Eligibility to Sit for Examinations

Determined by the Eligibility Route

Route 1 – Formal Education: United States Applicant

Route 2 – Formal Education: International Applicant

Route 3 – Apprenticeship Applicant

Route 4 – Combination of Formal Education & Apprenticeship Applicant

Route 5 – Converting to an NCCAOM Oriental Medicine Certification Applicant

Route 6 – Reinstatement to Active NCCAOM Status Applicant

Once approved to sit for the examinations, an NCCAOM^® Authorization to Test (ATT) Letter is issued. This is a very important piece of paper because it is required for entrance into the testing center. The application for certification is open for four (4) years from the date the payment is processed at NCCAOM. New eligibility requirements implemented after the applicant becomes a candidate will not affect their application. New certification requirements will need to be met (e.g. new exam).

Route #1:

Formal Education: Graduate or Pre-graduate from

an ACAOM Accredited Program – U.S Applicants Only

Applicants applying under Route 1 are graduates or enrolled students from a program accredited or in candidacy status by Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine  (ACAOM). The initial NCCAOM Certification requires the applicant to meet the ACAOM educational requirements outlined below and complete a degree, diploma or certificate program for the respective NCCAOM certification program.

• NCCAOM Certification in Oriental Medicine: Four-year Master’s program in Oriental Medicine.
• NCCAOM Certification in Acupuncture: Three-year Master’s program in Acupuncture.
• NCCAOM Certification in Chinese Herbology: Four-year Master’s program in Oriental Medicine OR a Master’s in Acupuncture and a post-graduate Chinese Herbal Certificate recognized by ACAOM.

ACAOM Graduation Hour Requirement

Route #1:

Formal Education: Pre-graduate from

an ACAOM Accredited Program – U.S Applicants Only

School officials have the final say in approving their students to sit for the NCCAOM examinations prior to graduation. Students are encouraged to consult with administrators and faculty regarding internal school policies. To apply, complete the steps below.

• The student completes all the required hours listed below.
• The student submits the NCCAOM^® Application for Certification.
• The school submits the NCCAOM^® Pre-Graduation Verification Form and the student’s academic transcript to NCCAOM.
• Once the documents and school official verify that the student meets the pre-graduation requirements, the NCCAOM staff will approve the applicant to begin sitting for the examinations.

Pre-graduation Hour Requirements

Route #2:

Formal Education: International Applicants

Applicants applying under the international route must have a degree/diploma in Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine or Acupuncture from an academic institution that meets the following requirements.

Government Oversight or Private Accreditation:

• The program is approved by a foreign government’s Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, or equivalent agency.
• The school is approved by an international private accreditation agency with standards that are comparable to those of ACAOM and are recognized for that purpose by the respective government entity.
• The school is approved by an acupuncture and/or Oriental medicine (AOM) professional society, association or organization that sets AOM education standards that are comparable to those of ACAOM, are recognized for that purpose, and has an enforcement agency that ensures standards are met and maintained.

Graduate Transcript:

Documentation from a third-party review agency authenticating the distribution of academic hours/credits per program that meet ACAOM standards or their substantial equivalency.

Third-Party Educational Review

NCCAOM requires international applicants to have their educational program and transcript reviewed by a third-party agency to confirm document authenticity. Please note that the agency does not ‘approve’ the educational program but verifies the authenticity of documents and provides a course-by-course evaluation of the graduate transcript. The foreign education review process typically takes 8 weeks to complete. International applicants are advised to complete the third-party agency review before applying to NCCAOM.

Third-Party Review Agency Accepted by NCCAOM

NCCAOM requires a course-by-course credential evaluation from International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Applicants can access the website at www.icdeval.com/nccaom/ to apply for a credential evaluation online. The application process requires that NCCAOM receive an original foreign language and an English translation of the graduate transcript. Applicants are advised to apply to sit for National Board Exams after receiving verification that the evaluation has been delivered to NCCAOM.

