Education

Education of the Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist

In Newfoundland and Labrador, students who complete training for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture will only receive recognition for programs approved by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CTCMPANL) and offered by training institutions that are currently registered or accredited with the Department of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture educational programs are evaluated based on institutional processes, content and length of program and outcomes.

 

Indicators are used to determine if educational programs meet the criteria. Five areas of an educational program are reviewed:

  1. Institutional Processes: The Institutional philosophy and program philosophy, content and length enable graduates to meet the College’s standards of practice.
  2. Curriculum: The curriculum provides learning experiences necessary for students to achieve the College’s professional practice requirements.
  3. Students and graduates: Students, during their participation in the education program, demonstrate progression towards achieving the College’s professional practice requirements. Graduates have been and are successful in achieving professional practice requirements
  4. Resources: The institution has the resources and infrastructure necessary to develop, deliver and evaluate a program that provides learning experiences necessary for students to achieve the College’s professional practice requirements.
  5. Program content: The educational program has met the minimal requirements listed in the following sections of this schedule.

College of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador Bylaws effective April 25, 2015

 

Minimum educational program requirements

  • “Academic year” is used throughout this schedule. 1 academic year consists of 8 months, or 2 semesters, or 3 quarters, or 2 trimesters of study.
  • It is expected that 50% of the minimum hours listed under each clinical instruction shall be in a clinic owned and operated by the education or training program. Where appropriate, it shall include:

Practice observation: Supervised observation of the clinical practice with case presentations and discussions;

Diagnosis and evaluation: The application of TCM diagnostic procedures in evaluating patients;

Supervised practice: The clinical treatment of patients

 

  • All programs shall include:
  1. A minimum of 360 hours of BASIC TCM FOUNDATION BLOCK in

– History of TCM and Acupuncture

– Basic TCM theory

– TCM diagnostic process

– Treatment principles and method/Zhi Ze and Zhi Fa

– Communication skills

– Ethics, medical, legal issues and practice management

  1. A minimum of 250 hours in the introduction of relevant biological and clinical sciences; western diagnosis and diagnostic tests.

 

A. TCM Acupuncture program: (Totaling 1900 hours minimum in 3 academic years, which included 450 hours minimum of clinical instruction). In addition to 1 and 2 listed above, a minimum of 550 hours in:

-Pointology/Shu Xue

-Treatment of diseases

-Treatment techniques

-Equipment safety and clean needle techniques, AND a minimum of 450 hours of clinical instruction in acupuncture. During the initial 200 hours, the supervisor shall be physically present at all times during the diagnosis and treatment of patient. For the remaining 250 hours, the supervisor may be in close proximity to the location at which the patient is being treated during other clinical instruction. The student shall consult with the supervision before and after each treatment.

 

B. TCM Herbology program: (Totaling 1900 hours minimum in 3 academic years, which included 450 hours minimum of clinical instruction). In addition to 1 and 2 listed above, a minimum of 550 hours in:

– Clinical herbology

– Treatment of diseases

– Introduction to TCM classics,

AND a minimum of 450 clinical instruction in herbology. During the initial 200 hours, the supervisor shall be physically present at all times during the diagnosis and treatment of patient. For the remaining 250 hours, the supervisor may be in close proximity to the location at which the patient is being treated during other clinical instruction. The student shall consult with the supervision before and after each treatment.

C. TCM practitioner level program: (Totaling 2600 hours minimum in 4 academic years, which included 650 hours minimum of clinical instruction).

The program will be a combination of the acupuncture program (A), the herbology program (B) listed above, and courses in Tui Na, Shi Liao, and Chinese rehabilitation exercises such as Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong.

D. Dr.TCM level program: (Totaling 3250 hours minimum in 5 academic years, which included 1050 hours minimum of clinical instruction). In addition to the TCM practitioner program listed in (C), the program shall consist of a minimum of 450 hours in:

– Modern clinical research in TCM

– TCM classics

– Western diagnostic information

– Other TCM treatment modalities

– TCM gerontology

– TCM psychology

– Advanced studies in acupuncture

– Herbal pharmacology,

AND a minimum of 150 hours of clinical instruction.

 

Upon graduation students are eligible to take a national exam.  Upon successful completion and meeting the additional requirements,  candidates are eligible to apply for registration with NLCHP

  • Pre-requisite to entry to training
    Two years of post secondary education in science
  • Pre-requisite to clinical practice
    Health care practitioner level CPR and First Aid
    Acupuncture Safety and clean needle technique program
  • Requisite to continue practice
    R.Ac’s are required to maintain 30 hrs. of continuing education every three years, in order to retain a licence to practice
  • Post Graduate Studies
    • Available to R.Ac’s through other educational institutions are programs which allow for further studies in many areas.
    • Programs leading to the advanced degrees of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine are also available to R.Ac’s.

 

Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for the Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada 2018 (pdf)

Acknowledgement

The College Of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador expresses sincere gratitude to the Examining board of the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta for the administration of our College Acupuncture examinations 

Email

info@ctcmpanl.ca

Phone

709-769-1003

About

The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CTCMPANL) is a non-profit entity that regulates the practice of Acupuncture in accordance with the profession of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in this province.

Mailing Address

47 Leslie Street, St. John’s NL
A1E 2V7