Traditional Practitioner Training by Tradition: What Exists and What Is Regulated
A country-by-country look at how traditional practitioners are trained and regulated, from India and Japan to Korea, Australia, South Africa, the UK and the US, and where community standing matters.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What this page covers
There is no single worldwide system for training or licensing traditional practitioners. This page gives examples of what is documented in specific places, using laws, regulators and professional bodies where we could read them. It is not a complete world map, and rules change, so always confirm with the official body where you live. We do not recommend schools or practitioners. For a how-to, see how to check a traditional practitioner.WHO reports that 124 of its Member States have passed laws or regulation for herbal medicines. [1] That is about products, not practitioners, and the two are regulated separately in many countries. For a wider view, see how traditional medicines are regulated by country.
Examples by place and tradition
| Place and tradition | What the source says | Kind of system |
|---|---|---|
| India: Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa | The 2020 national commission law defines the "Indian System of Medicine" as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa. [2] It sets a National Exit Test for granting a license to practice. [2] Only people on a State or National Register may practice as qualified practitioners. [2] | Government register and license |
| Japan: Kampo | Japan has one type of medical license, so physicians prescribe both Kampo and western biomedicine. [3] | Practised within the physician license |
| South Korea: Korean medicine | Korean medicine is described as part of conventional medicine because it has had its own education and licensing system since the 1950s. [4] A professional society says graduates are qualified for the national examination for the license as doctors of Korean medicine. [5] | Separate government license |
| Australia: Chinese medicine | Titles such as Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and acupuncturist are protected, and only registered people may use them. [6] The law protects the title, not a list of activities. [6] | Government registration (title protection) |
| South Africa: traditional health practitioners | The Act provides a regulatory framework to ensure the efficacy, safety and quality of traditional health care services. [7] No one may practise unless registered. [8] | Statutory registration (current operation not confirmed by us) |
| Nepal: Sowa Rigpa (amchi) | A news report says graduates of a government-recognized curriculum cannot yet qualify for an official medical license from the Nepal Health Professional Council. [9] | Recognition still being worked out |
| England: herbal medicine and most complementary therapies | Herbal medicine practitioners and most complementary therapists do not need to be registered by law, but chiropractors and osteopaths do. [10] Voluntary registers can be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [11] | Voluntary registers |
| United States: acupuncture | In most states acupuncturists must be certified by the national certification commission. [12] | State licensing |
| United States: Ayurveda | There is no state that requires an Ayurvedic practitioner to have a license. [13] | Unregulated (as NCCIH reports) |
| Aboriginal Central Australia: Ngangkari | Ngangkari are described by an Aboriginal-led organization as the traditional healers of the NPY lands. [14] | Community standing |
| Tribal communities in the US: traditional healers | Reporting on the Indian Health Service says these roles are not certified or licensed. [15] | Community standing |
What the table shows
Licensed professions. In India, Korea, Australia and parts of the US, there is a government route and a register you can check. Use it. It tells you a person met a defined standard, though it does not guarantee quality. [12]Practised inside conventional medicine. In Japan, Kampo is prescribed by licensed physicians. [3] Ask a Kampo prescriber about their medical license, not only a Kampo certificate. See Kampo in the Japanese health system.
Voluntary registers. Where the law does not regulate a practice, a register run by a professional body may still set standards for conduct and competence. [11] Check that the register itself is independent and accredited.
Community standing. Many Indigenous and community healers are recognized by their own communities. In the US it can be hard for outsiders to determine qualifications, partly because communities protect traditional knowledge. [15] A lack of paperwork does not mean a lack of standing. It means the check is a different one.
Training varies even within one tradition
Different systems may sit under different laws within one country. For example, the US treats acupuncture as a state-licensed profession in most states, [12] but reports that no state requires a license for Ayurvedic practitioners. [13] The US also has no standard national system for credentialing complementary health practitioners. [12] A "diploma" from a private course is not the same as a license from a regulator.For details on specific systems, see:
- Unani in India and Pakistan: training and regulation
- Siddha in India: training and regulation
- Sowa Rigpa in India, Nepal, Bhutan and China
- Korean medicine in South Korea
- TCM qualifications and licensing by jurisdiction
Who should seek conventional care first
Training does not change the need for urgent or conventional care. Get medical care first for a sudden or severe symptom, a new lump, chest pain, difficulty breathing, pregnancy concerns, or any serious condition. Tell every provider about every practitioner you see. [16]Frequently asked questions
Does a traditional practitioner need a license?
It depends on the place and tradition. In India, only people on the State or National Register may practice as qualified practitioners of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa. [2] In England, herbal medicine practitioners do not need to be registered by law. [10]
Are Kampo practitioners separate from doctors in Japan?
Not in the way many people expect. Japan has one type of medical license, and physicians prescribe both Kampo and western biomedicine. [3]
Can an unlicensed healer still be legitimate?
Possibly. In many traditions, standing comes from community recognition, not a license. [15][14] The check is then with the community, along with the usual questions about safety and honesty.
Is a certificate or title enough?
No. Being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified. [12] Titles can also be protected without defining what a person is allowed to do. [6]
Where can I check a practitioner's registration?
Use the official register for your place, such as your state licensing board in the US, [16] the Professional Standards Authority register in the UK, [11] or the national register for Indian systems. [2]