Important Notice: World Education Services (WES) transcript evaluations will no longer be accepted after December 31, 2017.

NCCAOM Examinations administered at international locations are only offered by “official” level 1 Pearson VUE Testing Centers. For detailed information, see the Pearson VUE website at www.pearsonvue.com/nccaom/.

Route #3:

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is defined as clinical and didactic training completed under qualified preceptors who assume responsibility for the theoretical and practical education of the apprentice. The curriculum is designed by the preceptor and should use ACAOM Standard 8: Program of Study as a guideline. Please wait to submit the NCCAOM application and training documentation packet until the apprenticeship is completed.

Important Information – Policy Change for Applications Submitted as of January 1, 2017:

All applicants for NCCAOM certification applying through Route 3: Apprenticeship U.S. and International are required to satisfactorily complete at least two academic years (60 semester credits) of formal education in addition to the required apprenticeship contact hours. The 60 semester credits must be completed in areas such as healthcare related coursework or life sciences from a non-vocational institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or an equivalent accrediting agency in the country in which the education was received. The academic transcript must be submitted, in English, to the NCCAOM directly from the academic institution.

For detailed information and requirements please download the NCCAOM^® Certification Handbook .

Route 3 Apprenticeship Elimination Notice

The Apprenticeship for US and International Applicants (Route 3) will be eliminated as of December 31, 2021. The apprenticeship program must be completed and the application for certification through the Apprenticeship for US and International Applicants (Route 3) must be received by the NCCAOM no later than December 31, 2021. Please review the Apprenticeship Route FAQ for more information. The Combination of Formal Education and Apprenticeship for US and International Applicants (Route 4) will remain in effect.

Route #4:

Combination of Formal Education and Apprenticeship

Applicants using Route 4 to reach eligibility to sit for NCCAOM examinations are awarded points for meeting the requirements in the Formal Education and Apprenticeship Routes. Applicants must earn a combination of points from each category.

• Acupuncture or Chinese Herbology program: 30 points – cannot exceed 20 points from any one category.
• Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology program: 40 points – cannot exceed 30 points from any one category.

Point Allocation

Formal Education

• Applicants are awarded 10 points for each full year (635 hours) of formal education.
• The formal education program must meet the criteria described in Route #1: Formal Education: Graduate or Pre-graduate from United States or Route #2: Formal EducationInternational Applicants.

Apprenticeship

• Applicants are awarded 10 points per 1,000 contact hours with a qualified preceptor.
• A maximum of 10 points may be earned per calendar year or a 12-consecutive-month period.
• The apprenticeship hours, qualified preceptor requirements and documentation must meet the criteria described under Route #3: Apprenticeship for United States or International Applicants.

For additional information on this route of eligibility please contact NCCAOM by email at info@thenccaom.org .

Route 5:

Converting to an NCCAOM Oriental Medicine Certification

Diplomates who are actively certified in Acupuncture and/or Chinese Herbology may apply for a conversion to Oriental Medicine.

Single Diplomates who are certified in either Acupuncture or Chinese Herbology will need to meet eligibility and pass the necessary exam(s).

Double Diplomates who are certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology will need to complete the biomedicine requirements, if applicable.

Please note that Diplomates who were certified prior to 2004 may need to submit coursework or PDAs in bodywork, diet, exercise, and/or patient education. All requirements are outlined in the NCCAOM^® Certification Handbook.

Apply for Conversion

Route 6:

Reinstatement to Active Status

The purpose of the NCCAOM’s reinstatement program is to provide a pathway for terminated Diplomates to regain their NCCAOM Certification. NCCAOM subject matter experts (SME’s) have created an assessment tool that documents the knowledge, skills, and abilities required in the core competencies of the AOM profession.

Eligibility Requirements for Reinstatement to following: 

• Confirm previous NCCAOM certification
• Record on the application form all states in which you are practicing or have previously practiced
• Provide documentation of Clean Needle Technique, Safety, EThics and CPR coursework

Apply for Reinstatement