Education standard for “Expert” in
the field of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Eastern philosophy and Western philosophy are as
different as miso soup is to apple pie.
Hence, systems of medicine based on each of these philosophies are just
as different. If I am trained as an
expert in Western philosophy, that is my field of expertise. If it took me 4 years to attain that
expertise, it stands to follow it would take just as long to gain expertise in
a philosophy as entirely different and unique as Eastern philosophy. To be an expert in both philosophies is possible, but as a Western philosopher I would not take just one course of Eastern philosophy and say I am also an expert at that. No, I am a Western philosopher with an
interest in Eastern philosophy.
The same goes for the related medicines and medical
training. If I want to practice modern
medicine in the United States, I attend medical school to become an MD or
DO. If I want to practice Traditional
Asian Medicine in the United States, I attend graduate medical school to become
an MSA or MSAOM. As a practitioner of
Traditional Asian Medicine (acupuncturist), I can take an extra 100 -300 hours of modern
medical training because I am interested in the field and I learn more about
the ways our modern physicians think about
and practice their medicine.
However, those 100-300 hours do not make me an expert in their
field. Those 100-300 hours do not
qualify me as an MD or DO. That time
just makes me more informed about their medicine and their practice, not an
expert in that field of medicine.
What is the minimum standard of education to be able
to practice Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine safely and effectively in the
United States?
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the
minimum standard of education that is deemed to be acceptable for the safe and
effective practice of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is a master’s degree in
the field. Not just any master’s degree,
but a degree obtained from a school accredited by the ACAOM (Accreditation
Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). After obtaining a master’s degree in the
field from an accredited school, a student must pass the Clean Needle Technique
course (a nationally standardized needle safety class) to be eligible to sit
for the national board exam.
What must a
student of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine go through to be eligible to sit
for the National Board Exam?
The National Board Exam for this field is created by the
NCCAOM (National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine).
To qualify to take the NCCAOM exam, a student must
a.
Meet the
education and training criteria standards established by the ACAOM
b.
Meet the academic standards and professional
competencies as set forth by the ACAOM
c.
Successfully complete the Clean Needle Technique
course as given by the Council of Colleges for Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
d.
Have his or her educational transcripts verified
through an NCCAOM approved agency
Once a student passes all his or her board exams, he or
she is a nationally board certified “diplomate”. A practitioner may take a series of board
exams to qualify for the following board certifications:
Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (inclusive of all board
exams; can practice acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, and Chinese Herbal
Medicine)
Diplomate in Acupuncture (can practice Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine but has not taken the board exam for Chinese Herbology)
Diplomate in Chinese Herbology (someone who already has a
Dipl. in Acupuncture who added on Chinese herbal medicine at a later date)
After graduating from an accredited master’s degree
program in the field and passing the national board exam, a practitioner must
follow the rules for licensing in their field as set forth by the state they
want to practice within. Department of
Health licensing and political scope of practice varies a little from state to
state, as with any regulated profession.
MD = physician of modern medicine, based on the
allopathic tradition
DO = physician of modern medicine, based on the
osteopathic traditionMSA = master of science in acupuncture
MSAOM = master of science in acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
ACAOM = Accreditation Commission on Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine
NCCAOM = National Certification Commission on Acupuncture
and Oriental Medicine
Related blog posts:
What are the National Standards for Practicing Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine?
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