Acupuncturist Moving To Chiang Mai

[GregR]

Hi all

I am an American Acupuncturist/Herbalist moving to Chiang Mai in October. I want to get an idea of what life/business might be like when I get there. Is there enough of an interest to charge between 700 and 1500 Baht per treatment, with enough clients to make a living. Are there many Americans practicing acupuncture there? Any help/advice you can give me would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Greg

[mania]

Hi

Of course the first question many will ask is how you will legally work.

Permit etc & whether the trade you are hoping to work in is possible for a foreigner.

Although I have seen a foreign Chiropractor so it may be possible?

http://www.doctorphi...hilips-profile/

As for your main question, I personally have never seen a Non Thai administering Acupuncture

But I do go to a very good clinic here called Mungkala

http://www.mungkala..../about-mungkala

Price is 500 baht per session & they are always busy when I have been there.

Good Luck with your move & hope all goes well for you

[haybilly]

I, too, echo Mania's concerns re. possibility of obtaining a Work Permit.

Thanks to Mania for 2 useful links.

[uptheos]

I don't have any concerns whatsoever about your work permit, that's entirely your business.

I'm more concerned with checking your credentials and I would get in touch with wherever you obtained them, as certificates are very cheap and authentic looking from Khao Sarn Rd. If you checked out OK and if you are not a novice, then I would probably give you a go.

[Happyphotons]

They are serious about protecting Thailand from and invasion of foreign professionals (think Chinese.)

It is just about impossible for you to work in Thailand legally as an acupuncturist. First off you have to learn to read and write Thai, then take the Ministry of Health Exam, 400 questions in written Thai language only, three hours to complete the exam. You may be able to do this however to practice acupuncture in Thailand you will need an official residency permit. I know of only one person ( a wealthy exporter from AU,) and it took him seven years. Thailand is NOT like America, where millions of people work without a permit..My suggestion is to teach English here, which you CAN get permission to do. However, your work permit will NOT allow you to practice acupuncture. I know of Americans who were arrested for playing guitar in a bar every night. They split $20.00 betweeen them. They went to jail for this and then, when they got o ticket out of Thailand were barred for life. In other word, It is impossible...and realize the $3.00 is a lot of money here and people paying 500 Thai Barht are paying a lot.

If you learn Thai and go to a Thai traditional medicine/acupuncture school, taught in Thai, you have a chance at passing the exam in Thai in 4 to 6 years.

I worked as a volunteer, with a valid volunteer Visa as a "professor of Acupuncture" here at a Wat. While I was given room and board I was only able to 'assist' the Abbot/acupuncturist while he was ill (heart problems,) Six weeks latter, he was better and, although, under his auspices and with in my capacity as a 'teacher' I treated about 446 people, for free. Acupuncture and work here, unless you are needed (native English speaking teacher,) they will NOT let you practice. You may get away with treating Farang (foreigners,) for a while, but that will not last long as there are actually police that are Foreigners who mingle with and in the foreiner community here. Basically, someone will find out and they will come and arrest you..and put you in jail...

BTW if you volunteer, when you arrive you must get the people to go with you to the Labor department and obtain a Volunteer Visa, or you will STILL be in violation of Thai labor law, even with a "non immibrant Type "O"" or volunteer visa.

If you are under 35 try Australia, or even Cambodia. Thailand is off limits.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

Under 500 baht per treatment might have some demand but the current well established ones only charge 500.

If just working out of a room etc then I think it would be slim pickings in terms of traffic unless the price is significantly lower.

Looking on the bright side if you get picked up for not having a work permit then maybe there is a market for acupuncture in the IDC (Immigration detention center)

I wonder how the American Chiro Ken practiced for so long in the open. Is he still in Italy or back in Thailand?

[hellodolly]

I don't know about the Visa thing but I have tried two here including the highly recommended one above for 500 baht.

Both to no avail. Have been considering trying the above mentioned one for my feet only as I have diabetes and perhaps it will work on just one specific area. I am not new to the practice and have never had any success with it. I do not judge a practitioner on one treatment at least 5 treatments and this was the case back home. I also do not judge them on the basis of weather they have a piece of paper, I judge them by results.

Regardless I do think your price is to high.

As for being a Herbalist I think that might require more paper work.

[tfc]

I know of 5 Acupuncturists in Chiang Mai including the 2 at Mungkala. All of them charge 500 baht for about 1-2 hours so I'd say if you were to charge more than that there would need to be something that stood you out from the rest. Just speaking English wouldn't be enough to for example attract expats since Dr. Rungrat at Mungkala or Herman both speak fluent English too. I've heard that there is also a doctor at McCormick Hospital that does acupuncture but I haven't tried.

[wigantojapan]

Go to Cambodia .Easy to set up a business there.

.Like people have said the acupuncturist in CM and are well established respected. and speak English.

The Herbal side of things is also different as the herbs growing here are different and there are some great chinese /Thai herbalist who really know you stuff..

You might be able to get the odd occasional client through general interaction with foreigners living here

,the ones passing through on a month to 3 month massage learning stay,but will that be enough for to satisfy you as a living..

You could approach one of the more respectable massage schools and you could possibly do a workshop,but again the will check your qualification very carefully and to tell you the truth thy have more than enough highly qualified practisioners doing that all ready.

Cambodia is my best advise ,if you want to be in this part of the world

Good luck

.