is annual dues, which can range from inexpensive (free for new graduates for the American Chiropractic Association) to pricey ($250 for the North American Society of Homeopaths).

5. Embrace Your Community. Plan to stay in a location for a long time and participate in your community, recommends acupuncturist Miller. Both your practice and your job satisfaction will benefit. Join your local chamber of commerce, volunteer, and offer to work pro bono, suggests Oija, Calif.-based herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford. "You'll seed goodwill in the community. It's important to be seen as somebody who's contributing to community health and not merely setting out a shingle and taking money from sick people," she says.

Success Story

How One Man Found His Calling

Paul Faust, N.D., 37 Towson, Md.

For 10 years, Faust climbed the corporate ladder as a chemical engineer. He had a young family and a six-figure income. But at age 32 he realized he wanted to turn his hobby--natural medicine--into his career. "My job wasn't fulfilling or satisfying my life completely. I wasn't being emotionally stimulated," he explains.

Faust had first encountered natural medicine when he was 23 and visited a holistic doctor looking for a remedy for exhaustion. The diet changes and supplements his practitioner recommended made Faust's energy soar. Natural medicine became his keen interest. Ten years later, he read a book about naturopathy and realized he had found his calling.

For a year, Faust took night classes in Maryland to get the prerequisites he needed to start studying naturopathy. Then he moved with his family to Washington state so he could enroll in the naturopathy program at Bastyr University in Kenmore.

After graduation, Faust opened a practice back home in Maryland. Two years later, it is thriving and he sees 30 patients a week. "I don't even see myself retiring. This is my life's work." To people yearning for such a change, he says, "It's worth pursuing with full gusto and all your ambition. If you know where you're headed, you will be successful."

Natural Careers at a Glance
If you've been dreaming about starting anew as a healer, know these
facts. Our estimates don't include the time or cost of prerequisites.
And the income statistics are based on a thriving practice; the salary
for initial years may be significantly lower.

                                         COST OF     LENGTH OF
CAREER          PREREQUISITES           SCHOOLING     PROGRAM

Acupuncturist   At least 2 years        $25,000 to   3 to 4 years
                of college              $38,000

Ayurvedic       Some college            $3,000 to    1 to 3 years,
Practitioner    education               $10,000      typically
                                                     part time

Chiropractor    3 years of college,     $55,000 to   4 years
                emphasizing science     $70,000

Herbalist       Usually none            $2,000 to    2 to 4 years,
                                        $22,000      part-time possible

Homeopath       2 years of college to   $6,000 to    3 to 4 years,
                bachelor's degree       $15,000      typically
                with equivalent of                   part time
                pre-med major

Massage         None                    $3,000 to    6 months to 3
Therapist                               $11,000      years, part-time
                                                     possible

Naturopath      Bachelor's degree       $65,000 to   4 or more years
                with equivalent of      $80,000
                pre-reed major

Nutritionist    2 years of college to   $4,000 to    2 to 5 years
                bachelor's degree       $30,000
                with nutrition or
                similar major

Osteopath       Bachelor's degree       $80,000 to   4 years
                with equivalent of      $120,000
                pre-med major

TCM             2 years of college to   $27,000 to   3 to 4 years
Practitioner    bachelor's degree       $40,000

                ANNUAL              MORE
CAREER          INCOME           INFORMATION

Acupuncturist   $40,000 to       American Association of Oriental
                $100,000         Medicine, 888-500-7999,
                                 www.aaom.org

Ayurvedic       $40,000 to       American Ayurvedic Association,
Practitioner    $100,000         717-560-5609, www.ayurvedic
                                 association.org

Chiropractor    $70,000 to       Federation of Chiropractic
                $150,000         Licensing Boards, 970-356-3500,
                                 www.fclb.org

Herbalist       $30,000 to       American Herbalists Guild,
                $90,000          770-751-6021,
                                 www.americanherbalist.com

Homeopath       $50,000 to       National Center for Homeopathy,
                $100,000 (more   703-548-7790,
                if licensed)     www.homeopathic.org

Massage         $20,000 to       American Massage Therapy
Therapist       $50,000          Association, 847-864-0123,
                                 www.amtamassage.org

Naturopath      $40,000 to       American Association of
                $125,000         Naturopathic Physicians, 866-538-2267,
                                 www.naturopathic.org

Nutritionist    $30,000          American Dietetic Association,
                $100,000 to      800.877-1600, www.eatright.org

Osteopath       $100,000 to      American Osteopathic
                $300,000         Association, 800-621-1773,
                                 www.aoa-net.org

TCM             $40,000 to       see "Acupuncturist"
Practitioner    $100,000

SOURCES: AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION; SHIVA BARTON, N.D.; GERARD
CLUM, D.C.; DICK DENT; NANCY DUNNE, N.D.; DAVID A. FREDERICK, PH.D.
N.D.; CLAUDE GAGNON; MARC HALPER, D.C.; ROBERT IVKER, D.O.; WHITNEY
LOWE; JEROME F. MCANDREWS, D.C.; AMANDA MCQUADE CRAWFORD; JACK MILLER,
LAC.; DAVID MOLONY, LAC., PH.D.; KAREN NICHOLS, D.O.; DANA ULLMAN,
M.P.H.; U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS; STEVE WALDSTEIN;
WWW.NATURALHEALERS.COM

Fact

Americans spend around $31 billion dollars a year on alternative therapies and supplements, according to a 1999 study.

Fact

Acupuncturists, massage therapists, and naturopaths see an average of one patient per hour. Conventional physicians see an average of three patients per hour, according to a 2002 study.

Fact

About 29 percent of American adults used natural therapies in 1999, according to a survey of more than 30,000 people.

Fact

The most popular alternative therapies are herbs, which are used by approximately 1 in 10 people, and chiropractic, which is used by about 1 in 13 people, according to a 2002 study.

Fact

Osteopaths received 66.7 million visits--8.1 percent of all licensed doctors' visits--in 2000, according to a Centers for Disease Control survey.

Maria Noel Mandile, a freelance writer in Derry, N.H., is pursuing a new career in herbalism. Working on this article inspired her because all the practitioners she interviewed loved their jobs.

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