By programme leader Paul Johnson
A new year, a new start?
The Christmas break is a period when people often take some time out to think about where they are going in life, and if they should be making any major life changes. This year will be no exception! In these strange times, a lot of people will be re-evaluating their options and contemplating a career change. At least that is what Rishi Sunak is advising people to do!
Retraining as an acupuncturist might seem like a pretty left-field career option, but there are a lot of reasons why you should consider it…
Acupuncture is increasingly accepted
Acupuncture is now seen as a much more main-stream way of taking care of your health than previously. Acupuncturists who have trained at a BAAB accredited college such as CCA have completed degree-level training and have a wealth of knowledge for both Chinese and Western medicine. Insurance companies increasingly pay for acupuncture treatment under private health schemes.
There are more acupuncturists retiring than graduating
It is hard to believe, but even though the number of people seeking out acupuncture is rising, the number of properly qualified practitioners is dropping. There was a boom period in acupuncture training about twenty years ago - as most of those people became an acupuncturist as a second career, many of them are currently retiring. This means that most acupuncturists are actually busier than ever!
Covid is making people more aware of their health
The current pandemic has prompted many people to look at their health more closely and not just take it for granted. With increases in scientific research, acupuncture is seen as a natural way of maintaining optimum health. The NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance on migraines states that doctors should stop offering opioids as treatment and recommends that recurrent migraine should be prevented by taking a course of 10 acupuncture sessions over 5-8 weeks!
Be your own boss
Most acupuncturists are self-employed, meaning you can create a work pattern that suits your lifestyle. Some acupuncturists just work during school hours, seeing between four and six people a day. A typical acupuncture session costs in the region of £50 - so seeing 20 people in a week generates £1,000 in takings!
Why studying at CCA is a good move
Apart from the period of total lockdown, CCA has managed to stay open by teaching in a blended manner. All practical work happens onsite in a Covid-secure environment, with purely theoretical classes being delivered online via Teams.
The City College of acupuncture programme is fully accredited by the BAAB, which means that we are offering a gold-standard training. We are currently the only BAAB accredited programme running in London. Just a few minutes from the Old Street tube station, we are easy to get to by tube or bus. We offer a practical, hands-on programme with a strong emphasis on getting you into business. Once you have completed our business module in the final year of your programme, you can get into practice just a few weeks after completing your studies!
Acupuncture is an amazing profession!
Ask an acupuncturist what they think of their job and they will tell you they love it! It is an incredibly engaging, fascinating, fun and rewarding career and you will be amazed at the number of ways in which you can help people in their lives. It is also incredibly interesting to study - it is such a rich field that you will find that you will want to learn more and more about the subject, even after you have qualified.
If you think that studying with us could be the next big thing in your life, please email cca@citycollege.ac.uk to book onto our next open evening.