BOARD EXAMINATION PROCESS
Applicants who are interested in taking the NCCAOM national board exams must submit an application for certification. The application is necessary to review your eligibility, issue an authorization to test letter and to achieve Diplomate status. Applications are valid for four years. Click here for application processing times.
The NCCAOM® Certification Handbook is the official source of information for applicants who wish to sit for the national board exams and achieve certification(s) with NCCAOM. Please see step by step process below for further details.
Step by Step Examination Process
NCCAOM Application Processing Time
| Application Type | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Certification (Formal Education – US applicants)* | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| ADA Accommodations | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| Recertification | 2 – 3 Weeks |
| California Route | 4 – 6 Weeks |
| Downgrade to Acupuncture | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| Upgrade to Oriental Medicine | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| Conversion to Oriental Medicine | 2 – 3 Weeks |
| Inactive | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| Reinstatement | 6 – 8 Weeks |
| Retired | 1 – 2 Weeks |
| State Verification | 7 Business days |
NCCAOM Board Examination Process
Download the Steps to Become an NCCAOM® National Board-Certified Acupuncturist™
Contact Ph: (888) 381 – 1140. email: [email protected]
Submit Application
Submit Application
Effective November 12, 2018, all applications for NCCAOM certification are submitted online. For instructions on how to submit an online application for NCCAOM certification, click here.
Application fees are due at the time the application is submitted to NCCAOM. All fees are payable in United States ($) dollars and are non-refundable.
- Route: US Formal Education – Graduate. Application for NCCAOM Certification can be submitted no more then 60 days prior to applicant’s graduation date. Final Graduation Transcript submitted directly from the school and CNT certificate submitted from CCAHM are required before applicant is approved to test.
- Route: International Education- Graduate. All applicants who completed their formal education outside of the United States. must complete International Education Evaluation Review process. NCCAOM requires a course-by-course credential evaluation from International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Please create your NCCAOM online account or login, then click on the International Verification tab to be redirected to the ICD website.
Applicants are advised to apply to sit for National Board Exams after receiving a verification that the evaluation report has been delivered to NCCAOM. - Route: 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. For more details about this route please use NCCAOM Certification Handbook. Applicants are advised to submit the NCCAOM application and training documentation packet after the apprenticeship is completed.
For instructions on how to submit an online application for NCCAOM certification, click here.
Contact Ph: (888) 381 – 1140. email: [email protected]
School Transcript
Submit School Transcript
All applicants must request an official School Transcript be provided directly from the school to NCCAOM to obtain approval for the National Board exams.
Contact Ph: (888) 381 – 1140. email: [email protected]
Clean Needle Technique Certificate
Clean Needle Technique Certificate
Clean Needle Technique (CNT) practical course is required for all applicants of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine’s (CCAHM) Clean Needle Technique (CNT) course is NCCAOM approved.
The CNT course completed date, as noted on the CNT certificate, must be completed within six years within the application date and verification of the completed CNT course must be submitted directly from CCAHM. Completion of the CNT course is required to take the examinations.
Please visit the CCAHM website at www.ccahm.org for more information on scheduling to take the CNT course or to have verification of the CNT certificate sent directly to NCCAOM.
Authorization to Test Letter
Authorization to Test Letter
Applicant is approved to test after Final Graduation transcript is submitted by the school and CNT certificate is submitted by CCAOM.
When the applicant is cleared to sit for the examinations, an email notifcation is sent to the applicant and an NCCAOM® Authorization to Test Letter (ATTL) is uploaded directly to the applicant’s online portal. This letter contains all the information needed to schedule, reschedule, and/or cancel the examination(s) appointment.
Contact Ph: (888) 381-1140. email: [email protected]
Complete NCCAOM Certification
Complete NCCAOM Certification
Candidates are not certified until all required documents are accepted and the candidate has received the official NCCAOM congratulatory letter along with a wallet- size identification card by USPS mail. Candidates may not represent or advertise NCCAOM certification until this official notification is received (approximately six (6) weeks after all requirements are met). Candidates may expect to receive an NCCAOM certificate, suitable for framing, approximately six (6) weeks from the date certified. At this time 25 states require NCCAOM certification for state licensure.
Once all requirements are satisfied please visit the NCCAOM website to learn about:
- How to use the NCCAOM credential and service marks
- Diplomate benefits
- Recertification
- NCCAOM approved courses
State Licensure vs. NCCAOM® Certification
The NCCAOM® is a certification organization. It awards certification in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Oriental Medicine. NCCAOM certification does not award licensure nor does it guarantee the ability to acquire a license to practice acupuncture or other forms of Oriental medicine. In the United States, licensure laws vary among the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and United States territories and possessions.
Each state requires providing direct verification of applicant’s NCCAOM credentials to the state Licensure Agency. In order to provide direct verification of NCCAOM Credentials to the state Licensure Agency, the applicant must submit the NCCAOM® Exam Results and Certification Request to NCCAOM.
For more information on state licensing requirements click here.