Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Training
Program Overview
Develop expertise in Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine through Pacific Rim College’s comprehensive Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
This eight-semester program provides 2,985 hours of education and 705 hours of clinical training, integrating Acupuncture, Chinese botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and therapeutics, biomedical sciences, diet therapy, Tui Na and therapeutic exercise.
Students develop extensive knowledge of both Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, including Chinese materia medica, herbal formulas and strategies, herbal pharmacology, internal medicine and advanced herbal therapeutics. This broader scope distinguishes the program from PRC’s Diploma of Acupuncture and prepares students for the educational pathway toward registration as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner in British Columbia.
Clinical education is an integral part of the program. Students progress through observation and supervised practice to extensive hands-on clinical experience in Pacific Rim College’s teaching clinic and herbal dispensary, developing the practical skills required to integrate acupuncture, Chinese Medicine diagnosis and herbal medicine into professional practice.
For students seeking comprehensive Traditional Chinese Medicine training in Canada, the Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine provides an extensive education in both the traditional foundations and contemporary practice of Chinese Medicine.
Credential: Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Length: 8 semesters (3-4 years)
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Format: On campus with live-online options for eligible coursework
Intakes: January, May and September
Professional Pathway: Designed to meet the educational requirements toward registration as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.) in British Columbia
Clinical Training: 705 hours
Total Training: 2985 hours
Pacific Rim College offered a supportive learning environment that helped me become the practitioner I am today. There was plenty of opportunity for discussions with professors both inside and outside of class which enriched the information we were receiving. The Administration Faculty was always willing to help and go the extra mile to make sure your needs as a student were met. Even though I have completed my studies at Pacific Rim College, I know that I could still contact the teaching staff and administrative faculty if I ever had any questions or needed assistance on my career path.
– Nicole Longstaff, RAc, Alumnus
Become a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine that includes Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, diagnostic methods, diet therapy, therapeutic exercise and other traditional approaches to health.
PRC’s Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine provides students with extensive education across these areas while building a strong foundation in biomedical sciences and professional clinical practice.
Students study acupuncture points and meridians, TCM foundations and diagnosis, acupuncture techniques and therapeutics, Chinese materia medica, herbal formulas, herbal pharmacology and specialized areas of Chinese Medicine practice.
The program also includes 705 hours of clinical education, allowing students to progressively apply their knowledge in a supervised clinical environment and develop experience working with clients.
Graduates who meet the applicable requirements of the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC can pursue the registration pathway toward becoming a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner in British Columbia.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in One Comprehensive Program
One of the defining features of this program is the integration of Acupuncture with extensive Chinese herbal medicine education.
Students progress from the foundations of Chinese materia medica into formulas and strategies, phytochemistry, herbal pharmacology, internal medicine, herbal case studies, advanced herbal formulas, herbal identification and dosing, and specialized applications of Chinese herbal medicine.
This provides a broader Traditional Chinese Medicine education than acupuncture training alone and prepares students to understand how different TCM modalities can be integrated within professional practice.
Why Study Traditional Chinese Medicine at Pacific Rim College?
What You’ll Learn:
Key Learning Outcome #1
The ancient and powerful system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including all the meridians, systems and acupuncture points, and the extensive herbal materia medica.
Key Learning Outcome #2
Extensive background of biomedical understanding of the human body, its structure, physiology and common pathologies.
Key Learning Outcome #3
Nutrition therapies and physical exercises pertaining to the time-tested philosophies of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Key Learning Outcome #4
The use of TCM therapies in the treatment of comprehensive internal and external disorders, including in the practice of pediatrics and gerontology.
Key Learning Outcome #5
The experience to establish a private clinic of Traditional Chinese Medicine or to join an integrative health centre.
I don’t think I could say enough good things about PRC. After spending three years at a large university, the smaller class sizes and compassionate teachers were an inspiring change. The school itself is a beautiful and nurturing space, and the staff and students make it that much more amazing. I learned so much about myself, gained a new outlook on the world and was trained in an amazing form of healing that has given me a job I am so proud of. I would recommend PRC to anyone, the staff and faculty are educated, kind and helpful individuals who want to see their students grow and succeed in the world of health. I will forever be grateful for my experiences and education from PRC as well as the continued support as I start my own career path. Thank you so much for those three life changing years.
