Dr. of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization
DAc & DAcCHM
Next term starts on January 6th, 2025!Degree Titles: Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) and Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM)
Program Length: 9 terms (DAc) or 11 terms (DAcCHM), full-time
Credits: 150 (DAc), 190 (DAcCHM)
If you’re interested in acupuncture training in Chicago, the doctorate represents an evolution of the entry-level master’s degree to include advanced study in evidence-informed practice, biomedical diagnosis, preventative medicine, public health, collaborative case management, current healthcare systems, and practice-based learning. Foundational courses continue to present the fascinating world of Chinese medicine:
- The broad range of theoretical paradigms
- Meridian theory, point location and function
- Acupuncture therapy, including moxibustion and gua sha
- Body therapy, including tui na
- Nutrition
- Exercise therapy, including taiji and qigong
- Chinese herbology medicine (DAcCHM only)
- Basic and clinical biosciences
- And much more!
Is a Career in Acupuncture Right For You? Find Out!
Take the Pacific College Acupuncture Career Readiness Quiz
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll receive a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style to help you determine what you are best suited for. Get your Acupuncture Career Readiness score now!
Advanced courses foster critical thinking and professional judgment. Students consider existing research, clinical experience, and diagnostic studies in defining clinical objectives and managing cases. They become familiar with US healthcare delivery systems, to help patients navigate community resources and treatment options, and acquire the knowledge and skill to work as part of the medical team in a wide variety of settings. As self-directed, life-long learners and practitioners, doctors must honestly reflect on their experience and objectively judge their performance. This reflection is what Pacific College calls practice-based learning. It leads to personal growth, as well as professional development, and it is a hallmark of a Pacific College doctor.
Graduates of the Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) and the Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) will be able to:
- Understand and demonstrate personal and professional ethical standards
- Understand the etiology of disease from a traditional eastern Chinese and biomedical perspective, and apply this understanding by recommending disease prevention strategies
- Evaluate patients exhibiting complaints commonly seen and treated by Chinese medicine, and in a manner that indicates cognizance of all relevant Chinese medical diagnostic paradigms
- Recognize signs and symptoms necessitating referral to appropriate complementary healthcare providers
- Formulate treatment principles in a manner that prioritizes treatment procedures for patients that follow logically from the diagnosis
- Formulate acupuncture, Chinese herbal and supplemental treatment plans, while providing a logical rationale for such plans. (DAcCHM only)
- Formulate acupuncture and supplemental treatment plans, while providing a logical rationale for such plans. (DAc only)
- Personally administer the designated treatment plan, or use the appropriate support personnel
- Demonstrate knowledge of clinical sciences from both Chinese and bio-medical perspectives
- Communicate in a professional and knowledgeable manner about Chinese medicine and biomedicine with relevant healthcare professionals
- Entry-level means that students can enter the doctoral programs without having first earned a master’s degree.
- Because the doctoral degrees achieve all the competencies of the master’s degrees, doctoral graduates will simultaneously earn both degrees.
- For a limited time, PCHS will still be accepting students into the master’s degrees. However, students with sufficient prerequisites will enter the DAcCHM/DAc. Please contact an admissions representative to learn what options are best for you.
For important information on program costs, completion and placement rates, median debt incurred, etc., please see the program disclosure documents.
Value and Benefits of Degree and Courses
What is the value of a DAcCHM/DAc as a credential?
An entry-level doctorate demonstrates the highest level of licensure-qualifying training in the profession. In addition to the broad study of Chinese medical theory and therapy, the curriculum addresses the need of acupuncturists to possess knowledge and skills in evidence-informed practice, biomedical diagnosis, preventative medicine, public health, collaborative case management, current health care systems, and practice-based learning. These are important in today’s team-based medical model.
The doctoral title and degree provides the graduate well-deserved recognition. All other factors being equal, we believe integrative medical settings will prioritize hiring doctors of acupuncture. Medical doctors, and other allied health providers may be more likely to refer to a doctor of acupuncture.
While licensed acupuncturist is a common descriptor in our field today, it is a license title, not a degree. We believe that as colleges award more new doctoral degrees, “doctor of acupuncture” will become the most common way to refer to an acupuncturist.
Degree Title Awarded
What is the degree that will be awarded upon successful completion of the program? What titles will graduates of the program hold? Is the use of the title allowed in all states?
Upon successful completion, the degree of Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) or Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) and the corresponding master’s degree, Master of Science in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MSAcCHM) or Master of Science in Acupuncture (MSAc), will be awarded. These are earned academic degree from a regionally accredited institution. Individual states may have guidelines describing the manner in which healthcare providers may use the term “doctor” or the initials “Dr.”; we know of none that prevent an individual with an earned doctorate from an accredited college from using the term in their professional practice, particularly when followed by the degree name.
Until individual states and certification agencies adjust their licensure regulations to recognize the doctoral degree, DAcCHM graduates will receive both the DAcCHM and the MSAcCHM degree concurrently upon completion of the DAcCHM. Graduates are eligible for the California state licensure exam, as well as the national certification examinations, which enables students to become licensed in the remaining states that regulate acupuncture and Chinese medicine schools. Students of the doctorate program are also eligible to enroll in Pacific College’s massage programs, allowing them to earn a massage license and work in the field while completing their degree.
What are the Program Prerequisites?
90 units of college credits. For details please refer to the catalog. Students with less than 90 units of undergraduate study have a number of options available to them. Please contact an admissions representative for details.
Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
Pacific College of Health and Science is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (501) 748-9001.
Programmatic Accreditation
Pacific College of Health and Science’s professional doctorate program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM). Institution/program accreditation locations, history, notes, and dates of review may be viewed at: http://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/. ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture and Chinese medicine practitioners. ACAHM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; fax 952/657-7068; www.acahm.org.
Financial
Is financial aid available? Will there be financial aid available in the future?
Yes, for those who qualify. Our financial aid department will be able to walk you through the steps to applying.
Learn more about our acupuncture degrees in Chicago. Fill out the form on this page and we’ll gladly answer any additional questions you might have.
Ready to Apply?
If you think a career in holistic medicine is something you would like to pursue, contact us and speak to an admissions representative to get started on your new journey!
For more information, call (855) 866-6767 or fill out our contact form to be contacted by a Pacific College representative.