Director’s Message — Welcome to ACATCM
A personal welcome from Dr. Benny Xu, Founder and Executive Director of the Alberta College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine — Alberta’s original acupuncture and TCM institution since 1997.
Dr. Benny Xu, Dr. Ac.
“At ACATCM, we don’t just anticipate the future of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine — we shape it. Leadership and innovation are in our DNA.”
Welcome to the Alberta College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACATCM) — a place where your educational journey transforms into a fulfilling and meaningful career in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). At ACATCM, we are privileged to share with you the profound wisdom and healing practices that have been nurtured through millennia of Eastern tradition.
Enrolling at ACATCM means entering a path grounded in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Beyond treatment methods, TCM offers a way of understanding health shaped by philosophy, observation, and tradition. Here, learning connects directly with clinical practice and everyday application.
“TCM is not only a healing tradition — it is a philosophy, an art, and a value system deeply ingrained in Eastern culture. At ACATCM, you will experience it as a beautiful way of living.”
A Growing Role in Integrative Healthcare
The role of TCM in integrative healthcare is expanding rapidly, both in Canada and internationally. Patients, healthcare professionals, and decision-makers are increasingly advocating for its integration into mainstream healthcare systems. Leading health networks across Canada and internationally — including major academic health centres — have embraced TCM and acupuncture as part of evidence-informed patient care, reflecting the growing recognition of their therapeutic value.
This integration has opened significant new pathways for skilled TCM practitioners, highlighting a growing demand for graduates who combine deep traditional knowledge with evidence-informed clinical practice — precisely what ACATCM has been preparing for 29 years.
A Legacy of Excellence — 29 Years
For 29 years, ACATCM has been a pillar of excellence and innovation within the acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine community in Alberta. Our graduates stand as a proud testament to our educational quality, consistently achieving strong results on the Pan-Canadian Licensing Examinations — the national standard for professional acupuncture registration in Canada.
Our curriculum is designed to bridge the wisdom and science of TCM with the rigour of contemporary biomedical knowledge, providing graduates with the comprehensive expertise necessary to thrive as skilled practitioners across acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 2022, we relocated to a purpose-built, 38,000 square foot campus — the largest TCM education facility in Canada — purpose-designed to elevate the learning environment for every student who walks through our doors.
Research Leadership in Canada
ACATCM is committed to advancing evidence-informed research in integrative healthcare in Canada. Our collaborative partnerships — most notably with the University of Calgary — have led to a series of landmark initiatives that position ACATCM at the forefront of TCM academic research in Canada:
These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to leading TCM academic research in Canada — ensuring that ACATCM’s contributions extend beyond the classroom and into the communities we serve.
A New Era — Alberta’s First Bachelor of Acupuncture Degree
As we enter this exciting new chapter, ACATCM is now a recognized degree-granting private post-secondary institution under Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act. The launch of the Bachelor of Acupuncture (B.Ac) — Alberta’s first undergraduate acupuncture degree — marks the most significant milestone in our 29-year history. This degree opens new academic and professional pathways for students, and places ACATCM at the forefront of acupuncture education in Canada.
Whether you are drawn to the Acupuncture Diploma, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Diploma, or our landmark B.Ac degree, know that every pathway at ACATCM is designed to prepare you not merely for a career, but for a calling — one where you can genuinely make a difference in the lives of your patients and the communities you serve.
We invite you to join our community — to become part of a legacy of excellence that is shaping the future of integrative healthcare in Canada and beyond. Welcome to ACATCM.
Alberta College of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
Registered Acupuncturist
Take the Next Step
Transform Your Passion Into a Career
ACATCM is accepting applications for Fall 2026 — including the inaugural intake of Alberta’s first Bachelor of Acupuncture (B.Ac) degree. Join a community united by a commitment to excellence in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.