– Sasha Ormiston, RAc, Alumnus
Core Program Instructors
Curriculum
Below is a list of all courses that must be completed for a student to be eligible for graduation with a Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Some course prerequisites do exist, and it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are eligible to enrol in any particular course. Please click on course links below to see more course information including descriptions and prerequisites.
Acupuncture
Biomedical/Biological Sciences
Chinese Botanical Medicine
Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice
Professional Development
Total Requirements
Clinical Training
Students in the Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine program complete 705 hours of direct clinical practice. Students must complete all clinical training in PRC’s on-campus clinic and herbal dispensary.
Admissions
Pacific Rim College is committed to educating the highest quality industry professionals, and we offer priority acceptance to applicants who demonstrate the highest potential for success. Admission into the School of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Pacific Rim College is on a competitive basis, and applicants will be evaluated based on academic achievement, humanitarian activities, community involvement, program-related experience, communication skills, professionalism, emotional maturity, independence, ambition, and passion.
Admissions Criteria and Application Requirements
Admission requires successfully meeting the following minimum criteria:
- Applicants must be 19 years of age or older, or have completed high school or an equivalent, such as the GED or CAEC. Applicants who are 19 or older without a high school diploma or equivalent may be considered for mature student status and will be required to complete an essay provided by the college.
- A minimum grade of 70% in previous coursework. All grades will be taken into consideration with emphasis on related language and science-based courses, such as but not limited to general English, general science, creative and professional writing, biology, and chemistry.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
Prior to acceptance applicants must meet at least one of the following language proficiency requirements:
- Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘60%’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or
- Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) – An applicant must earn a score of no less than 16 out of 30 on any of the 4 test sections and a total score of no less than 75 out of 120.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – An applicant must earn an overall score of 5.5 or higher.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 40 or higher.
- Duolingo English Test – An applicant must earn an overall score of 95 or higher.
Application Deadline
We offer three semesters of study per year for our diploma programs – Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), and Summer (May – August). Diploma students are welcome to apply to begin in any semester. We do not have a set deadline for applications and will continue to accept students up until the start of classes provided there is space within the program, however, programs do fill prior to the semester start, so we recommend applying 6 months to one year in advance.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition is based on a per credit system. Although the college provides guidance for the order of course completion within each program, ultimately each student determines personal course load and schedule and thus per semester tuition. Audited credits do not apply towards graduation requirements. All prices listed are in Canadian dollars. For each semester, full tuition payment is due on the first day of the semester.
Please click here for a description of Academic Fees in PDF format.
Financial Aid
This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. British Columbia residents can apply for student loans online through StudentAid BC. For non-British Columbia residents, please visit hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans.
For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.
Post-Graduation
Graduates of the Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine program who have met the requirements of the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC), which includes 60 university credits of liberal arts or sciences, will be eligible to sit for the provincial registration exam to become a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP) in the province of British Columbia. Based on reciprocity agreements, this distinction permits registrants to practice Traditional Chinese Medicine across Canada.
Students aiming for licensure by the State of Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners are eligible to do so only after completing PRC’s Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine program. The DTCM program meets the requirements of R4-8-403 and R4-8-404 (licensure qualifier under Arizona Revised Statutes 32-3924(2)).
Graduates who have completed required electives in appropriate disciplines may also meet the professional standards set by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) in the United States. This has permitted them to sit for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) acupuncture examination and thus be licensed in the majority of US states. PRC graduates aiming for licensure in the United States must have their credentials evaluated by ACCRAO.
Licensing Requirements
Practitioner licensing requirements vary based on region of governance. The Diploma of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine program is approved by the CCHP of BC and meets the education requirements of many other provinces, states and countries. It is students’ responsibility to ensure they meet eligibility criteria in their chosen region.