Where to Study Chinese Medicine
Advice on Choosing the Right Traditional Chinese Medical School
Interested in learning Chinese medicine? Some things to consider in selecting the school that best suits your interests, time constraints and financial situation.
There are many Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) schools offering degree programs. As with any other advanced level education, it is important to look carefully at several options before deciding on a particular Traditional Chinese Medicine college. License and registration requirements vary dramatically around the world, as does the quality of the education received.
License and Registration Considerations
In some countries those wishing to practice acupuncture must pass an exam and/or be licensed, as the practice of inserting needles into the body is not without risks. In those countries, it will be important to chose a Traditional Chinese Medicine College that has a good pass record for the exam.
In the United States the regulations vary from state to state but many accept the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam as proof of competence by those applying for a license. In Canada, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have licensing requirements. In Australia, the regulations also vary by state and in the United Kingdom there is no government regulation of acupuncture.
In most countries there is no examination or license required for the practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine but there are quality schools which focus solely on Chinese herbalism.
Educational Standards
More important than just passing an exam or having a license is the quality of the education received. Although the basics of TCM can be taught by rote, a true understanding of Chinese medicine requires a very different thought process from that of western diagnostics.
Chinese medicine classes that focus on memorizing traditional formulas will not give the graduate the background needed to create the appropriate individual care that is the hallmark of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Students should ask plenty of questions about teaching methods and philosophy before enrolling in any Chinese Medical schools.
Time and Money
Completing a course at a good Traditional Chinese Medicine College will require between 2 and 5 years of part to full time study. Many Chinese medicine schools have flexible schedules to accommodate working students. Distance learning or online Chinese medicine classes are another good alternative method of learning many of the theoretical aspects of TCM.
Some Chinese medicine colleges offer financial aid programs and some courses qualify for Work-Study or other types of loans. Again, it is important to find out what is available at each school when deciding where to apply.
Training in China
While many practitioners make a point of letting people know they have studied in China, it is important to remember that many of the best Traditional Chinese Medical practitioners left China during the Cultural Revolution when TCM was frowned upon. Those people emigrated to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and many other countries, where they became teachers in what are now well-respected Traditional Chinese Medicine classes in those countries. So it is not necessary to travel to China to get the best TCM education.
What is necessary is finding the program that will teach in the way that works best for the individual.
