Self-test: Is a "Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM (Cert.)" course right for me?
Does working as a TCM therapist (certified) meet your expectations and needs? Take the free and non-binding self-test now and find out whether you are on the right path with a course leading to a "school certificate".
TCM therapists: What does their everyday work look like?
TCM naturopaths can have their own practice, be part of a group practice or work in clinics, rehabilitation centers or spa hotels. They support people in activating and strengthening the body's self-regulation and self-healing powers.
At the start of treatment, you will conduct a detailed medical history interview and examine the patient using TCM diagnostic methods: pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis and observation. In addition to complaints and symptoms of illness, sleeping, eating and working habits or questions about the relationship environment are also discussed. The evaluation leads to a diagnosis, which is used to determine the appropriate treatment methods. The TCM therapist can use acupuncture, tui na massage or cupping to release energy blockages and reactivate the flow of energy. Herbal applications stimulate the self-regulating and self-healing powers from within and without. And a change in diet and lifestyle can support the healing or alleviation of symptoms in the long term.
Good to know:
Since 2015, there has been a federally recognized qualification in alternative medicine in Switzerland. The title "Naturopath with a federal diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine" can be obtained by passing this examination (higher professional examination).
Question 1:
Do the activities described meet your expectations? Would you like to work as a TCM therapist?
Great! Continue with the test...
If you don't like all the activities, think in detail about what exactly you would and wouldn't like about them.
Then look in related fields to see if you can find something that better suits your interests. For example:
- Acupuncture (Cert.)
- Acupressure (Cert.)
- Acupuncture massage (certified)
- Aromatherapy (Cert.)
- Ayurveda (Cert.)
- Bach Flowers (Cert.)
- Foot reflexology (certified)
- Homeopathy (Cert.)
- Kinesiology (Cert.)
- Complementary therapist (certified)
- Meridian massage (cert.)
- Herbal medicine / phytotherapy (cert.)
- Schüssler salts (cert.)
- Tape courses (cert.)
- Naturopath (HFP)
If you don't like the activities because you had completely different ideas about this profession, it may be a good idea to start again and look at other job profiles. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection.
Would you like to find your vocation first? OurGuide "Finding your own calling"can support you in this.
Target group and skills: Who is the Traditional Chinese Medicine-TCM course suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The following target group is addressed with training in Traditional Chinese Medicine:
- People who are interested in TCM
- Healthcare professionals who want to expand their skills
- Persons seeking a federally recognized qualification as a naturopath in TCM with a federal diploma
The following qualities are required for a successful career as a TCM therapist:
- Serious interest in alternative medicine
- Communication skills and empathy
- Physical and mental resilience and a balanced state of mind
- Tolerance towards people who think differently and other value systems
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups for this training course and do you have the necessary personal qualities?
Great! To the next step in the self-test.
- If you do not have the necessary personal qualities and skills, you will not be happy in this job. Look out for further training opportunities that offer a technical specialization that better suits your skills.
- If you are unsure whether you are suited to such a job, it is best to discuss this with your line manager or career advisor. You can find suitable providers of career advice and career coaching here:
Prerequisites for admission to the Traditional Chinese Medicine-TCM training (Cert.):
As a rule, TCM training is open to all interested persons. No specific previous training or professional experience is required.
Some schools require the following points for admission:
- At least 22 years old
- Apprenticeship qualification with federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or Matura
- Several years of professional experience
- Good knowledge of German
Question 3:
Do you meet the requirements for admission?
Great! You can start your training at the earliest possible date.
- If you are not yet at least 22 years old, please ask the school. You may simply have to have reached this age by the time you complete the course and can therefore start your TCM training even if you have not yet reached the required age.
- If you do not have the required knowledge of German, then take thePlacement test.Hereyou will find schools with suitable German courses.
- If you do not have a basic vocational qualification with a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ), then look for a suitable training opportunity. It is also possible to obtain the EFZ or an equivalent qualification as an adult. You can find out more about catch-up training for adults in ourGuide "The Swiss education system at a glance".
- If you have too little or no (relevant) professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If someone in your private or professional environment is already working in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, ask them for tips and whether they would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
- If you lack the required basic medical hours to be placed on the ASCA and/or EMR registry, then make them up.Hereyou will find corresponding offers and suitable providers.
- If you are not yet at least 22 years old, please ask the school. You may simply have to have reached this age by the time you complete the course and can therefore start your TCM training even if you have not yet reached the required age.
- If you do not have the required knowledge of German, then take thePlacement test.Hereyou will find schools with suitable German courses.
- If you do not have a basic vocational qualification with a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ), then look for a suitable training opportunity. It is also possible to obtain the EFZ or an equivalent qualification as an adult. You can find out more about catch-up training for adults in ourGuide "The Swiss education system at a glance".
- If you have too little or no (relevant) professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If someone in your private or professional environment is already working in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, ask them for tips and whether they would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
- If you lack the required basic medical hours to be placed on the ASCA and/or EMR registry, then make them up.Hereyou will find corresponding offers and suitable providers.
Subject matter and content of the training
The subject matter of a TCM training course is determined independently by the schools; it can therefore vary.
