Doctor of Acupuncture

Doctor of Acupuncture Program Details

The Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) degree at PIHMA is offered as a concurrent program with the Master of Science in Acupuncture (MSAc) degree and as a stand-alone degree. The DAc and MSAc programs share the same content. Both degrees offer a comprehensive introduction to Herbal Medicine and an emphasis on Asian Medicine training with Acupuncture as the primary treatment option. Students completing this degree will learn the following:

• How to assess patients using Eastern and Western diagnostic techniques
• Administer treatments using Acupuncture, Cupping, Moxibustion, Tui Na, and Asian Nutritional Counseling.
• The foundational theories and biomedical principles of Asian Medicine.
• Advanced competencies in Patient Care, Collaborative Care, and Professional Development.

The DAc degree program takes four years to complete but may be accelerated or decelerated depending on the student’s previous coursework and needs.

After successful completion of the DAc degree, students are eligible and prepared to sit for the National Certification Exams in Acupuncture and Biomedicine.

What You Will Learn

• Patient Care (advanced diagnostic studies)
• Systems-based medicine (patient care systems and collaborative care)
• Professional Development (scholarship, research and evidence-based medicine).

Program Goals:

Students completing the program will develop skills as a health care professional with education in clinical care to assess, diagnose and provide treatment, engage collaboratively with other healthcare providers and use acquired knowledge, including research and scholarly pursuits to include AOM professional practice. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the national board examinations.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Perform physical assessments, formulate an appropriate diagnosis and provide acupuncture and adjunctive treatments according to generally accepted national acupuncture and Oriental/Asian medicine standards.
2. Develop individualized short and long-term treatment strategies, including but not limited to dietary and other lifestyle changes, for patients based upon the principles of Oriental/Asian Medicine.
3. Utilize reasoning skills in identifying situations in which a patient should be referred to another healthcare provider (in addition to, or in lieu of acupuncture/herb treatment).
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the perspectives and value of Western Sciences in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of integrative healthcare and the knowledge and skills required to discuss patient concerns with healthcare providers and insurance company personnel to more effectively serve patients.
6.  Retrieve, interpret, and apply current research and evidence-based treatments applicable to the profession of Oriental/Asian Medicine.
7. Pursue lifelong learning opportunities and continuous professional development.
8. Demonstrate skills necessary to implement and maintain a private practice using effective business and marketing procedures that reflect ethical values and professional accountability.
9. Consistently practice within accepted legal, professional, and ethical guidelines as outlined by national, state, and local regulatory agencies.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

• Satisfactorily completed 90-semester credits at an accredited college or university.
• English with a grade of 2.0 or better
• Psychology with a grade of 2.0 or better

Corequisites:

• Must complete a minimum of 3 semester credit hours in each of the following courses:
  • Biology
  • Introduction to Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

The science classes need to have been completed within the last five years. If your course credits are more than five years old, you have the first year while you are enrolled at PIHMA to re-take and pass the classes. The classes can be taken at PIHMA or a community college.

Tuition

For a full breakdown of the cost please click here.

Courses

*Based on the suggested four-year completion schedule