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Top Ten Questions to Consider

When Choosing an Acupuncture School


by Jennifer Gawne

Choosing which school to attend for your acupuncture training is a big decision. Here
are the Top Ten questions to consider when choosing an acupuncture school:

1. What tradition of acupuncture is taught at the school?

There are many traditions of acupuncture and different thought systems surrounding
the art. There is Japanese acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture, 5
Element acupuncture, Oriental Medicine acupuncture, facial or cosmetic acupuncture,
medical acupuncture etc. Do a little research on the kind of acupuncture you wish to
learn as they are not all the same.

2. What kind of program are you interested in?

It is important to be clear about what kind of acupuncture program you are


interested in.

Do you wish to start a practice and see clients once you are trained? Do you just
want to add the tools of acupuncture to other healing work you are already doing?
Or, do you want to learn about acupuncture for your own health and to understand
what your acupuncturist is doing with you during your treatments?

There are programs at various acupuncture schools to suit all interests. There are
three, four and five-year programs training acupuncture professionals. There are
weekend courses for doctors and nurses or physiotherapists who wish to add
acupuncture to their existing practice. And there are seminars, workshops and
websites for those people just wanting to learn a bit about acupuncture or Chinese
medicine for their own knowledge.

Most schools will offer a variety of programs to fit your needs. There are two or
three-year, fast tracked, acupuncture or herbology programs, four-year Practitioner
of Chinese Medicine program including acupuncture and herbal medicine, as well as a
five-year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Programs covering acupuncture,
herbal medicine and all the tools of Chinese medicine.

3. What is the language of instruction at the school?

There are acupuncture schools all over the world teaching in virtually every
language.

Being a science of the Orient, many of the ancient writings about acupuncture are in
the Mandarin language and Chinese characters. At some schools students are taught
in English and Mandarin with Mandarin language taken the first two years of school
and many notes and teacher's instructions in both English and written characters.
Look into schools that offer a Mandarin language component as it deepens the study
and understanding of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Many students tell us that
the language component is one of the things that helps set one acupuncture school
apart from another.

4. Who are the teachers at the school?


The instructors at the acupuncture school that you choose to attend will make all the
difference. Choose a school that has instructors who have worked in the field, see
clients in a clinical setting, and can comment on the practice of acupuncture. Many
people may understand acupuncture theory but the art and skill that comes from
seeing clients daily in a clinical setting cannot be learned from a book. Choose a
school that has instructors who are experts in their field and who have real life
experience in the courses they are teaching.

5. How much does the program cost?

Program costs are as variable as the students wanting to study acupuncture. In


Canada most tuition starts around $200 a credit with the average year having 50
credits.

There are usually different program rates depending on the program you are
interested in.

Remember, you get what you pay for!

6. What kind of learning environment do you desire?

Just as it is important to know what kind of learner you are, it is also important to
know what kind of learning environment you do best in. Do you prefer small classes,
quiet study areas and green space to relax in? Or, do you prefer group learning,
music and social interactions, games and challenges to help you remember
information?

Some campuses are in busy downtown locations and high-rise office spaces; others
are in rural settings or deep in the mountains. Our favorite schools offer a variety of
study areas to suit the needs of the students. Research if the school you are thinking
about attending has a school library for quiet study, a student lounge for more lively
discussions over lunch, or spacious classrooms for you to stretch out and make
yourself at home in. Some of the best schools have a school bookstore and herbal
dispensary on campus and are close to a plethora of restaurants and healthy food
options nearby for re-fueling.

7. What kind of learning do you do best?

It is important to know what kind of learner you are and in what kind of environment
you learn the best. Do you prefer to work at home, from books or online? Do you
prefer to be in a classroom, guided by an expert teacher and joined by classmates?
Do you prefer to go to school at night and on weekends so you can still work during
the day?

Most schools will offer components of your acupuncture training that can be done
online or through self-study but the majority of programs are delivered in person,
on-campus, with teachers to answer your questions and classmates to study along
with. The nature of learning a healing art like acupuncture requires a teacher on
hand to guide a student.

At most schools there are lectures in class, classroom clinics, needling labs and time
spent in clinical observation with Doctors of Chinese Medicine. This experiential and
hands-on learning environment sets up graduates to go into clinical practice with the
experience and knowledge to treat clients effectively right out of school.

8. When do students get to start needling and working with patients?

Students studying acupuncture are always very keen to begin practice needling and
are anxious to get started seeing clients in the clinic. All acupuncture schools
understand this desire to get started, but, like the Karate Kid movies, there is much
work to be done, "Daniel Son". There are skills to be developed and techniques to be
perfected before jumping into needling a patient, or in the case of the Karate Kid,
before actually fighting in a karate match.

Most students begin practicing their needle technique on paper towel rolls or oranges
in their first semester at school. Students needle each other in second year needling
labs and perfect their needling techniques for student clinic the following year.
Although this sometimes creates frustration for students wishing to get started
needling earlier, it is a grave error to jump into the powerful practice of acupuncture
without a solid foundation of point location and needling skills.

9. Where do you want to go to school?

The good news is that there are schools that teach Chinese Medicine and
acupuncture all over the world. The only bad news is that it is up to you to decide
where in this big world you want to spend time while you study. Do your research
well and check out schools in all different countries.

10. What is required in your home country, state or province to practice


acupuncture after graduation?

There are different requirements for licensing of acupuncturists in every country,


state and province. Please research the rules in the area in which you wish to
practice upon graduation.

In British Columbia, graduates of acupuncture schools must write and pass licensing
exams overseen by the CTCMA of BC. Students wishing to practice acupuncture in
the U.S. should check with the NCCAOM about licensing requirements.

Best wishes choosing your acupuncture school. May you be filling your mind with the
wonders of Chinese Medicine in the future!

Jennifer Gawne is a Registered TCM Herbalist at the Academy of Classical Oriental


Sciences in beautiful Nelson, British Columbia. ACOS is a Traditional Chinese
Medicine and Acupuncture School offering 3, 4 and 5 year fully-accredited diploma
programs.

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