The following topics are often covered in the course:
- Basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (origin, history, development)
- Understanding illness, health and healing (elements, meridians, pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, Chinese medicines)
- Acupuncture/needling technique and TuiNa
- Basic cupping, ear diagnostics and treatment, QiGong, Shiatsu
- Principles, concepts, effect and purpose of the treatment
- Work as a therapist
- Treatment structure (anamnesis, diagnostics, communication)
- Indicators, contraindicators and limits of treatment
- Legal aspects
Question 4:
Are you interested in this content, would you like to acquire knowledge in these subject areas?
Great! You can look forward to exciting and instructive hours in which you will broaden your knowledge horizon and skills - aspects that are in demand on the job market and increase your career and salary opportunities.
If you are only partially interested in the content of the TCM training course, take a look at other training and further education courses in related areas. You may find a course that suits you better.
For example:
- Acupuncture (Cert.)
- Acupressure (Cert.)
- Acupuncture massage (certified)
- Aromatherapy (Cert.)
- Ayurveda (Cert.)
- Bach Flowers (Cert.)
- Foot reflexology (certified)
- Homeopathy (Cert.)
- Kinesiology (Cert.)
- Complementary therapist (certified)
- Meridian massage (cert.)
- Herbal medicine / phytotherapy (cert.)
- Schüssler salts (cert.)
- Tape courses (cert.)
- Naturopath (HFP)
Obviously the typical subject areas of traditional Chinese medicine training are not your thing. Take a look at other training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a wide range of options.
Costs and financing of further training
How much a TCM training course costs is determined by the schools themselves. The costs can therefore vary from provider to provider.
You can expect the following costs for training up to the federal diploma as a naturopath:
- Course feesBetween CHF 35'000.- and CHF 50'000.-
- Added to this is theExamination fee for the modulesThe amount is determined by the schools: approx. CHF 1000.
- TheExamination fee for the higher professional examinationis determined by the sponsoring body of the HFP and is binding for all candidates: CHF 2,600 (as of April 2024)
There are also specialist training courses lasting a few days/weeks (e.g. for healthcare staff), which are correspondingly cheaper: between CHF 1000 and CHF 4000.
- Some providers requireExtra costsfor
- Teaching aids
- Training documents
Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out the actual costs.
Question 5:
Are you able to pay for the course?
Great! Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the full amount in advance, ask the school of your choice whether they offer a special discount for full payment in advance.
You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
- Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
- Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also be able to support you with an educational loan.
- You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
- Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
- Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
- Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also be able to support you with an educational loan.
- You can find information on financial support options from your employer, the federal government, the canton, foundations or loans from the EducaSwiss Foundation in ourGuide "How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Course structure, duration of study, training options, teaching format and learning effort
- TCM training - whether specialist further training courses (cert.) or up to the federal diploma as a naturopath (HFP) - is designed to be part-time and has a modular structure. This means that each module is taken and completed individually.
- The duration of the courses is determined by the schools themselves and therefore varies greatly depending on the provider and the course offered. It is likely to be between five and eight years. There are also shorter courses of a few days/weeks, for example for healthcare professionals who want to train in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.
- The schools also decide independently when the lessons take place. Some courses offer lessons two days a week and on selected Saturdays (and Sundays). Others only offer lessons one day a week.
- The training generally takes place in classroom teaching.
- You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.
Question 6:
Can you find the time for lessons and self-study?
Great!
Tip for self-study: It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier.
If you do not have that much time, contact the providers and clarify whether you can possibly complete the training over more than the specified time.
If you still don't have enough time, check whether you can create space for yourself elsewhere. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the duration of your training?
Degree, diploma and title
Those who have successfully passed all modules of the TCM training course are admitted to the final examination.
The final examination is conducted by your personal teacher and serves to test your confidence in the use and application of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Diploma and title
Successful graduates receive a school certificate / diploma from the respective school: "TCM therapist [name of school]" or "graduate TCM therapist [name of school]".
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to complete the training?
Great!
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are unsure, we recommend that you attend an information event on this course.
Arrange a personal consultation appointment with the school of your choice. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school management about support options. Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training.
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams.
If you are not at all confident about passing the final exam but would like to complete the training, it is best to arrange a personal consultation appointment with a school. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school of your choice whether there are any support options for you.
Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training. You can find suitable offers here:
No, TCM training does not suit you. What a pity? - Maybe not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other will certainly suit you much better.
Check which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
TCM training is probably not the right training goal for you.
Are you surprised or disappointed? Perhaps take the test again and see where your ideas or possibilities deviate from the ideal job. Perhaps this will point you in the direction of more suitable further training.
Then see which other further training courses interest you. ToEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
This is a half-hearted result: TCM training does not seem ideal for you. Or is it perhaps the form of training that doesn't suit you or doesn't fit well in terms of organization?
See which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Further training in TCM acupuncture is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the providers' information events. There you can find out more about further training and discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
"Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM training, course, further training (cert.)"
This training seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM training, course, further training (cert.)"
Brilliant, this course seems to be made for you!
The best thing to do now is to attend information events at the schools you are interested in and find out everything you need to know about the specific content, costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM training, course, further training (cert.)"