Carefully choosing a CAM practitioner is key to receiving ongoing good health care. This important decision shouldn’t be left up to chance. Besides asking friends and neighbors for recommendations, there’s some careful research you can do to help you make a good choice. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has put together a fact sheet about what to consider when selecting a CAM practitioner.

Or ask someone you believe to be knowledgeable about CAM for a recommendation.


Ask if they maintain a list of area CAM practitioners or could make a recommendation. Some regional medical centers may have a CAM center or CAM practitioners on staff.


Find out the type of practitioner you are seeking.  Often, professional organizations have standards of practice, provide referrals to practitioners, have publications explaining the therapy (or therapies) that their members provide, and may offer information on the type of training needed and whether practitioners of a therapy must be licensed or certified in your state.

Professional organizations can be located by searching the Internet or directories in libraries (ask the librarian). One directory is the Directory of Information Resources Online (DIRLINE) compiled by the National Library of Medicine It contains locations and descriptive information about a variety of health organizations, including CAM associations and organizations.


They may be able to provide you with information regarding practitioners in your area. Your state, county, or city health department may be able to refer you to such agencies or boards. Licensing, accreditation, and regulatory laws for CAM practices are becoming more common to help ensure that practitioners are competent and provide quality services.


Clinical trials of CAM are taking place in many locations worldwide, and study participants are needed. To find out more about clinical trials in CAM, see the NCCAM fact sheet "About Clinical Trials and Complementary and Alternative Medicine."

To find trials that are recruiting participants and search this site by the type of therapy being studied or by disease or condition.

Visit NCCAM’s clinical trials