Becoming 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 a 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 yoga, meditation, exercise, counseling for proper diet, healthy lifestyle or providing massage, herbal supplement, specialized therapies etc.

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

In the USA, there are no national educational standards to become an Ayurveda Practitioner. However, 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 programs 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.

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

Besides clinical knowledge, Ayurveda Practitioners possess various skills such as management and organization abilities, a clear understanding of confidentiality, high medical ethics, the ability to remain calm under pressure, a compassionate attitude, motivational and convincing power, pleasant communication and interpersonal skills, and basic computer knowledge.

The job outlook for an Ayurveda Practitioner remains excellent across the USA. According to the 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 Ayurveda Practitioners was $72,870 in 2013.