Diploma of Acupuncture

Program Overview

The Diploma of Acupuncture is a 3-year (6-semester) program that deeply explores theoretical and clinical concepts of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Students learn foundational philosophies, diagnostic principles and therapeutic techniques of this ancient and powerful system of medicine, and incorporate them with biomedical sciences and other healing philosophies. This program satisfies curriculum requirements of the CTCMA of BC.

Length: 6 semesters
Intakes: Winter, Summer, Fall semesters
Format: Blended online and on campus, with on campus requirements for program specific courses. 

Clinical Training: 525 hours
Total Training: 2190 hours 

I had a wonderful experience studying at Pacific Rim College for my Diploma of Acupuncture. The instructors are very knowledgeable, friendly and easily approachable. The clinical training is well balanced to foster independence while providing appropriate guidance.

– Victoria Dong, Alumnus

Why Pacific Rim College?

Pacific Rim College has been a recognized leader of acupuncture education since 2007.
200x200-1-Opacity
200x200-1-Opacity
Through Pacific Rim College’s Student Clinic, students provide more than 7,000 treatments a year including those in our pioneering community acupuncture clinic.
This program is approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training (Private Training Institutions Branch) and Canada Student Loans.
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200x200-1-Opacity
Pacific Rim College is actively engaged in many forms of environmental stewardship including 100% green energy offsets for our campus, the highest eco-certification, and planting of 10 trees in British Columbia for every program graduate.

What You’ll Learn:

Key Learning Outcome #1

The ancient and powerful system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from classical to contemporary applications.

Key Learning Outcome #2

Extensive background of biomedical understanding of the human body, its physiology and common pathologies.

Key Learning Outcome #3

An in-depth understanding of biological energetic principles and how to enhance energy using acupuncture, massage, nutrition and exercise.

Key Learning Outcome #4

Working knowledge of complementary therapies to provide enhanced, safe client experiences. 

Key Learning Outcome #5

The experience to establish a private acupuncture clinic or to join an integrative health centre.

My time at Pacific Rim College was very special. In my three years at the college, I deepened my understanding of TCM and also discovered so much about myself as a patient and practitioner. Some of my peers are now my closest and dearest friends and colleagues. I feel so blessed to have learned under some of the most skilled teachers and practitioners in Canada. It was an experience so unique and unforgettable. I would highly recommend PRC to anyone interested in the alternative healing arts.

– Victoria Rohac, Alumnus

Core Program Instructors

 

Study Options

The School of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine offers year-round educational opportunities with an academic calendar based on 3 semesters per year. New students may enrol every January, May and September and students may either choose to pursue year-round studies or to take a semester or more off at their discretion. By choosing their course load each semester, students may complete any semester on a part-time or a full-time basis.

Students who wish not to enrol in any program are also eligible to take individual courses for personal enrichment provided that applicable course prerequisites have been met. Please see Non-Matriculating Students below for more information.

Students aiming for practitioner registration with the CTCMA of British Columbia must complete the Diploma of Acupuncture program in no less than 2 calendar years and in no more than 5.

 

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. 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

ACU101/102
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
ACU111/112
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
ACU113/114
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
ACU211/212
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
ACU321
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
ACU322
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
ACU323
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
ACU324
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
ACU325
1.5 credits 1.5
22.5 hours 22.5
ACU
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
Total
 
40.5 credits 40.5 crds
607.5 hours 607.5 hrs

Biomedical/Biological Sciences

BMS101/102
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
BMS103
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
BMS121
1 credit 1
15 hours 15
BMS201/202
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
BMS231
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
BMS
7 credits 7
105 hours 105
Total
 
26 credits 26 crds
390 hours 390 hrs

Chinese Medicine

OM101/102
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
OM111
1.5 credits 1.5
22.5 hours 22.5
OM112
1.5 credits 1.5
22.5 hours 22.5
OM113
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
OM121
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
OM201/202
6 credits 6
90 hours 90
OM231
1.5 credits 1.5
22.5 hours 22.5
OM301
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
OM302
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
OM401/NU401
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
Total
 
31.5 credits 31.5 crds
472.5 hours 472.5 hrs

Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice

CMCP101
9 credits 9
135 hours 135
CMCP102
3 credits 3
90 hours 90
CMCP200/300
10 credits 10
300 hours 300
Total
 
22 credits 22 crds
525 hours 525 hrs

Elective

Elective
Elective
1 credit 1
15 hours 15
Total
 
1 credit 1 crd
15 hours 15 hrs

Professional Development

PD101
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
PD211
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
PD301
1 credit 1
15 hours 15
PD302
3 credits 3
45 hours 45
PD306
2 credits 2
30 hours 30
Total
 
12 credits 12 crds
180 hours 180 hrs

Total Requirements

Acupuncture
40.5 credits 40.5
607.5 hours 607.5
Biomedical/Biological Sciences
26 credits 26
390 hours 390
Chinese Medicine
31.5 credits 31.5
472.5 hours 472.5
Chinese Medicine Clinical Practice
22 credits 22
525 hours 525
Elective
1 credit 1
15 hours 15
Professional Development
12 credits 12
180 hours 180
Grand Total
 
133 credits 133 crds
2190 hours 2190 hrs

Clinical Training

Students in the Diploma of Acupuncture program complete 525 hours of direct clinical practice. Students can complete all clinical training in PRC’s on-campus Student Clinic, or can participate in our Global Outreach Program, Clinical Externship Program, or with our clinical partner in China, Liaoning University of TCM. Full-time students generally begin clinical training via observation during the very first week of studies.

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.

Admission requires successfully meeting the following minimum criteria:

  • A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED. Applicants without a high school diploma or equivalent are welcome to apply and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for mature student status.
  • 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.
  • Written and spoken English language competency. Applicants may be required to submit an official score report from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL or iELTS upon request.

To apply, please click on the link below.

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 program who have met the requirements of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CTCMA) of BC, which includes 60 university credits of liberal arts or sciences, will be eligible to sit for the Canadian national registration exam to become Registered Acupuncturists (R.Ac.) in the province of British Columbia. Based on reciprocity agreements, this distinction permits registrants to practice acupuncture 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)).

Past graduates who have completed required electives in appropriate disciplines have also met 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 program is approved by the CTCMA 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.


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