Summary
Traditional and Complementary Medicine Professionals (KeSCO 2270) supports outcomes in the Health & Medical Services sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Minimum entry
Diploma or Bachelorβs degree
Future outlook
Future trends such as digital transformation, automation, climate resilience, and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy, quality standards, safety, customer service, and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors
Health & Medical ServicesProfessional ServicesPublic SectorPrivate SectorNGO/DevelopmentSpecialised Practice
Description
Traditional and Complementary Medicine Professionals (KeSCO 2270) supports outcomes in the Health & Medical Services sector by applying job-specific knowledge, standards, and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer, work setting, and seniority level, but the occupation generally requires reliability, competence, and continuous learning.
Employment prospects
Prospects depend on national and county demand, sector investment, policy priorities, and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience, building a portfolio or track record, earning relevant certifications, and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Tasks
- Plan and prioritise daily work activities to meet targets and deadlines
- Follow workplace procedures, standards, and relevant regulations
- Carry out core job duties accurately and safely
- Use job tools/equipment/software correctly and maintain them appropriately
- Communicate progress, issues, and requirements with supervisors and colleagues
- Serve clients/customers professionally and resolve routine queries
- Document work completed, maintain records, and submit routine reports
- Identify errors, risks, or service gaps and propose improvements
- Work as part of a team and coordinate tasks across units
- Maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct where required
- Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) guidelines
- Participate in training, mentoring, or continuous improvement activities
Skills
Communication (verbal and written) | Teamwork and collaboration | Problem-solving and critical thinking | Time management and prioritisation | Attention to detail and accuracy | Customer service orientation | Integrity and ethical conduct | Adaptability and continuous learning | Decision-making and judgement | Documentation and record-keeping | Digital literacy (basic) | Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Core skills
- Communication (verbal and written)
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Time management and prioritisation
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Customer service orientation
- Integrity and ethical conduct
- Adaptability and continuous learning
- Decision-making and judgement
- Documentation and record-keeping
- Digital literacy (basic)
- Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical skills
- Clinical procedures within scope of practice
- Patient assessment and monitoring
- Medication administration principles
- Infection prevention and control (IPC)
- Emergency response basics (BLS/triage awareness)
- Health records and documentation
- Client education and counselling basics
- Specimen handling basics (where relevant)
- Confidentiality and ethics in care
- Team-based care coordination
Transferable skills
- Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
- Negotiation and stakeholder management
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation and public speaking
- Creativity and innovation
- Emotional intelligence
- Planning and organisation
- Resilience and stress management
- Service mindset and empathy
- Networking and relationship building
- Analytical thinking
- Professionalism and work discipline
Certifications
- Professional council registration/licensing (mandatory where regulated)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) / CPR (often required)
- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training
- CPD credits/renewals (where required)
Education
Accredited diploma/degree in the relevant health field | Clinical placements/attachments and supervised practice | Internship (where required) and national examinations | Registration/licensing by the relevant professional council | Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and renewals
Pathways
- Accredited diploma/degree in the relevant health field
- Clinical placements/attachments and supervised practice
- Internship (where required) and national examinations
- Registration/licensing by the relevant professional council
- Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and renewals
Relevant courses
- Nursing
- Clinical Medicine
- Medicine and Surgery
- Midwifery
- Pharmacy
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Public Health
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physiotherapy
- Community Health
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Institutions
- Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
- National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
- Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
- Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
- Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
- Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
- Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
- Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Minimum requirements
- Minimum education: Diploma or Bachelorβs degree
- Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
- Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
- Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
- Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
- Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
- Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Work context
Workplace policies | Team collaboration | Quality standards | Professional environment | Standards compliance | Reporting | Health & safety | Confidential records
Where they work
- Public sector institutions, private companies, NGOs and community-based organisations depending on the sector.
Work setting
Not specified.
Schedule
Full-time commonDaytime hours commonDeadlines possible
Employment type
Formal employment possible
Earnings
Entry level
KES 50,000 β 120,000
Mid level
KES 120,000 β 250,000
Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 50,000 β 120,000 | Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 120,000 β 250,000 | Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 250,000+ | Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
Complete a degree in the relevant discipline, undertake internships or graduate programmes and meet any professional registration or licensing requirements.
Career progression
- Entry/Intern β Junior Practitioner β Mid-level β Senior Specialist
- Senior Specialist β Team Lead/Principal β Manager/Head of Unit (where applicable)
- Some pathways include consultancy, research, training, or policy roles
Related occupations
- General Medical Practitioners
- Clinical Officers
- Nurses (General and Specialist)
- Pharmaceutical Professionals
- Laboratory Technicians
- Physiotherapists
- Nutritionists/Dieticians
Occupation titles
2270-11 β Acupuncturist
Acupuncturist /Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner is a professional role responsible for its traditional chinese medicine; treating patients with needles, cups, ear balls, seeds, pellets, and supplements; preparing herbal treatments to treat patients within their specialized field.
2270-12 β Ayurvedic Practitioner
Ayurvedic Practitioner is a professional role responsible for a trained professional who uses the ancients indian holistic form of medicine which incorporates diet, herbal remedies, lifestyle adjustments and detoxification (panchakarma) help patients maintain a healthy life, eliminate impurities, reduce stress, and fight disease; through observation techniques that focus on the interconnectedness between body, mind, and spirit, practitioners assess the entire well β being of the patient within their specialized field.
2270-13 β Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner
2270-14 β Herbalist
Herbalist is a professional role responsible for use plants and botanic remediesto promote health treating the root cause of illness they offer personalized holistic care often recommending teas, tinctures and creams based on consultations physical assessment and lifestyle analysis within their specialized field.
2270-15 β Homeopath
Homeopath is a professional role responsible for ο· assess lifestyle, moods and symptoms to prescribe individualized remedies; carry β out initial consultations with patients to learn their detailed case history ο· decide on the best use of homeopathic remedies to treat a range of conditions ο· monitor and evaluate patient progress ο· instruct patients about the use and effects of particular remedies and respond to any queries they may have ο· advise on lifestyle issues, such as diet, exercise and mental health ο· refer patients to other health practitioners, as appropriate within their specialized field.
2270-16 β Naturopath
Naturopath is a professional role responsible for trained professional who blends natural traditional therapies with modern science to promote body healing mechanisms; use nutrition, lifestyle counseling, botanicals and in some instances conventional medicine; focus on using natural remedies and non β invasive procedures to treat physical conditions within their specialized field.
2270-22 β Pharmacy Natural Therapy
2270-17 β Unani Practitioner
Unani Practitioner is a professional role responsible for a traditional greco β arabic healer derived from ancient greece, persian and arab world tackling disease prevention and treatment treat conditions with herbal formulas that contain several natural substances reply to medical problems of patients by studying their history, treatment, diagnosis, counselling and referral, where needed request laboratory tests and interprets the findings within their specialized field.