Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
•   Provide Consultation and Advice to Others Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Develop individual treatment plans and strategies.
• Adhere to local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and statutes.
• Insert needles to provide acupuncture treatment.
• Identify correct anatomical and proportional point locations based on patients' anatomy and positions, contraindications, and precautions related to treatments, such as intradermal needles, moxibustion, electricity, guasha, or bleeding.
• Collect medical histories and general health and lifestyle information from patients.
• Treat patients using tools, such as needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, or nutritional supplements.
• Analyse physical findings and medical histories to make diagnoses according to Oriental medicine traditions.
• Maintain and follow standard quality, safety, environmental, and infection control policies and procedures.
• Educate patients on topics, such as meditation, ergonomics, stretching, exercise, nutrition, the healing process, breathing, or relaxation techniques.
• Dispense herbal formulas and inform patients of dosages and frequencies, treatment duration, possible side effects, and drug interactions.

Further Information

• Acupuncturist- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Acupuncturist- from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

 Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

The career area of acupuncture is unregulated in Ireland. However, most acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine training programmes require students to have a bachelor's degree.

Qualifications in areas such as physiology, anatomy, biology and psychology are especially helpful for a career as an Acupuncturist. Healthcare qualifications (i.e. Nursing or Physiotherapy) in particular, are useful.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: holistic body massage, personal trainer with sports massage, sports injury and massage therapy, alternative health and well being therapies, complementary therapies, physiotherapy, pre-university, pre-physiotherapy, sports therapy, sports studies, physiology, massage.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include:

Search for PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: general nursing, health and leisure with massage, recreation and leisure management.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: business, management.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

Irish Therapists 

Irish Massage Therapists Association 

AFPA (Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association)

Acupuncture Council of Ireland

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €41k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Paramedics, Pharmaceutical technicians, Medical and dental technicians, Health associate professionals n.e.c., Dispensing opticians, Dental nurses.  

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

This occupation had the largest employment growth rate across all the healthcare occupations, relating mainly to growth between 2021 and 2022. Two thirds of those employed were female, a quarter were working part-time and 24% were non-Irish citizens. At 58%, this occupation had the lowest share employed in the health sector with employment also in wholesale and retail and industry. The small number of employment permits issued related to paramedics and prosthetists/orthotists.

This was one of the few occupations not to experience a decline in the number of online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) between 2022 and 2023; adverts included roles for medical/dental and pharmaceutical technicians. The available data sources do not currently point to issues with sourcing suitably qualified personnel for these roles.

• Accupuncture Council of Ireland (TCMCI)

  • 1 Raheen Gardens, Raheen, Limerick
  • 061-276532
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Association of Registered Complimentary Health Therapists of Ireland (ARCHTI)

  • Ballydaniel, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
  • 087 316 8381
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Federation of Holistic Therapists

  • 18 Shakespeare Business Centre, Hathaway Close, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 4SR, England
  • +44 (0)23 8062 4350
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here