Where To Begin

Guidelines For Choosing Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine As a Career

Is it the right profession for you?

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are widely recognized in Canada and gaining in popularity each year. Most health insurance companies cover treatment with acupuncture.

A prospective student should know:

  • Acupuncture is a regulated health discipline.
  • Learning acupuncture and Chinese medicine requires time and dedication.
  • The study of biomedicine is an important aspect of the clinical practice of Chinese medicine. Thus, a significant part of our curriculum is dedicated to the sciences.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are academically demanding fields of study. Logical and critical thinking skills, the ability to memorize, and good time management skills are a must. The first and second years of our program have a particularly heavy course load.

Define your goals and time table

  • How much time can you commit to studying each week?
  • What knowledge do you bring to the table from your past experience?
  • What is your educational background?
  • Would you require student loans?
  • Would you need to work part-time while in school?
  • How well could you handle the pressure?

One should ask these questions before deciding to take full-time or part-time enrollment. A full-time student can complete the Acupuncture program in three(3) years, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine program in four(4) years.

Choosing an institution

In Alberta, you have a choice between several recognized institutions at which to learn acupuncture and Chinese medicine. While each of these schools is accredited and should provide you with the foundations to become a skilled practitioner, they all have their own flavour.

We strongly encourage everyone considering the study of acupuncture and Chinese medicine to perform their due diligence. While it is possible to transfer is you are unhappy with your initial choice, each program has a different course structure, and it may take more time to complete your studies. At ACATCM our curriculum is structured around that established by the Ministry of Education in China – two semesters per academic year with the traditional courses.

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