Becoming an Ayurveda Practitioner

Ayurveda Practitioners use ancient Indian techniques to heal diseases and promote wellness by keeping the individual’s body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. They adopt holistic approach to maintain a prolonged healthy life, increase spiritual awareness, reduce stress, cure and prevent diseases.

Ayurveda Practitioners help the patients with different approaches, such as practicing of yoga, meditation, exercise, counseling for proper diet, healthy lifestyle or providing massage, herbal supplement, specialized therapies etc.

Ayurveda Practitioners work in a hospital, rehabilitation center, home healthcare centers etc. They can also open a private practice in this field. The health practitioners in USA include Ayurveda to their practices are holistic physicians, naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, nutritionists, and acupuncturists.

Educational Requirements

In USA, there are no national educational standards to become an Ayurveda Practitioner. However, the Ayurveda Practitioner aspirants have to complete a formal training and certification program administered by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). The NAMA offers various types of program in Ayurvedic education, such as short-term, seminar-style programs, distance education programs and 500-hour programs.

Doctors can take additional training in Ayurvedic medicine and become a specialist in complementary and alternative medicine.

However, students can pursue Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, offered in India, for better job opportunities.

Skill set

Besides clinical knowledge, Ayurveda Practitioners possess various skills such management and organization abilities, clear understanding of confidentiality, high medical ethics, ability to remain calm under pressure, work with compassion, motivating and convincing power, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills , basic computer knowledge to name a few.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for an Ayurveda Practitioner remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 20% during 2010-2020. The average annual salary of an Ayurveda Practitioners was $72,870 in 2013.