Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate

Students in the the Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate Program track study the actions and effects of individual Chinese herbs and how to create formulas for clinical application. The curriculum typically takes seven terms to complete.

The sophisticated methodology of herbal medicine is examined in three stages. The first is the detailed study of the Chinese pharmacopoeia (materia medica): the functional categories, the unique properties of individual herbs, and their therapeutic actions and indications. Formulas courses then analyze the composition and therapeutic functions of herbal formulas. Last, internal medicine courses review the etiology and pathology of disease and teach students the application of formulas for clinical use. Through this course of study and clinical internships, students learn the principles and strategies for writing formulas to address individual patient health concerns.

Program of Study

The NESA Chinese Herbal Medicine Program (CHM) for Graduates of ACAOM-accredited or candidate status acupuncture schools is offered through the NESA Continuing Education Department.
The program is 697.5 hours in length: 487.5 didactic training and 210 clinical training. 697.5 Continuing Acupuncture Education (CAE) hours are earned for the entire program. You may request a transcript of your CAEs to date at anytime throughout the program. See "Certification" below for more information.
Note: According to Massachusetts state law, 660 hours of CHM training must be completed in order to practice CHM in the state. If you exempt from a course by challenge exam, you may be required to complete additional program hours in order to practice CHM in Massachusetts. You must contact the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine's Committee on Acupuncture at http://www.massmedboard.org/acupuncture/ regarding this requirement.
The time required to complete the Chinese Herbal Medicine Program for Graduates is between 19 and 31 months, depending on course exemption eligibility. The program begins in the spring term, with the Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine course.
Applicants may apply to take a challenge exam for exemption from the Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine, Pharmacopoeia I, and Pharmacopoeia II courses under the following conditions: courses of equivalent content must have been taken at an ACAOM-accredited or candidate status acupuncture school within three years of beginning the program at NESA. Exemption is not available from any other courses in the program.
Neither NESA graduates nor non-NESA graduates are automatically exempt from any courses.
A CHM Comprehensive Exam is required prior to beginning CHM Clinical Internship. Review sessions are provided in the term before the exam.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine's Committee on Acupuncture requires NCCAOM Certification in herbology in order to practice Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Massachusetts. Full licensing information may be found at http://www.massmedboard.org/acupuncture/

Admissions Procedure

Applicants must have graduated from an ACAOM-accredited or candidate status acupuncture school. All applicants, including NESA graduates, are required to submit an application for consideration for admission to the program. The application materials required are a completed application form, one passport size photo, current résumé, $75 application fee, official transcripts sent from an ACAOM accredited or candidate status school (not necessary for NESA graduates), two academic or professional letters of recommendation and academic interview and immunization documentation as stated below. Contact the Admissions Department for more information admissions@nesa.edu

Immunization Requirements

Hepatitis B: record of immunization; OR record of having received the 1^st vaccine in the series with dates for completing the series; OR a signed declination form stating that you do not wish to receive the vaccine. (NESA will provide declination form at your request).

Certification

Upon completion of the program, a Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate is awarded. The certificate is awarded through the Continuing Education Department and CAE hours are awarded, rather than academic credit.

Tuition

Tuition for the CHM program is calculated at the NESA part-time tuition rate.
The tuition rate is set annually by the Board of Trustees, and is subject to change at the beginning of each academic year. Current tuition rates may be found at http://www.nesa.edu/tuition_and_fees.html.
There are no faculty, TA or alumni discounts for certificate programs such as the CHM Program for Graduates.

Orientation

All CHM Program for Graduates students are required to provide written agreement to abide by the NESA policies and procedures as detailed in the NESA Student Handbook, and to have an orientation with the Academic Dean or the Director of Academic Affairs prior to the start of the program. The Student Handbook will be provided at the orientation. The Academic Dean or the Director of Academic Affairs will serve as the student's advisor throughout the CHM program.
All non-NESA graduates are required to complete an Orientation to Assistantship/Clinic during the first course taken (which depends upon exemption).

Curriculum Outline
Term	Course	CAEs
Spring	Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine	30
Summer	CHM: Pharmacopoeia I	60
Fall	CHM: Pharmacopoeia II	60
Spring	CHM: Formulas I	60
Summer	CHM: Formulas II	60
Summer	CHM: Patent Medicine, includes required clinic orientation for non-NESA graduates	30
Fall	CHM: Internal Medicine I	60
Fall	CHM: Formula Writing	37.5
Spring	CHM: Internal Medicine II	60
Summer	CHM: Clinical Pharmacology	30
Total Didactic Instruction		487.5

Clinical Training
Clinical Assistantship May begin as early as Pharmacopoeia I Complete before beginning Internal Medicine I Must be completed in a NESA CHM or OM clinic		90
Dispensary Assistantship May begin as early as Pharmacopoeia I Complete before beginning Formulas II		15
CHM Clinical Internship (Fall, concurrent with Formula Writing)		30
CHM Clinical Internship (Final Spring or Summer)		75
Total Clinical Instruction		210

Download course descriptions.

More information: CHM_Program_Application_live_1-10.pdf

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