Acupuncture Schools Abound in the US

After the creation of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the number of acupuncture schools in the United States has continued to increase. As of 2006, they are an estimated 50 acupuncture schools that are accredited by ACAOM and they provide quality education in acupuncture to thousands of students with each passing year. These different acupuncture schools are spread all over the United States and provide training to the future acupuncturist.

An Overview of Two Schools

The Academy for Five Element Acupuncture is one such acupuncture school that has a stated goal of providing training to students in the practice of classical Five Element acupuncture. Some of its goals are to enable students to earn a Masters degree in the theory, practice and philosophy of acupuncture under this tradition. In addition, this acupuncture school ensures that the public is protected by making every graduate capable of diagnosing as well as treating patients in a safe and effective manner. This academy was founded in Florida in the year 1988 and has had more than 200 students graduating since that time.

The Academy for Five Element Acupuncture offers full time programs for a 27 month Master of Acupuncture degree, a 27 month Chinese herbal studies certification program which advanced students or licensed practitioners may take. In addition, this acupuncture school offers a 36 month combined Master of Acupuncture degree along with a Chinese herbal studies certificate and there is also a 36 month combined Master of Acupuncture degree along with the Chinese herbal studies certification and a Florida elective, which is primarily of use to those seeking licensing in Florida.

Another acupuncture school is the New England School of Acupuncture which aims to be the leader in the development of traditional as well as modern Oriental medicines and offers a wonderful and rigorous academic study program that aims to educate practitioners to become effectual and compassionate healers who would offer high-quality health care to the patients as well as help advance the dissemination of knowledge about Oriental medicine.

Most of the courses offered at this acupuncture school are focused on mainly providing the student with knowledge about traditional and modern influences on acupuncture diagnosis and treatment in Japan and students may complete the program requirements in 33 months. There are also courses in Oriental medicine wherein the student receives extensive training in the use of traditional Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia, formulations as well as prescriptions and such a course's duration is 36 months.