Acupuncture Practitioner Diploma Program:

• The educational pre-requisite to enter the Acupuncture Practitioner diploma program is an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent. You may apply prior to completing your Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent in order to confirm your placement in the program.

• ‘Mature Student’ applicants over the age of 18 (Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent not fully completed) will also be considered – mature students will be required to undertake and pass a qualifying examination.

• The Academy’s diploma programs are designed to accommodate students who have no prior experience. No pre-requisite introductory courses are required.

• Transfer Students – Prior Related Education: Upon request the Academy will assess applicants for related transfer credits, exemptions andchallenge examinations as applicable. Requests must be made during the application period and prior to the issuance of a letter of acceptance. If transferring from another TCM school, request a “transfer application form”. (Policy on Website) All applicable International Academy of Health Education credits are fully transferable.

• TCM Diploma Programs accept 33 transfer credits for RMT’s due to their previous related education.

TCM Practitioner Diploma Program

Admission – As above.
Note:
An applicant may register for the TCM Practitioner program at the commencement of his/her TCM studies to acquire both the herbal and acupuncture competencies on a complementary study basis. However, it is recognized many students will acquire their acupuncture diploma first and then apply. A student may still take individual herbal subjects as an option, while completing the acupuncture diploma.

Contemporary Acupuncture for the Healthcare Professional – Certificate Program Course Eligibility/Admission 

In order to be accepted in the Contemporary Acupuncture program, the applicant  must be registered as a Regulated Health Professional in the province of Ontario and acupuncture must fall under the scope of practice of their regulated health profession.
Provincial regulation of acupuncture in Ontario occurred on April 1st 2013. At that time, there became three options via which an individual can legally practice acupuncture in Ontario:

1. Write (and pass) a provincial competency examination that will test knowledge that is normally covered in 2000+ hour Traditional Chinese Medicine-based (TCM-based) Acupuncture Practitioner program.
2. Meet or surpasses criteria for grand-parenting (e.g. having treated at least 2000 patients using TCM-based acupuncture during that period) -the registration committee may also evaluate the individual’s education and professional background and may visit the individual’s place of business for an inspection.
3. Be registered as a Regulated Health Professional whose regulatory body deems acupuncture to be within their scope of practice and then complete a program such as the Academy’s Contemporary Acupuncture program.

In order to legally practice acupuncture in the province of Ontario, if an individual does not qualify for the second or third options noted above, they would be required to complete a program such as the International Academy’s Acupuncture Practitioner program and then write (and pass) a provincial competency examination.