Accreditation

Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture and its following programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):

(1) Master of Science in Acupuncture
(2) Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization [currently named Master of Science in Oriental Medicine]
(3) Doctor of Acupuncture-including a Doctor of Acupuncture degree completion track
(4) Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization [currently named Doctor of Acupuncture with a specialization in herbal medicine]- including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization degree completion track.

The programs listed above may offer courses via distance education.
ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.

Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory at acahm.org/directory-menu.

ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.

ACAHM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347 phone 952-212-2434 web acahm.org/.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) pertains to the approval of distance education courses and programs offered across state lines by postsecondary institutions that already have degree authorization in at least one state. SARA is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for the interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) provides national oversight for each NC-SARA-approved state. In Arizona, the Arizona SARA Council (AZ-SARA) provides statewide oversight for Arizona institutions.

Participation in SARA is voluntary for states and for institutions. SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA centralizes the authorization process for each institution in a single state called the institution’s “home state.” Colleges or universities in a SARA state therefore only need their home state authorization to offer distance education to students in any other SARA member state, subject to certain limitations.

PIHMA College and Clinic was approved by the Arizona SARA Council (AZ-SARA) and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) as a SARA institution on May 30, 2023.

For a list of approved states and state actions regarding SARA, please visit this page – https://www.nc-sara.org/sara-states

Students interested in taking distance education courses at PIHMA College and Clinic that are located in a state that has not yet obtained approval through NC-SARA should contact admissions at, admissions@pihma.edu.

For more information about SARA, please visit http://www.nc-sara.org/.

For questions pertaining to SARA compliance at PIHMA College and Clinic please contact Sonoran’s SARA liaison officer Debbie Major at dmajor@pihma.edu.

What States Can I Use My PIHMA Degree In?:

*These states do not have an Acupuncture board. Students who plan to practice in these states may not be accepted into PIHMA’s programs. Please speak with an Admissions representative for more information.