Can I Work Abroad With My Qualification?
A BSc in Acupuncture can open many amazing opportunities and NCA acupuncture graduates are working all over the world – USA, Canada, Australia and the UAE to name a few.
Working abroad
You need to be aware that each country (and in the USA, each state) has different rules about what an acupuncture training experience should include. If you are considering emigrating in the future, we advise you to look carefully at the rules of the country you are looking to move to. In some countries you are not able to practise acupuncture if you are not a doctor or professional in medicine. Most of our graduates who have emigrated have had to jump through a few hoops to register before they can start working as an acupuncturist. However, once they have completed the paperwork and any extra requirements needed, they are enjoying successful and lucrative careers.
The Graduate Perspective
Mel Hopper-Koppelman – USA
"After graduating with my MSc from the NCA in 2012, I ran a clinic in Leicester for 5 years before immigrating to the United States where I’m from originally. In the state that I moved to, Rhode Island, acupuncturists are licensed medical practitioners with the title “Dr”, which is quite nice. In order to qualify, I had to pass national board exams, which took more effort than I was expecting. Naturally, acupuncture schools in the US teach to the US board exams so I found myself needing not just what I learned based on Maciocia’s texts but also some other texts with which I hadn’t been familiar. Now, the process of transferring qualifications between the UK and the US is much more streamlined and straightforward, making it a much smoother process for anyone interested in immigrating."
Volunteering abroad
After the pandemic, opportunities to volunteer abroad have gradually become more available. In the first year after graduating, NCA graduates can apply to volunteer with the charity World Medicine in their clinic in Gujarat India and this is a fantastic opportunity to experience acupuncture treatments in a fast paced multibed setting.
Studying abroad
Our graduates find opportunities to study abroad in China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, learning more about traditional Chinese medicine and other disciplines of acupuncture.
The Graduate Perspective
Teresa Dawkes – World Medicine volunteer
"Thank you with all my heart to World Medicine. The acupuncturists, translators, therapists, administration and hospital staff who made it such a memorable trip, and for reminding me of the help and relief I can provide to patients; exactly why I trained to be an acupuncturist."
Read more about Teresa’s Indian adventure on our Blog
With a gold standard BAAB accredited NCA acupuncture degree, the world is your oyster!
